How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

cosmotcat

Member
I want to find an easy to use (preferably electronic) solution to receiving approvals of PDF proofs from clients. Right now all we do is request through an e-mail to +"... reply with 'OK to Print' or ...".+

Even though I request - WITH QUOTES - a response of 'OK to Print', I receive responses like +"Looks good to me!"+ or +"Go with it!"+, none of which I would consider a 'legal' OK to print.

I was playing around with editable forms in Acrobat for an emailable PPA/Change Order, but from what I've learned (correct me if I am wrong), the client needs the professional version of Acrobat to enter/edit text in an Acrobat form. Is there a plug-in for Acrobat Reader (since many people don't want to BUY Acrobat 'Professional') which allows this? Even better, would there be a _FREE_ plugin that does this?

Then I was thinking, +"hey, how about something using HTML"+ ... but then there are platform/version issues and I really do not want to learn HTML programming in any real intricacy - bit by bit - command by command.

Then I was playing with writing code myself (using *(AARRRGGHHH)* Basic), and creating a cross-platform application to email ... yadda yadda yadda ... again, getting far too complex.

I don't want to send clients a PDF of our PPA/Change Order and then have them print it out, sign it then fax it back ... that's just far too 'clunky' ... this is the 'new millennium', right? What is a 'fax' anyway (kidding)?

What do you/how do you people RECEIVE approvals/changes for PDF proofs that were sent electronically (email/ftp). Does anyone use a digital method?

Let me hear (read) your ideas, suggestion, witticisms, criticisms ... peccadillos(?)
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

If you have Acrobat Professional 8, then you can make a PDF form that
the user (running only Reader) can fill in and save with their OK.

If you have Acrobat Professional 7 or 8, then you can make a PDF that
the user can ADD A POST-IT NOTE to that will declare their agreement to
print.

However, I am curious how you (and others) deal with the sending proofs
to customers who only have Reader - when Reader defaults to Overprint
Preview _OFF_?

Leonard
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

Well, it's been my experience that A LOT of these people don't even realize they are looking at it WITHOUT overprint preview. I actually have to answer more questions from people that use Acrobat Professional than those who use just reader. I, just yesterday, had to create a document with illustrations showing a client how to use the 'output preview' option in Acrobat (Professional). So actually ... the 'overprint preview' questions occur only occasionally, or rarely.

I am trying to create a PPA (Proof/Print Authorization) with a series of buttons, boxes etc., fill-in forms fro correction instructions, and possibly some kind of electronic signature for signing off PDF final proofs.

Thanks for the info ... gonna look into it.
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

My only response is - unless you are getting hit with rejected work - email sounds the best way - leave it alone and get out more :)

Peter
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

Along the lines of overprint preview - we tell ALL customers to get free Reader if they do not have it.
We do not support anything less than 7.
I then have an email that explains how to set Acrobat Reader up (preferences) for overprint preview.
We send around 200 pdfs for review a day. Thank God for Trueflow and PowerSwitch
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

Leonard,

Now that you work for Adobe, can you do us all a favor and sneak into the room where they write Acrobat/Reader and comment out the code that lets you turn Overprint Preview off and change the default so its always on? ;)

We won't tell.

Thanks,
Rob Morgan
Kodak
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

Would you like to upload those PDF file to a web-based application where your customers can view, comment, markup, and reject or approval the file on their own computers through any web-browser ? In addition all of the comments, markups, approvals etc. are tracked and saved in a database? You may want to take a look at EskoArtworks WebCenter or Webway. http://www.esko.com/web/site.aspx?p=354.

Regards - peter
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

The "problem" appears at least on a weekly basis for me.
Life would be easier without it but my bigger problem is how to make clients upgrade to something higher than Acrobat reader 3 or 4.
Believe it or not, most of them have reader installed some time ago and nobody is touching it.
Adobe should somehow force Reader update.
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

Easy.
Send your PDF's out as version 1.6 which earlier versions of Acrobat Reader will not open ( they will get a message on their PC about that ). Include in your email a link to Adobe's site and the Acrobat Reader download. Done Deal.

peter
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

If only it were that easy as to include a link of the installer for a new reader. We've done that and still we get clients on the phone telling us the pdf file can't open because it's 'damaged'. We remake a pdf and resend it to them only to get the same call from them. After some questions turns out they still run Reader 4 or older. Step by step phone guidance to install the new version of reader result in a suprising ahhhh on the other side of the line. Only to get that same client on the phone with the same question next time we send him something :)

In result we're looking into online proofing systems to get this problem out of the way.
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

Zoran, Peter, it's funny you should mention that (about Acrobat versions and updating)...

I just received an email that the client cannot open the PDF file I sent yesterday. His business partner can on her machine, but he cannot. He is the ONLY one that has reported 'I cannot read the PDF file you sent me.' I suspect he is using an OLD version of Acrobat Reader ... waiting to find out. I've done everything I can at this end ... saving it down (to version 4 is as low as I can go from here) ... making it low rez ... I don't know what else to do.

(Now that I think of it ... I do suspect that he is using an OLDer version because the file that I was given to work with was an OLDer version of 'Word' (aaaarrrghhh))

If I get a message back that he is STILL using version 3 (he's on a Mac, and so are we) ... I may take the rest of the day off ... Happy Holidays for me, me, me
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

He's have to be running on something like Mac System 7 or something to
be able to run Acrobat 3.

Acrobat 4 was the first PowerPC version.

Acrobat 5.0.5 was the first one to run on Mac OS X, and Acrobat 6
requires it. So if he's on OS X, then you know he's at least 6.

Leonard
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

Then again, I invite you to look into our online viewing and approval solutions WebCenter and Webway. With WebCenter we offer some options as far as the actual hosting of the sites - either you can do it locally on your servers, or EskoArtworks can lease space on theirs. http://www.esko.com/web/site.aspx?p=685/ With WebCenter your customers can securely login to a customized website, view and annotate their files, view separations, colour values, measure dimensions etc,. all through their web browser on Mac or PC.

peter
 
Re: How do ya'all (you all) receive PDF proof approvals ...

We are putting PDF on our web server and sending only a link in email with "Online Proof Terms and Conditions" where person is instructed to reply on this email with acceptance of these terms and pdf provided.

For "pdf-link" email creating we are using YGF tool which available almost for free at
http://www.youvegotfiles.com

This tool provides a file's date, time and size which is included in email.
PDFs are Lo-Res and archived from website after month or so along with client's OK-emails.

All those Acrobat's issues are SRs' responsibility
 

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