Press Quality vs X1a

[motormount]

Hi all!

We have a client that insists on providing press quality files instead of X1a we ask for.

Reason why we ask for X1a files is that we don't take the responsibility-or get paid- for flattening a clients file on Acrobat(7) or let our META 3.5 CPSI do so,and then spending time to figure out if something went wrong.

The particular customer exports pdf's from Illcs4 and most of the time are full of shit.
No bleeds,pantones where they shouldn't be,die cuts on process black turned to outlines instead of strokes,rgb's,and many many more.

Latest trend is low res images.

Preflight indicates low res-even bellow 150ppi-client replies files are fine 300ppi in ps but the pdfX1a export downgrades them and press quality files he sends to other printers doesn't create problems!!!

I tried a lot of ways of exporting a pdf from cs4,and i can't come up with a low res image from a high res one!

Has anyone got an idea what the customer could be doing wrong?

And could anyone tell me what's the use of the ''press quality'' standard,if anyone needs to keep transparency live,he could provide X4!

Thanx in advance!

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

the x standards are just as you say a subset to verify quality. It could be that the customer is saving default so that they can include illustrator editability. The "other suppliers" are then those who open in illustrator CS4 and print from there using colour management and correct flattening settings (this is probably where the downsampling is happening, and possibly even flattening to RGB if that is transparency blend space, though mixed colour modes was more common in pre CS4).

You are giving your client good advise and they are not listening, a common problem

 

[davidmwe]

Preflight for Adobe Illustrator with FlightCheck v6.75

Preflight for Adobe Illustrator with FlightCheck v6.75

As a side thought, you may want to recommend or even help your customer obtain FlightCheck Professional v6.75. It can not only preflight InDesign, Quark and the resulting PDF's, but in this case, also the native Illustrator file (CS5 or lower). Perfect for helping the customer find prepress problems before exporting to PDF, all via an easy drag-and-drop interface. See:
Can I preflight and package Adobe Illustrator files? | Markzware

Yes, it is perhaps the inevitable, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink.... however if they can start taking responsibility for their own work, it will be better for everyone in the long run.

 

[motormount]

Thank you very much for your answers!

I help them every time i can,but if they don't bother checking their files i don't think any application will be much of a help.

 

[rich apollo]

We have a client that insists on providing press quality files instead of X1a we ask for.

Unless your company is prepared to bill the client for improper file preparation, there is little that can be done to change their behavior.

Reason why we ask for X1a files is that we don't take the responsibility-or get paid- for flattening a clients file on Acrobat(7) or let our META 3.5 CPSI do so,and then spending time to figure out if something went wrong.

"Press Quality" preset flattens transparency.

No bleeds,pantones where they shouldn't be,die cuts on process black turned to outlines instead of strokes,rgb's,and many many more.

Latest trend is low res images.

Preflight indicates low res-even bellow 150ppi-client replies files are fine 300ppi in ps but the pdfX1a export downgrades them and press quality files he sends to other printers doesn't create problems!!!

I tried a lot of ways of exporting a pdf from cs4,and i can't come up with a low res image from a high res one!

Downsampling can be set on the second tab of the dialogue - under "Compression". Also, "Press Quality" flattens transparency to the "[Medium Resolution]" preset - line art and text at 300 ppi, gradient and mesh at 150 ppi. This alone makes the "Press Quality" preset unacceptable.

Has anyone got an idea what the customer could be doing wrong?

Without a file to root through, it's tough to say. Something that catches my attention, though, is that you say you're receiving RGB elements. Illustrator dropped multiple color modes back in version 10 (I think). To have RGB in a CMYK document the user has to link the files. Could be as simple as bad links.

 

[mattbeals]

Sounds like they are using Standard Quality instead of press quality. It may also be that the customer is using the PDF Maker plug-in for Microsoft Office, hence the "need" for PDF/X-1a. Based on what I have read this seems to be the more likely scenario. The customer would need to change the defaults in the PDF Maker plug-in to use PDF/X-1a or Press Quality. Either way you get the same result, just one doesn't have the X-1a tags.

You can always "convert" them to PDF/X-1a when you receive them as part of your preflight process. No one said you can't do that. Using the PDF/X standards as an internal benchmark is a good idea.

If it were me, I'd say give me "high quality" and call it good if you can't get PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4. I'd rather do the color conversions myself so that i avoid problems with the customer making bad conversions that cause me problems. But I'm funny that way. You know how the phrase goes "don't do me any favors" (unless I ask you to).

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

A compromise would be make a droplet for converting to PDFx according to your preferred settings. Drop the files and bounce back to them for sign off, saying "don't know if this is what you meant, but this is how it'll print"
What't they then sign off should be the same as what your get out.

If you can't make them change, or pay, then make them cover your back.

 

[motormount]

rich(!) apollo,to be honest,till now i've never have saved press quality.
So i tested it home,and exporting a press quality file from Illustrator cs4 on a g5 produces a pdf with live transparency.

My company isn't prepared to upgrade from Acrobat 7 and CS suite-you don't change a winning team,right? -in fact if they could get rid of everything apart from the platesetter they would celebrate it like Christmass,so billing for file preparation is not an option they would discuss about!

Downsampling can be set on the second tab of the dialogue - under "Compression". Also, "Press Quality" flattens transparency to the "[Medium Resolution]" preset - line art and text at 300 ppi, gradient and mesh at 150 ppi. This alone makes the "Press Quality" preset unacceptable.

Thats why i wrote ''even below 150ppi'',i'm talking about 103ppi or 125ppi images,co existing with 300ppi,i don't think it is the flattener!

The bad link scenario sounds logical,i'll check it out!



Lukas,thats what i did!

Thank you all for your answers!

 

[rich apollo]

My apologies, Motormount. You are correct. [Press Quality] is PDF 1.4. It loads the Medium Resolution setting, but flattening isn't invoked unless you change to PDF 1.3.

 

[motormount]

I wasn't sure either!