March 2001 not only came in like a lion, it brought a new Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) edition that both reinforced old tried and true standards and made at least one significant change for the world of digital advertising. This change can be found on page 16 of the specification and concerns requirements for digital file exchange. As of March, there are only two file formats permitted for exchange within SWOP- TIFF/IT-P1 and PDF/X1 (soon to be PDF/X1a). All other formats are "not permitted". What does that mean to us in the magazine industry? Quite a bit. Suddenly we were swept into either the world of TIFF/IT-P1 (which can only be produced on a CEPS (Color Electronic Prepress System (Brisque, etc., or software that is NT native) or the shadowy and misunderstood (by many) realm of PDF/X1.

Armed with this news (and information I obtained at Magtech 2001) I rushed to my office a bit excited. We had been working on a PDF workflow for a few months and when looking at the new spec for PDF/X1, which we guessed wasn’t a far cry from PDF, we knew we had some homework to do. I contacted virtually everyone I knew associated with PDF/X1 (many thanks to Linda Manes Goodwin and the DDAP (we couldn’t have come this far without their help and support), did some research and begin formulating a launch plan. Jen Gilbert of our staff took it upon herself to become as up-to-date as anyone could be with regards to PDF/X1. We also looked closely at TIFF/IT-P1, but due to PDF/X1’s ease of creation on a Mac platform, we decided that it might fit the needs of our advertisers better, especially when looking at the costs associated with RIPing to TIFF/IT-P1 if the advertiser does not have in-house capabilities.

After many discussions with Apago (the makers of X-Checkup and Piktor), Linda, and Agfa (makers of Apogee Create special thanks to Mike Jahn for all his help) we came up with a formula for distilling and verifying our PDF/X1s and sent out files for testing at our printers. The tests proved successful at one vendor and unsuccessful at another. This brings up a very important point. For any file format to work well at a printer, that printer’s workflow should be able to properly process and utilize the format. In our case the one vendor worked within a PDF flow, when our other vendor did not. To this day we are still trying some tests, but my gut feeling is that it will not be in our best interest to force any format down our printer’s throat. With all the variables involved once my files hit the vendor’s CPU, I don’t want to upset his apple cart any more than I have to. We may just end up compromising with TIFF/IT-P1 (we can produce them in-house) for that vendor and still stay SWOP compliant.

Here is our preparation instructions in detail. It can, in my estimation, work for any operation producing digital ads, as long as the proper settings are used and the appropriate software is procured. I also want to mention that this is but one means to an end that works for our internal system and that of our printer. When looking into any new format always follow the 3 "T"s of file preparation - TEST, TEST, TEST! It is also impotent to note that this process produces Raster/Vector PDF/X1s and not Raster/Raster ones.

Before moving on I want to thank Jen Gilbert for researching the method you will find below. I’ve taken this straight out of our company’s digital ad specification and it was due to Jen’s hard efforts we are able present this information to you.

Producing a PDF/X1 is probably easier than you think. If producing a single PDF/X1 only three (3) basic elements are needed (by my company)

1. A solid postscript dump that has been produced using the DDAP Universal PPD and ICC profile TR001
2. Adobe Acrobat 4.0 with Distiller option setting 2 (also from DDAP)
3. Apago’s X-Checkup (this is a plug-in for Acrobat that can be purchased on-line)

We also use Apogee Create for producing our postscript and initial PDF, but if producing ad pages one at a time, your application software, coupled with distiller and X-Checkup can do the job very well. Not listed are Flightcheck and PitStop, which we use to preflight the application files prior to our postscript dump and the initial PDF (PitStop). We do this just in case there are any issues with the file’s set up or distiller profiles. It does not matter if your PDF/X1 verifies or not, if the original file and PDF are wrong, it still won’t be what you are expecting when on press!

Once a solid postscript dump is produced it is distilled into a PDF using the provided option setting 2. The resulting PDF is further distilled into a PDF/X1 using X-Checkup. X-Checkup not only assists in the production of a PDF/X1, it also verifies (a preflight of sorts in PDF/X1 lingo) the file to ensure that it meets all specifications for PDF/X1. I’ve simplified the process a bit, but as you go further into this specification you will find detailed, step-by-step instructions regarding the production of a PDF/X1, a usable PDF, and postscript from QuarkXpress.

The first thing you are going to need to do is to make sure that you have your computer set up correctly with the Universal PPD, Distiller option setting 2, and the ICC profile. Please note that all instructions are for Mac based platforms. The Universal PPD is part of your printer descriptions. You will find these on your computer‚s hard drive. Here’s how to install the PPD:

1. Open up your hard drive folder on your computer’s desktop.
2. Open your System folder.
3. Within the System folder locate the folder called "Extensions." Open the Extensions folder.
4. Within the Extensions folder you will locate another folder called "Printer Descriptions."
5. Open the Printer Descriptions folder and drag and drop the PPD.

The Distiller Option Setting 2 is a locked option setting for Acrobat Distiller that will assist you in creating a valid PDF/X1 file. These job options are located within the application folder for Distiller. Here’s how it is installed:

1. Open up your hard drive folder on your computer’s desktop.
2. Open your Applications folder.
3. Within the Applications folder, find your folder for Adobe Acrobat. Open the Acrobat folder.
4. Within the Acrobat application folder, you will find a separate folder labeled specifically for Distiller. Open the Distiller folder.
5. Locate the "Settings" folder. Open that folder and drag and drop the Distiller Setting into the Settings folder. Once Distiller is restarted, you will notice the the new setting as a job option within the Distiller window.

The ICC profile TR001 is a SWOP compliant profile created by The Eastman Kodak Company for press proofing that has been specified by SWOP for color management and proofing applications. You will find your ICC profiles on the hard drive of your computer. Please note that the ICC profile you use should be for output. Here’s where to put the ICC profile:

1. Open up the hard drive folder on your computer’s desktop.
2. Open your System folder.
3. Within the System folder, locate the "ColorSync Profiles" folder. Open the ColorSync folder.
4. Drag and drop the ICC profile into the ColorSync Profiles folder.

Now that you have all the required software properly installed on your computer, we can start focusing on how to go about actually creating a valid PDF/X1. The first step will be to create a solid postscript file from your native application. We will go over step-by-step how to create a postscript file from QuarkXPress. NOTE: Remember when creating your postscript files, each page will take a good few minutes to properly spool. Please be patient!

The first thing you need to do before creating a postscript file, is to make sure that you have your document set up correctly within Quark. Please be sure to follow the specifications provided in order to get the desired result. (This example is for Quark XPress 4.0 and LaserWriter 8.6.5 on a Mac platform. Other software and versions could have the required parameters in other areas.)

Document Structure:

1. Quark document should be set at the TRIM size of the publication.
2. All bleeds should be pulled out no more or no less than 1/8" from the document, or whatever your publication spec states.
3. All colors in the color palette that are not running as a spot color should be set up as CMYK process.
4. All trapping should be set in Quark at .144pt.

Images:

1. All images should be saved in an EPS or TIFF format with 8 bits per channel for CMYK and Grayscale, and 1 bit for Bitmap.
2. All images should be at least 300 dpi.
3. Images can NOT be saved using any compression of any type (JPEG, LZW, G3, G4.) This includes compression in the encoding option for the preview.
4. Do NOT save any images with a color space of RGB, LAB, or INDEX. The ONLY colors supported are CMYK, Grayscale, and Bitmap.

Fonts:

1. Use Type 1 PostScript fonts ONLY. TrueType fonts are NOT supported!
2. All fonts should be embedded! (This setting is in the Postscript Printing options.)

NOTE: ALWAYS print SINGLE page postscript files ONLY!! Now that the document is set up correctly, let's move on to creating the actual postscript file.... Make sure that you have selected a LaserWriter printer in your chooser for spooling the file. The postscript file will not be produced correctly without. The LaserWriter is the printer that should be selected within your chooser, and the DDAP PPD is the PPD that is selected within Quark's printer setup screen. The following steps will clarify this:

1. Open the Document - Make sure that the document is set up correctly according to the specifications listed above.
(File menu: Document Setup...) Make sure that you have chosen a LaserWriter as your printer in the chooser.
2. Check Usage - Check to make sure that all fonts and pictures are updated and ready to print. (Utilities menu: Picture Usage...)
3. Select Print (File menu: Print...)

Document Tab Settings:

a. Select pages: 1 to 1 - please print SINGLE pages ONLY!
b. Separations, Spreads, Include Blank Pages, Thumbnails, Back To Front: Off
c. Page Sequence: All
d. Bleed: .25"
e. Registration: 18 pt
f. Tiling: Off

Setup Tab Settings:

a. Printer Description: DDAP PPD
b. Paper Size: Custom
c. Paper Width: 9.25" (set to 1.25" larger than TRIM size of document for my company’s ads)
d. Paper Height: Automatic
e. Reduce or Enlarge: 100%
f. Page Positioning: Center Horizontal
g. Fill In Print Area: Off
h. Orientation: Portrait

Output Tab Settings:

a. Print Colors: Composite Color
b. Halftoning: Conventional
c. Resolution: 2400 dpi
d. Frequency: 133 lpi

Options Tab Settings:

a. Error Handler: Off
b. Page Flip: None
c. Negative Print: Off
d. Output: Normal
e. Data: Binary
f. OPI: Include Images
g. Overprint EPS Black: Off
h. Full Res. TIFF: Off
Make sure that your page looks correct in the preview tab!

4. Select the Printer button on the bottom of the print dialog screen:
a. Printer: LaserWriter
b. Destination: FILE
c. Copies: 1
d. Pages: From 1 to 1 (single page files ONLY)
e. Paper Source: All pages from Auto Select

5. Scroll down from the General tab in the upper left hand corner to "Save As File."
a. Format: Postscript Job
b. Postscript Level: Level 1 Compatible
c. Data Format: Binary
d. Font Inclusion: ALL
6. Select Print.....You Are Done!

Now that you have your Postscript files made, the next step will be to distill the postscript into a PDF with the use of Acrobat Distiller and the DDAP optimized job setting we have provided for you. Open Distiller and make sure that you have correctly followed the preceding steps in installing the job options setting. You should be able to select the DDAP setting in the "Job Options" tab on Distiller‚s dialog screen.

1. Open Distiller - Make sure that the job options settings are installed. We will go over
the correct option settings to make sure that the desired result is correctly achieved.
2. Select Job Options (Settings menu: Job Options...)

General Tab Profiles:

a. Compatibility: Acrobat 3.0
b. ASCII Format: Off
c. Optimize PDF: On
d. Generate Thumbnails: Off
e. Resolution: 2400 dpi
f. Binding: Left

Compression Tab Profiles:

a. Color Bitmap Images: 300 dpi
b. Bicubic Downsampling: Off
c. Compression: On / ZIP
d. Quality: 8 bit
e. Grayscale Bitmap Images: 300 dpi
f. Bicubic Downsampling: Off
g. Compression: On / ZIP
h. Quality: 8 bit
i. Monochrome Bitmap Images: 2400 dpi
j. Bicubic Downsampling: Off
k. Compression: On / ZIP
l. Compress Text and Line Art: On

Fonts Tab Profiles:

a. Embed All Fonts: On
b. Subset All Embedded Fonts Below: On / 100%
c. When Embedding Fails: Cancel Job
d. Embedding: Base 14 Fonts
e. Always / Never Embed: None

Color Tab Profiles:

a. Leave Color Unchanged: On
b. All Other Conversion Selections: Off
c. Assumed Profiles: None
d. Preserve Overprint Settings: On
e. Preserve Under Color Removal / Black Generation: On
b. All Other Options: Off


Advanced Tab Profiles:

a. Use Prologue / Epilogue.ps: On
b. All Other Options: Off
c. Document Structuring Conventions: None
d. Default Page Size: 11" x 17"
3. Click OK!

Now that you have your job options correctly set in Distiller, we can proceed to the actual production of the PDF file.

1. Open Distiller - Make sure that the job options setting is installed.
2. Drag and Drop your Postscript File Into Distiller - Drop only one page at a time. Distiller does not batch process. NOTE: Distiller will take a few minutes to properly distill each page. After distilling is complete, the program will then take a few minutes to properly save each file. Please be patient! The PDF will be saved to the same location as the postscript file.

Creating a PDF/X1

Once you have your PDF files made, the next step will be to bring the PDF into Acrobat and correct any errors the file may have. We have elected to use Apago's X-Checkup.

1. Open Acrobat - Make sure that you have properly installed Apago's X-Checkup into Acrobat's Plug-In folder.
2. Open your PDF - Make sure that your document looks okay once you view it in Acrobat.
3. Select Apago's X-Checkup (Tools menu: Apago PDF/X1 Checkup) Once you have opened you file in Acrobat and selected the PDF/X1 Checkup, a screen will prompt you letting you know whether or not your PDF is a valid PDF/X1 file. If it is not, then you will be prompted with a list of errors that need to be corrected.
4. Select "Show Details" - View all errors in your PDF file.
5. Select "Fix All" - Fix any errors that were noted by the PDF/X1 Checkup. Then select "Close." Once you have fixed all errors in your PDF file, you will be prompted with a screen letting you know that you now have a valid PDF/X1 file. If Checkup informs you that you still do not have a valid PDF/X1 file, then you have made errors in either the production of the postscript file, or the Distilling of the PDF. Please go back through the steps provided in this booklet and repeat until you have a valid file.
6. Select "Close"
7. SAVE YOUR DOCUMENT! - Now that you have a valid PDF/X1 file, please remember to save your file!
8. REMEMBER! - DO NOT RENAME YOUR FILES ONCE COMPLETED!!! Renaming your files will ultimately change the "wrapper" of the file. Do NOT rename files!
9. Congratulations! - You now have a valid PDF/X1 file!

It is my belief that PDF/X1 will prove very useful for advertisers as it can be produced, given the right software and expertise, on a Mac, unlike TIFF/IT-P1 which needs a CEPS or software that is NT native. I’m sure that there are folks out there creating digital ads on NTs, but I’m just as sure that most are using Macs like the rest of us.