PDF READER for DUMB clients

[Dario]

In some cases, a simple PDF "thumbnail" preview works fine

I think I'm gonna follow this and attach a JPG with every PDF I send.

This said, I'd like to put my thoughts into words about all the software houses which have not yet think about a solution to some common problems raised by many printer & repro houses (eg: overprint preview feature).
Since there are so many plugin developers and acknowledged professionals who try to workaround lots of felt common "problems" in many softwares why the software houses (Adobe above all) don't think to fix them by themselves?
Eg: it took years to Adobe to create a native function in Acrobat for importing an image into a form field - mimicing a well known workaround.
...
Sorry for my outburst.

PS: by the way... not even Photoshop correctly always handles overprint when importing PDF files.

 

[Ulrich]

Hi Dario

...I think I'm gonna follow this and attach a JPG with every PDF I send.

and then? If both "looks" different on the screen of the customer (because some transparency situations oder overprint mode issues), how you can be for sure that his imprimatur was decided by looking at the "right" one?
I think it´s not a good idea to offer two versions (PDF and JPEG) for one answer (the imprimatur).
The problem for the prepress is, that both versions needs to be explained to the customer:
Regarding to the programm he is looking at the "proof" (@Dov: I think here is more a plott as a blueprint meant with and not first of all a colour-proof...) he must check that his programm is able to respect transparency and overprint by viewing a pdf and if he is looking to a JPEG, he has to be informed, that former vector elements will be print as such...

Also if you will automate the process you will double your work at that point with two versions...

There is simply no solution yet for this dilemma! Not even to insist on a standardized PDF/x-file alone whithout the strongly recommodation of using an Adobe Acrobat Professional or Reader whith activated overprintmode in the presets for all files...
(Therefore it could minimize your sorrows and selfblaming after a failed production to add as an important notice for the customer a manual for dummies how to switch on the overprint mode in Acrobat Reader and to insist on this programm for the imprimatur. Of course, if something went wrong with the production, you will loose the customer in most of the case, no matter who is really to blame, but for a compliant settlement you are in a better situation by this kind of "teaching your customer".)

My 5 cent...

Added: I have met absolutely some customers they liked to be informed about help for getting a more safer way for the imprimatur. Some customers apreciate to get informed about special stuff...

Ulrich

 

[Dario]

There is simply no solution yet for this dilemma!

I think you are surely right!!

 

[PDL]

And then we come to online proofing and approvals.
An online solution solves that issues with overprint mode, sending your customer a copy of the production ready files, and with digital markups and annotations any misunderstandings about corrections needed. Online viewer tools provide turning on and off separations, ink coverage densitometers, zoom, rotate, flip front and back, and compare files views, to name a few.
Here’s a 2 min vid on Esko WebCenter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=qY5fHvqeEUY
Although the vid discusses packaging, WebCenter does support multi-page PDF as well. If you work in Illustrator there is a free plugin for AI to open and save files directly from and to WebCenter while in AI.

 

[Ulrich]

@eskopl:

I did not seen the whole video, but that seems to be a solution for people they all know what their are talking about and are trained in the ESKO software?

The headline of this thread contains the word "dumb" (customers), such they are too lazy or unable to install an actual version of PDF Reader! May be i did not get it right, than i will beg your pardon for my unneccasary invention, but if the customer have to install an ESKO software first, than this is definetly not the solution for the discussed problems here... ;-)

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Ulrich, the client receives an email and follows the link to a website, or logs into their bookmarked website and views the proof online, often using a HTML5 based “application” or other technology that automatically downloads the data and correctly previews the file for overprints, transparency/blending, colour management and offers approval/rejection, sign off history, markup, collaboration and other features (whether the tool is from Esko with WebCenter or Kodak’s InSite or some other software).


Stephen Marsh

 

[Ulrich]

Thanks Stephen,

that sounds more interesting than i get from my first impression, i will have a second look!

Ulrich

 

[Dario]

Good software - sorry it's not what I call 'affordable'

 

[michaelejahn]

Good software - sorry it's not what I call 'affordable'

what does "affordable" mean ? I mean, if the print job is 1000.00 and need to be re-done because to proof was inaccurate, well...I guess it is all relative.

 

[Dario]

what does "affordable" mean ? I mean, if the print job is 1000.00 and need to be re-done because to proof was inaccurate, well...I guess it is all relative.

Yeah, you're right. "Affordable" in the meaning of boss' language, which means "I want it free!"
Anyway, I started a thread about it some times ago:
https://printplanet.com/forum/prepress-and-workflow/esko/272829-esko-webcenter-alternative

Jokes apart, I personally was looking for a less high-end solution.

The old ArtPro (not ArtPro+) used to have a nice export feature to flatten transparencies and all kinds of overprints too - that was a good one!

 

[gordo]

Just got a notice for this PDF editor/viewer - maybe worth trying?
https://pdf.movavi.com/pdf-editor-mac/

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Just got a notice for this PDF editor/viewer - maybe worth trying?
https://pdf.movavi.com/pdf-editor-mac/

Thanks Gordo…

Well the Mac version failed the VIGC overprint test file that I have been suggesting is inserted as page 1 of outgoing PDF proofs!

Stephen Marsh

 

[Macmann]

Re: VIGC

Looks like it failed spell checker as well. Responsibility is spelled wrong. An oversight of that magnitude inspires little confidence.

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Re: VIGC

Looks like it failed spell checker as well. Responsibility is spelled wrong. An oversight of that magnitude inspires little confidence.

The PDF can be edited/corrected or you folk could make their own version easy enough. It is a proactive move that is better than nothing. Although English is a global language, I cut the Belgians some slack for a typo not in their native language.

This PDF viewer also fails the Global Graphics overprint test, and it also fails the Ghent Work Group overprint test.

It does appear to correctly render multiply blend mode on CMYK objects though, for what that is worth.



Stephen Marsh

 

[scotts]

Well, I've been following this thread, and have refrained from chiming in, but figured I would at this point. I think the title about "dumb" is misleading and could be better described as "uneducated" or "misinformed" "clients". And no matter what software we find or use, it will always be this way. As there will always be new people coming into our field. Which, by the way, is a GREAT thing. We as the "professionals", should find a better way to communicate with them and try to direct them, or lead them to "the proper" way. We can prove ourselves useful and successful, if we can help our customers with the tools they currently have to make a product that they are proud of. And better yet, happy to pay our prices for. As varied as the answers here in this thread have shown, there is no one tool to do it all, but really Acrobat is the main tool and by default the best uniform one to use. The best we can do, is to educate our customers as to why they should be using it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[pushpixels]

Hybrid Software offers PackzView. PackzView is a free PDF reader that will always render transparency and overprints properly. It runs on Mac and PC. It is the non editing version of our full featured PDF editor (Packz).

You can find out more here.
http://www.packz.com/downloads-info/

Has anyone else tried this? It does open files with overprint preview on automatically. It also includes some nice tools. I would love to hear other peoples thoughts on it.

 

[scotts]

Has anyone else tried this? It does open files with overprint preview on automatically. It also includes some nice tools. I would love to hear other peoples thoughts on it.

I have used it and tested it out. It is quite nice. Does some things nicer than what Acrobat does. Which I really like that it lists the images being used on a page and resolutions. And that it shows all the boxes, media, crop, bleed, trim, and art box in one window. As well as all the fonts that are being used on the one page, and the corresponding text.

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Packzview is a great tool, however it is a stretch to expect clients of print providers to download, install and apply for and install a LICENSE this free tool… Not to mention download new versions when the old version times out (the software, not the perpetual free license).

Packzview is great for CSR’s and other internal folk though that may not justify a full version of Acrobat Pro.


Stephen Marsh

 

[Joe]

Packzview is a great tool, however it is a stretch to expect clients of print providers to download, install and apply for and install a LICENSE this free tool… Not to mention download new versions when the old version times out (the software, not the perpetual free license).

Packzview is great for CSR’s and other internal folk though that may not justify a full version of Acrobat Pro.


Stephen Marsh

I like Packzview more every time I use it. I especially love the font listing and double clicking on the font will zoom you right into the text being used. Great way to find out where a particular font is being used in a document.

 

[Stephen Marsh]

And that it shows all the boxes, media, crop, bleed, trim, and art box in one window.

Although not in the same class, Acrobat Reader can run a script to show the various page boxes for the active page, which again is useful for a CSR with only Acrobat Reader (not intended for clients).

Stephen Marsh