2 questions.
1) Is it possible to create a compliant PDF/X4 from the CS3 suite (namely acrobat 8 and InDesign CS3)
2) Does PDF/X4 require an output intent, or can I let the RIP convert the embedded color information straight to the media gamut it's being printed to?
1) Is it possible to create a compliant PDF/X4 from the CS3 suite (namely acrobat 8 and InDesign CS3)
2) Does PDF/X4 require an output intent, or can I let the RIP convert the embedded color information straight to the media gamut it's being printed to?
Yes! And as Toronar points out, ALL PDF/X standards require an OutputIntent. PDF/X-3, X-4 and X-5 all require that the OutputIntent consist of an embedded ICC profile. PDF/X-4p allows for that profile to be external (referenced by URL).
Does the PDF/X standard make sense in a workflow where you have variable media gamuts, and you want to get the best color from each device? (I half know these answers, but I'm not 100% confident, and I need to explain it to "decision makers")
We need a solid PDF preset for our workflow, and because most of our staff doesn't completely understand what all is involved in saving PDF's, they've decided they need to use a predefined standard, so they've chosen PDF/X3 with the output intent as USWCSv2.
I'd like let the RIP software handle the color conversion to the media for the best possible color (one off colorful posters on inkjets), but we lack the knowledge to make a decision we can be sure of. Are there any PDF standards out there that are PDF/X "like", but don't require an output intent?
Working to different Gamuts, I would be a little reserved, even with an x3. How are you dealing with transparency? If you use an x3, x4 or x5 is it defined the dendering between embedded ICC's and output intent? CMMs and enabled/disabled black point compenstion and rendering intent will mean that there are still a few "details" left for interpretation.
A PDFx1a with an out put intent will have each colour consistently handled, regardless of rendering intent and it does not allow transparency, ony issue there would be spotcolours that are converted interecting with transparency via overprint.
The inkjets and media we use offer a gamut much larger than most standard CMYK working spaces, and the design work is usually done in adobeRGB.
Our RIP has had issues with transparency, so we try to flatten it before sending it to the RIP (and our lambda RIP is outdated and can't digest newer features.)
And that's bad. How about upgrading the RIP to something that can handle modern features? For that matter, is the RIP even PDF/X (any flavor) aware??
The output intent, depending on the context you take this comment in, makes PDF's device dependent (in that we're using a lowest common denominator, rather than getting the best results from each device).
NO! Exactly the opposite! OutputIntent tells you WHAT the colors were produced FOR, so that you can then use standard color management to adjust them at the final device.
If you are working in RGB anyway - why not produce an RGB-based PDF/X-3 (or X-4) file? PDF/X doesn't require CMYK - it just requires the use of an OutputIntent, which can also be RGB (or even Gray). Then the RIP itself can do the RGB->XXXX transform having the highest gamma, etc.
So, if we go with PDF/X3, and use AdobeRGB1998 as the output intent, the RIP should then map the output intent to the media? We can choose a rendering intent to render the output intent result to the media gamut, and that won't "double dip" the image so-to-speak? I guess assuming it's going from adobeRGB to adobeRGB, technically, there should be no change at all, correct?
So, I tried this yesterday, and I couldn't select AdobeRGB1998 as the output intent. It was in the same folder as all my other choices, but distiller wouldn't make it available. Aside from linking to it (which I'd like to avoid), what can I do to make it available?
So, I tried this yesterday, and I couldn't select AdobeRGB1998 as the output intent. It was in the same folder as all my other choices, but distiller wouldn't make it available. Aside from linking to it (which I'd like to avoid), what can I do to make it available?
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