PDF display question

[mangcang]

If I export a PDF from Indesign, or Photoshop; Then, I use different PDF viewer to check it, such as Preview, Acrobat Pro, and Prinergy VPS, I get some different display results between them.

Questions：
1, why that happen?
2, Is it involved any RIP issue?

 

[Al Ferrari]

The simple answer is that pdfs do not display themselves, that is they do not contain an internal display application. Rather, their display is dependent on other applications having the capacity to display these files. So whatever differences you are seeing reflect differences between these applications.

A better answer requires a better question. That said, specifically what sort differences are you noticing?

Al

 

[LoneGoose]

I can spot a difference - Preview will often display that pesky box behind live transparency effects while at the same time Acrobat displays correctly (no pesky box).

Nicolas

 

[mangcang]

I can spot a difference - Preview will often display that pesky box behind live transparency effects while at the same time Acrobat displays correctly (no pesky box).

Nicolas

Exactly. Do you know why that happen?

 

[mangcang]

The simple answer is that pdfs do not display themselves, that is they do not contain an internal display application. Rather, their display is dependent on other applications having the capacity to display these files. So whatever differences you are seeing reflect differences between these applications.

A better answer requires a better question. That said, specifically what sort differences are you noticing?

Al

Hey, AI
Thanks for you answer. It is so slow upload the image but just as LoneGoose said there is a pesky box behind object I applied drop shadow to it. However, that doesnt exist in Acrobat.

 

[Steve_S]

Hey, AI
Thanks for you answer. It is so slow upload the image but just as LoneGoose said there is a pesky box behind object I applied drop shadow to it. However, that doesnt exist in Acrobat.

Is it only showing on your RIP preview or is it showing on your output / plates? PDF's sometimes show artifacts like that at your display but do not produce on your output. As to "why", might need an Adobe engineer to step in and cover that one....

 

[Joe]

Exactly. Do you know why that happen?

Because Preview is a freebie application that does not have the capability to display the latest and greatest transparency effects created by Adobe software. If you need a free viewer try Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 

[mangcang]

Is it only showing on your RIP preview or is it showing on your output / plates? PDF's sometimes show artifacts like that at your display but do not produce on your output. As to "why", might need an Adobe engineer to step in and cover that one....

Thanks your answer. It just show on the preview. Okay, stop asking why haha

 

[Al Ferrari]

Thanks your answer. It just show on the preview. Okay, stop asking why haha

On the contrary! We need to hold Adobe's feet to the fire for the Professional versions, so that what we see on our Acrobat Professional displays, matches what "pdf compliant rips" produce. If the RIP is leaving something unprocessed, then we go after the RIP manufacturer. BUT if Acrobat Professional leaves off something that the rips do correctly process, then we have to keep on Adobe's case about it.

Al

 

[leonardr]

On the contrary! We need to hold Adobe's feet to the fire for the Professional versions, so that what we see on our Acrobat Professional displays, matches what "pdf compliant rips" produce. If the RIP is leaving something unprocessed, then we go after the RIP manufacturer. BUT if Acrobat Professional leaves off something that the rips do correctly process, then we have to keep on Adobe's case about it.

If someone has a PDF that they believe Adobe Acrobat is not rendering correctly - PLEASE send it to us. We will be happy to look into what the issue might be.

However, before doing so, please make sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat (that would now be Acrobat X/10.0) and the latest version of your RIP's software - so that we're not comparing older versions and/or implementations.

Leonard Rosenthol
PDF Standards Architect
Adobe Systems

 

[Al Ferrari]

Hello mancang,

Your recent post about display differences for pdfs from InDesign and Photoshop has received the attention of an Adobe person at PDF display question - PrintPlanet.com.

I strongly recommend and encourage you to contact him and provide him with your problem pdf files even though you may not have Acrobat 10 professional. He has more resources for investigating the problem than the rest of us on the forum. The fact that three different Adobe applications are involved in your issue, is a cause for concern to many of us.

Regards,

Al

 

[Al Ferrari]

Hi Leonard,

In view of the fact that Acrobat X/10.0 was released only a few days ago, it would be appropriate for you to add some brief comments as to the improvements in this new release that you you think may bear on the OP's superficial description of the problem he is experiencing.

Your last paragraph would appear to find fault with the rest of us for not testing the very latest version of Acrobat before bringing a problem to light.

Al

 

[leonardr]

In view of the fact that Acrobat X/10.0 was released only a few days ago, it would be appropriate for you to add some brief comments as to the improvements in this new release that you you think may bear on the OP's superficial description of the problem he is experiencing.
l

I don't know if it would have any bearing - in fact, one would think it should not. If the OP is using 9.4.x, that would also be fine.

 

[lyzan]

If I export a PDF from Indesign, or Photoshop; Then, I use different PDF viewer to check it, such as Preview, Acrobat Pro, and Prinergy VPS, I get some different display results between them.

Questions：
1, why that happen?
2, Is it involved any RIP issue?

Are you using the same output intent on both application when previewing it?

 

[Toweri]

Overprint Preview?

Overprint Preview?

One thing I have found causing confusion due to different/unreliable page display when using Adobe Reader, is "Overprint Preview" setting.

If this is off, Adobe Reader will display certain transparencies (A drop shadow being a prime example!) incorrectly - i.e. differently from what an Adobe compliant rip would produce.

To avoid any such mistakes, I always instruct customers (and tell them to instruct *their* customers) to set Adobe Reader "Preferences - Page Display - Use Overprint Preview" to 'Always'.

This will clear one culprit out of the equation for good...

 

[leonardr]

One thing I have found causing confusion due to different/unreliable page display when using Adobe Reader, is "Overprint Preview" setting. To avoid any such mistakes, I always instruct customers (and tell them to instruct *their* customers) to set Adobe Reader "Preferences - Page Display - Use Overprint Preview" to 'Always'.

ASSUMING you are using Adobe Reader 9 and later and
ASSUMING that you are using industry standard PDF/X files

There is NO NEED to do this - and in fact, I recommend that you NOT do this! PLEASE leave that setting alone and just use PDF/X files for printing and everything will be OK...

If this is off, Adobe Reader will display certain transparencies (A drop shadow being a prime example!) incorrectly - i.e. differently from what an Adobe compliant rip would produce.

Drop Shadows should have nothing to do with this...

But sure, if you don't properly prepare the PDF for printing (by using PDF/X) then Reader (or Acrobat for that matter) has NO WAY of knowing that the PDF is destined for print (vs. screen)...