Re: Refine and Normalise
Hi Ritchie,
Normalizing is part of the larger Refining process. The Normalizer is a piece of software that comes from Adobe which is very similar to Distiller in that it's main job is to convert PS to PDF.
Refining is a larger series of tasks that includes the Normalizer but also can include things like Optimizing PDFs, Color Matching/Mapping, Trapping, OPI processing, splitting of reader's spreads, Recombining separated files, reformatting of CT/LW and/or copydot data and Preflighting. You can add or remove most of these tasks in your Refine Process Template according to your needs. Refining also splits multi-page files into single page PDFs to make it easy to replace an individual page in a layout.
A Refined PDF differs from a PDF that came directly out of a desktop app or Distiller in that it may contain Traps or be color matched or have low res FPO images replaced - it all depends on which features were enabled during Refining - the main goal being to ensure that the file is optimized to print correctly on your equipment with the correct colors, traps etc.
Cheers,
Rob Morgan
Kodak