ArtPro Generating PDF from ArtPro 10

Transcription

1 ArtPro Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 EskoArtwork May 2011

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3 Table of Contents 1 General PDF output for file exchange and ripping in all environments PDF output for use in an EskoArtwork environment PDF output for viewing and ing Separated PDF as output General remarks on PDF creation

4 1 General This document offers guidelines to the users of ArtPro 10 for saving PDF files from ArtPro 10. The PDFs generated following the recommendations described in this document will allow correct viewing and ripping in all environments. All screenshots in this document were taken from ArtPro 10. The ArtPro 10 interface may looks slightly different from older versions of ArtPro, and contains more options. 1.1 PDF version EskoArtwork recommends the usage of PDF 1.4 or PDF 1.5 for file exchange in the packaging industry. In the PDF 1.4 file format, transparencies and blend modes were introduced, which allows users to convert all packaging artwork into a PDF file without restriction. The usage of PDF 1.5 is mainly interesting for the packaging user because it support layer information. It is still possible to save a PDF 1.3 file from ArtPro 10. However, if the document contains PDF 1.4 transparencies and blend modes, saving to an inferior file formats can result in flattening of certain parts, and may deteriorate the integrity and editability of the file. We base our recommendations throughout this document on the use of PDF 1.4 as a minimum requirement. 1.2 PDF flavors in ArtPro The Export PDF dialog contains some default settings for different PDF flavours: for Press, Normalized PDF, Normalized PDF (embedded), Separated PDF, for Viewing and JDF. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 4

5 The PDF flavour settings are stored in the user preferences. If you want to make changes to the default settings of the flavour it is sufficient to save the ArtPro preferences. If you think you may have changed some options, use the Reset Current to Defaults button. This will revert the settings to the last version saved in your user preferences. If you want to revert back to ArtPro s original settings, delete the ArtPro preferences in your User/Library/Preferences. Save Current Flavour will write an XML file containing all settings for the active flavour. Settings for other flavours will not be included. Load Current Flavour opens an XML file and uses its settings to overwrite the settings of the active flavour. Settings for other flavours will not be changed. Save All to User Preferences will save the settings for every flavour into the user preferences. These settings will be used every time this user starts ArtPro. This save will overwrite the PDF Export Preferences in the preferences file. All other preferences remain unchanged. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 5

6 1.2.1 for Press flavor The for Press flavor is to create high resolution PDF for file exchange and to RIP. This flavor will generate PDF 1.4 files (which means no layers will be included when opening the PDF in Acrobat, but all transparency will remain live) Normalized PDF (embedded) flavors The Normalized PDF flavour allows the user to output PDF files that can be opened and edited in PackEdge, BackStage, These PDF files will be small as they only contain LR preview and a link(s) to the external image(s). Only use these kind of PDF files in an EskoArtwork environment. Normalized PDF (Embedded) generates PDF files that can be sent to FlexRIP. These files contain all images embedded in the file. These flavours generate PDF 1.5. files. As from ArtPro 9.5, a Normalized PDF will contain Station number information and Technical inks will be output (whereas other PDF flavours do not output Technical inks). Please note that for example in PackEdge, objects with a Technical ink at a certain percentage (other than 100%), are NOT supported and will result in a warning Separated PDF flavor Separated PDF allows to generate separated PDFs. It will create a multipage PDF where each page represents a separation in greyscale. The pages will have the separation as name for Viewing flavor for Viewing will generate low-resolution PDF files for viewing and for sending via JDF flavour The JDF flavour is for JDF Output which is an optimization system for outputting S&R of PDF files. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 6

7 2 PDF output for file exchange and ripping in all environments This chapter describes how to create PDF files for exchange, without restrictions. The PDFs generated following the recommendations below will allow correct viewing and ripping in all environments compliant with PDF 1.4, PDF 1.5 and PDF 1.6 features. With a number of screenshots we will guide you to use the correct settings for creating a RIP-able highresolution PDF, with the smallest file size. For outputting a correct PDF for ripping on a PDF 1.4 RIP, select the for Press flavour in the Export PDF dialog and use the default options defined by EskoArtwork. General tab [1] Add Non Printing Layers When switched on, layers set to non-printing are exported into the PDF file. With this option off, these layers are not output, so the PDF file contains only layers with the Print option on. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 7

8 [2] Include 1.5 Layers PDF 1.5 allows the use of layers. If the option is switched on, the ArtPro layers will be included in the PDF file as 1.5 layers. The compliancy of the PDF file format will be set to 1.5. [3] Add Standard Preview When checked, an RGB preview of the file will be available when placing the PDF file into a front-end application. [4] Add Separated Preview This options adds a separated preview to the PDF file. This is only useful if the PDF is placed into ArtPro for e.g. Step & Repeat. Remark: Any preview increases the file size of the PDF file. When the PDF files have large physical sizes, the preview may consume more disc space than the PDF itself. The recommendation is therefore only to use previews on single jobs (not on step & repeats) and only when necessary. Optimize tab [1] Use Picture Caching Picture Caching makes the output faster by keeping all images that are put in the PDF file into memory, instead of reading the information from disk, until the complete PDF file is written. Switching this option on is more memory consuming during PDF export but can increase the speed of PDF creation, especially when some images are located on a file server. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 8

9 [2] Compress Page Description When this option is switched on, the PDF file will be compressed. For a small time penalty during PDF creation, this option will compress linework in the PDF up to 5 times smaller. Text [1] Subset Embedded Fonts when % of Characters used is less than ArtPro embeds the fonts into the PDF by default. This option defines whether fonts should be embedded as a subset if only a part of the characters are used. If this value is set to 100%, a subset will be created for every font that is not used completely. Remark: Only 1-byte fonts can be embedded into PDF files. For multi-byte fonts (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, ) the text will automatically be converted to outlines during export. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 9

10 Color [1] Force Opaque inks to Knockout If this checkbox is on, Opaque inks such as Gold, Silver,.. will knockout the background in the PDF file. Remark: This option will allow you to have a correct viewing and proofing of opaque inks in Acrobat. However, this will produce a PDF file which is NOT correct for press anymore!!! Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 10

11 Images [1] Use Image Downsampling at By default the for Press output keeps the images in the resolution as they were placed in ArtPro. When activating this option you can make images downsample to 300 dpi, which is the generally accepted minimum in our industry. By downsampling you can win quite some PDF file size, certainly if the images used in the original document are much higher in resolution. [2] Use Averaging When Downsampling The image quality will be better but the output will be slower. [3] Image Clipping ArtPro will clip images to the smallest size inside the clipping path but will include the full picture if clipping does not give any benefit (if the sum of the image parts is close to or bigger than the size of the full image). [4] Links: OPI ArtPro will write OPI links in the PDF file for all placed images. By default the images will be embedded when using the for Press flavor. Remark: The GWG Packaging v2.0 specifications do NOT recommend OPI usage and preflight will error when using OPI. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 11

12 3 PDF output for use in an EskoArtwork environment To do further processing in an EskoArtwork environment the user can choose between the following flavours: for Press, Normalized PDF and Normalized PDF (embedded). Depending of the EskoArtwork application in which it will be processed one of these flavours can be chosen. 3.1 PDF output for Nexus PDF RIP For Nexus PDF RIP the flavour for Press is recommended and the settings described in Chapter 2 can be used. However there is still 1 option that has not been discussed in the previous chapter and that can be interesting for use in Nexus: Include Screening in the Optimize tab of the Export PDF settings. If this option Include Screening is enabled, PostScript (Esko Screening) and Nexus Extended Screening will be saved in the PDF file. If other screening is found (e.g. Nexus screening) a warning will be given. This screening can be used by the Nexus PDF RIP (or in Esko back-end systems). 3.2 PDF output for Automation Engine / PackEdge / FlexRIP With the merger of Esko and Artwork Systems we aim for fully compatibility between all the different EskoArtwork applications. It is important that files can be exchanged with full edit-ability. Therefore EskoArtwork added the Normalized PDF and Normalized PDF (embedded) flavours which allows to export Normalized PDF files for further processing in PackEdge, FlexRIP, Automation Engine and BackStage. This part describes how to create PDF files for exchange with Automation Engine, BackStage, FlexRIP and/or PackEdge. The PDFs generated following the recommendations below will allow correct viewing and ripping in these EskoArtwork applications. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 12

13 3.2.1 Export PDF settings for Normalized PDF (embedded) With a number of screenshots we will guide you to use the correct settings for creating a RIP-able highresolution PDF. Select the Normalized PDF (embedded)' flavour in the Export PDF dialog and use the default options defined by EskoArtwork. With the Normalized PDF flavour a PDF will be generated that can be opened and edited in PackEdge, BackStage, Automation Engine Normalized PDF (Embedded) generates PDF files that can be sent to FlexRIP. These files contain all images embedded in the file. General [1] Generate Normalized PDF With this option the PDF file structure will be Normalized PDF and XMP information will be included in the PDF file. [2] Add Non Printing Layers When switched on, layers set to non-printing are exported into the PDF file. With this option off, these layers are not output, so the PDF file contains only layers with the Print option on. [3] Include 1.5 Layers PDF 1.5 allows the use of layers. If the option is switched on, the ArtPro layers will be in the PDF file as 1.5 layers. The compliancy of the PDF file format is set to 1.5. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 13

14 [4] Add Thumbnail A thumbnail will be created of the file. A thumbnail is a small preview that can be shown in Acrobat. [5] Add Esko Preview The PDF will contain a separated preview that can be used in e.g. PackEdge. Optimize [1] Use Picture Caching Picture Caching makes the output faster by keeping all images that are put in the PDF file into memory, instead of reading the information from disk, until the complete PDF file is written. Switching this option on is more memory consuming during PDF export but can increase the speed of PDF creation, especially when some images are located on a file server. [2] Compress Page Description When this option is switched on, the PDF file will be compressed. For a small time penalty PDF creation, this option will compress the linework in the PDF up to 5 times smaller. [3] Include Screening If the option Include Screening is enabled, PostScript (Esko Screening) will be saved in the PDF file. This screening info can be used by the FlexRIP. If no screening is defined on all or some of the objects, a default screening will be applied to these objects. The defaults are: - ruling: 120 lpi - dotshape: simpledot (round) - angles: C 15, M 75, Y 0, B 45, any other: 45 The Screening Registration allows you to control the screen registration of the one ups to be used in a S&R file Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 14

15 in FlexRIP. When set to Continuous, the screening will be calculated over the full S&R. When set to reset for each external file, the screening origin will be reset for every placed one up. This can be used if for example you would like to have exactly the same screening rosettes in all placed one-ups. Text [1] Subset Embedded Fonts when % of Characters used is less than ArtPro embeds the fonts into the PDF by default. This option defines whether fonts should be embedded as a subset if only a part of the characters are used. If this value is set to 100%, a subset will be created for every font that is not used completely. Remark: Only 1-byte fonts can be embedded into PDF files. For multi-byte fonts (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, ) the text will automatically be converted to outlines during export. Color Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 15

16 [1] Force Opaque inks to Knockout If this checkbox is on, Opaque inks such as Gold, Silver,.. will knockout the background in the PDF file. Remark: This option will allow you to have a correct viewing and proofing of opaque inks in Acrobat. However, this will produce a PDF file which is NOT correct for press anymore!!! Images [1] Links: Esko Images will be included as Esko links. For Normalized PDF (embedded), no links are added and all images are embedded at full resolution, resulting in a fat Normalized PDF. [2] Embed images For Normalized PDF the images will be included as Esko links (see [1]) but also embedded at low resolution. This means downsampling is set at 96 dpi. Normalized PDF (embedded) will result in fully embedded images, at full resolution. [3] Use Averaging When Downsampling The image quality will be better but the output will be slower. [4] Image Clipping ArtPro will clip images to the smallest size inside the clipping path but will include the full picture if clipping does not give any benefit (if the sum of the image parts is close to or bigger than the size of the full image). Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 16

17 3.2.2 Distortion & Dotgain Distortion When exporting Normalized PDF A Normalized PDF files stores its distortion parameters in the XMP section of the PDF. These values can be seen with the XMP viewer, and can be used in some workflows ( e.g. reportmaker ). The Distortion is NOT applied to the PDF at this stage. Only FlexRip will use and apply this parameters when calculating the result. Any other Rip ( Nexus, 3rd Party ) will not use these parameters, resulting in an undistorted output. If you do want to apply distortion in NexusRIP or any 3 rd party Rip, and you need to use Normalized PDF for some reason, you have 3 options: a: If you have an automation Engine, you can use the 'Export to PDF' task to convert your normalized PDF into a universal (distorted) PDF. All dotshapes ( including Nexus Extended ) will be lost, except for Esko dotshapes (only if you have an Automation Engine 10.1 ) b: If you have an Automation Engine, the workflow can be adapted to apply the distortion parameters from the XMP section of the PDF into the NexusRip distortion parameters, by using 'Smartnames' to overwrite the distortion parameters from the NexusRip ( by making them 'public'). c: You can always make the distortion Parameters from the NexusRip Activity 'Public'. These will then appear and can be defined in your shuttle Parameters when launching your workflow. When exporting to any other PDF flavor The distortion percentages will be applied immediately to the PDF file, resulting in a distorted output or viewing in any PDF Rip or Viewer. Dotgain When exporting to Normalized PDF Dot gain information is not included in the Normalized PDf files. If dotgain has been defined and used in some screenings, Artpro will generate a warning during PDF export. When exporting to any other PDF flavor If dotgain is defined, it will be included in the PDF file. Note that these PDF files will only output the dotgain compensation correctly on a Nexus Rip! ( The dot gain compensation will most probably not be applied on 3rd party Rips, and even if they do, it will only be applied on CMYK plates, never on spot color plates as defined in the Adobe PDF specs) Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 17

18 3.2.3 Other Normalized PDF restrictions Pantone inks not in Esko color books These inks will be saved as unregistered inks. Inks found in Esko ink books, will get the correct ink book reference. The ink type is kept (opaque, varnish, normal, technical inks). Note that technical inks can have a different behaviour in a PackEdge, Automation Engine or a BackStage environment. Placed or repeated files Placed or repeated files will be expanded in PackEdge No Barcode information No font file information A warning saying "Invalid Objects found during Normalized PDF Output. Please choose another Flavour." is shown whenever a Normalized PDF is exported from an ArtPro job containing either: - non-normalized placed PDFs - placed EPS/PS files - RGB images Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 18

19 4 PDF output for viewing and ing To output PDF files to send via or to just preview the files, you can choose the for Viewing flavour in the Export PDF dialog. When choosing this flavour a PDF 1.4 will be generated. General [1] Add Non Printing Layers When switched on, layers set to non-printing are exported into the PDF file. With this option off, these layers are not output, so the PDF file contains only layers with the Print option on. [2] Add Standard Preview When checked, an RGB preview of the file will be available when placing the PDF file back into a front-end application. Note: Switch off this option to get even smaller files. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 19

20 Optimize [1] Use Picture Caching Picture Caching makes the output faster by keeping all images that are put in the PDF file into memory, instead of reading the information from disk, until the complete PDF file is written. Switching this option on is more memory consuming during PDF export but can increase the speed of PDF creation, especially when some images are located on a file server. [2] Compress Page Description When this option is switched on, the PDF file will be compressed. For a small time penalty PDF creation, this option will compress the linework in the PDF up to 5 times smaller. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 20

21 Text [1] Subset Embedded Fonts when % of Characters used is less than ArtPro embeds the fonts into the PDF by default. This option defines whether fonts should be embedded as a subset if only a part of the characters are used. If this value is set to 100%, a subset will be created for every font that is not used completely. Remark: Only 1-byte fonts can be embedded into PDF files. For multi-byte fonts (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, ) the text will automatically be converted to outlines during export. Color [1] Force Opaque inks to Knockout If this checkbox is on, Opaque inks such as Gold, Silver,.. will knockout the background in the PDF file. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 21

22 Remark: This option will allow you to have a correct viewing and proofing of opaque inks in Acrobat. However, this will produce a PDF file which is NOT correct for press anymore!!! Images [1] Use Image Downsampling at By default the for Viewing flavour will embed all the images at a resolution of 72 ppi. [2] Use Averaging When Downsampling The image quality will be better but the output will be slower. [3] Image Compression: High Compression JPEG By default, the images will be default compressed with High Compression JPEG. This means that the file size will be small but the quality will be low. [4] Image Clipping ArtPro will clip images to the smallest size inside the clipping path but will include the full picture if clipping does not give any benefit (if the sum of the image parts is close to or bigger than the size of the full image). Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 22

23 5 Separated PDF as output Another Export PDF flavour is Separated PDF that allows the output of a separated PDF. This flavour will generate a PDF 1.4 that by default has the same settings as a for Press PDF (see chapter 2) except for the following options: General [1] Generate Separated PDF [2] Add Composite on Page 1 This option will add the entire composite PDF on the first page. The subsequent pages then contain the separated data. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 23

24 Optimize [1] Optimize White Objects When this option is on, all white objects that do not influence the final result, will be removed. This is mostly useful when outputting Separated PDF. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 24

25 6 General remarks on PDF creation 6.1 Distilling PostScript or Export PDF? You should not create PDF files by printing to PostScript and then distilling to PDF. Creating a PostScript file may result in flattening parts of the design. 6.2 Viewing PDF with Acrobat 6.0 and older Note that Acrobat 6.0 and older do not show PDF transparencies and blend modes correctly. From Acrobat 7 onwards transparencies are previewed correctly when overprint preview is activated in the preferences of the application. 6.3 Outputting PDF 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 To output a PDF 1.6 (or PDF 1.4 or 1.5) you will need a RIP which is 1.6 (or 1.4 or 1.5) compliant. Native PDF 1.4/1.5 RIP will understand the transparencies and blend modes and rip the file to output immediately. RIP that are not capable of interpreting PDF 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6 transparencies may flatten the file first: this introduces an extra risk as this step may deteriorate your file s integrity. 6.4 Outputting PDF 1.3 Flattened PDF files or PDF 1.3 can also directly be generated by ArtPro, via the Export PDF dialog. When activating the toggle Enable in the Flattener area, the compliancy of the PDF file format will be set to 1.3. Generating PDF from ArtPro 10 25