Creating PostScript and PDF Files

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Quick Guide to eSPECS

For your convenience, we’ve prepared a quick reference guide to file formats and list the top ten things to remember when preparing a digital ad file. This handy reference will assist you in selecting the most appropriate file format for your ad. Print out the PDF file for a handy reference guide in the future.

Key format specifications

These following specifications apply to CMYK or black and white ads only. Multi-color ads using a PMS color must be submitted as an EPS or postscript file.

  • All PostScript and PDF files must be composite. Only composite PDF files can be placed within QuarkXPress documents. Must be document version 3.0 for placement in QuarkXPress.

  • Only one ad per file. Name files so that they refer as clearly as possible to the advertisement in question. Do not use special characters (e.g. /!2#%&~^@), spaces, or uppercase letters. Never enclose old versions, archive files, or unnecessary files along with the ad file.

  • Never resubmit an ad with the same name as the original.

  • All high-resolution images and fonts must be included and embedded into the document.

  • Use only PostScript Type 1 fonts to ensure that fonts are available for viewing and printing. Canon cannot accept files using TrueType fonts or font substitutions.

  • Images must be SWOP (CMYK or Grayscale).

  • Do not embed RGB/LAB or JPEG images into any format.

  • TIFF and EPS formats must be between 266 and 350 dpi.

  • All required image trapping must meet SWOP standards and be included in the ad file.

  • No RGB, Index, or LAB colors.

  • No LZW compression.

  • Do not nest EPS files into other EPS files.

  • If Illustrator or Freehand EPS files are used, convert all text to outlines.

  • Total area density must not exceed SWOP 300% TAC.

  • Files must be right reading, portrait mode at 100% with no rotations.

  • Include the Canon Digital Ad Checklist with the ad file.

Format preparation

Software you will need to create a high-resolution PDF ad file include:

Before creating an EPS, PostScript, or PDF file, the four steps listed below must be completed. Once completed, there is no need to repeat these steps again unless your computer configuration changes.

  1. Install Adobe Acrobat Distiller 4.05a.

  2. Install the LaserWriter 8 Driver – version 8.6 or higher. Place in System Folder/Extensions Folder.

  3. Install the Postscript Printer Description (PPD). Place in System Folder/Extensions/Printer Description Folder.

  4. Install the Canon Distiller Job Options. Before creating a PDF file, you need to set Distiller’s Job Options to Canon’s required settings. The easiest way to accomplish this is to download the Canon Distiller Job Options file. If you do not download the file, you must choose Job Options from Distiller’s Settings menu and manually choose Canon's custom settings. Place the Job Option file in your Distiller Settings folder located inside the Adobe Acrobat folder.

  5. Restart before proceeding.

Coming Soon:


Creating a PDF File from Adobe Acrobat from QuarkXPress 4.1.

After all the correct files are installed on your system, follow the steps below. Portable Document Format (PDF) from Adobe Systems has proven to be a very dependable format for sending advertisements to magazines as a digital print file. However, creating a file that prints correctly depends upon following some very important and specific parameters.

(Click on images to enlarge)

Step 1. Go to the apple menu and select CHOOSER.

  • Select the LaserWriter 8 icon.

  • Select a PostScript Printer.

  • Click SETUP.
Note: If you don't have a PostScript printer, do not make a selection, just close Chooser.

 

Step 2. Select PPD (which will take you to a third window).

  • Select Print Production.

  • Click OPEN.

  • Close all the windows.

Note: If no PostScript printer is present, you must select the PPD within the page layout program (application).

 

Step 3. Make sure the original elements are correct for print.

  • Must be a composite PDF.

  • Must be a 4-color ad or a B/W ad.

  • Create only single-page PDF files, very important.

  • Use only Type 1 fonts. No TrueType fonts.

  • No Multiple Master fonts.

  • Images must be SWOP (CMYK or Grayscale).

  • TIFF or EPS between 266 and 350 dpi.

  • No RGB, JPEG, or LAB images.

  • No RGB/LAB or Index colors.

  • No LZW Compression.

  • Do not nest EPS file into other EPS files.

 

Step 4. In QuarkXPress select PRINT from the file menu.
Document tab: Follow selections below.

  • Pages:
    one page at a time

  • Separation:
    OFF

  • Include Blank Pages:
    OFF

  • Spreads:
    OFF

  • Thumbnails:
    OFF

  • Back to Front:
    OFF

  • Page Sequence:
    All

  • Registration:
    OFF

  • Tiling:
    OFF

  • Bleed: If your ad bleeds, indicate .125.

Setup tab: Follow Selections below.

  • Printer Description should be Adobe Print Production.

  • Paper Size:
    Letter

  • Paper Width:
    default

  • Paper Height:
    default

  • Reduce or Enlarge:
    100%

  • Page Positioning:
    Center

  • Fit in Print Area:
    OFF

  • Orientation:
    Portrait or Landscape (Depending on ad orientation.)

Output tab: Follow Selections below.

  • Print Colors:
    Composite CMYK

  • Halftoning:
    Conventional

  • Resolution:
    2400 dpi

  • Frequency:
    133 lpi

  • Digital ads using spot colors should not use the PDF format;
    defer to instructions.

Options tab: Follow selections below.

  • Quark Postscript Error Handler:
    OFF

  • Page Flip:
    NONE

  • Negative Print:
    OFF

  • Pictures
    Output:
    Normal

  • Data:
    Binary

  • Overprint EPS Black:
    OFF

  • Full Resolution TIFF Output:
    ON

  • OPI:
    Include Images

Preview tab: Check parameters.

 

Step 5. Click PAGE SETUP and follow the settings below.

  • Format for:
    indicate your postscript printer

  • Paper:
    indicate size

  • Orientation:
    Portrait or Landscape

  • Scale:
    100%

 

Step 6. Select Page Attributes, hold, and select PostScript Options from the pull down menu.

  • Make sure all boxes are clicked OFF.

  • Click OK.

 

Step 7. Click PRINTER and follow the selections below:

  • Click General, hold, select Save As File.

  • Destination:
    File

  • Format: PostScript Job

  • PostScript Level:
    Level
    1 Compatible

  • Data Format:
    Binary

  • Font Inclusion:
    All

  • Click SAVE.

 

Step 8. File Name.

  • Please use recognizable advertiser name (keep the .ps extension).

  • Click SAVE.

(You will be taken back to the Quark Print Dialogue Box.)

 

Step 9. Check your general print settings. (Repeat of step 4)

  • It's essential that PDF files are created one page at a time.

  • Click PRINT.

 

Step10. After your file has been postscripted, launch Acrobat Distiller.

 

Step 11. Under Settings, select Job Options.
  • Select Canon_Prepress.
  • If Canon_Prespress has been downloaded and installed it should be an available option in the Distiller window. If so, drag and drop the postscript file on to Distiller's window. This will create a usable PDF for Canon Communications.

Review Creating a PDF File from Adobe Acrobat.

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Follow the settings below if you are unable to download the Canon Prepress Job Options file.

Adobe Distiller Job Options

(Click on images to enlarge)

General tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Compatibility:
    Acrobat 3.0

  • ASCII Format:
    OFF

  • Optimize PDF:
    OFF

  • Generate Thumbnails:
    OFF

  • Resolution:
    2400 dpi

  • Binding:
    Left

 

Compression tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Color Bitmap Images

    Bicubic Downsampling:
    (unchecked)
    400 dpi

    Compression:
    Automatic

     Quality:
    Maximum

  • Grayscale Bitmap Images

    Bicubic Downsampling:
    (unchecked)
    400 dpi

    Compression:
    Automatic

    Quality:
    Maximum
    400 dpi

  • Monochrome Bitmap Images

    Bicubic Downsampling:
    (unchecked)
    2400 dpi

    Compression:
    CCITT
    Group 4

  • Compress Text and Line Art: ON

 

Fonts tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Embed All Fonts:
    ON

  • Subset All Embedded Fonts Below:
    100%

  • When Embedding Fails:
    Cancel Job

  • Embedding:
    Base 14 Fonts

 

Color tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Conversion
    Leave Color Unchanged:
    ON

  • Options

Preserve Overprint Settings: ON

Preserve Under Color Removal and Black Generation: ON

Preserve Transfer Functions: ON

Preserve Halftone Information: OFF

 

Advanced tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Options

Use Prologue .ps and Epilogue .ps: ON

Allow PostScript File To Override Job Options: OFF

Preserve Level 2 copypage
Semantics: ON

Save Portable Job Ticket Inside PDF File: OFF
  • Document Structuring Conventions (DCS)
Process DSC: ON

Log DSC Warnings: OFF

Resize Page And Center Artwork For EPS Files: ON

Preserve EPS Info from DSC: ON

Preserve OPI Comments: ON

Preserve Document Info from DSC: ON
  • Default Page Size (match actual size of ad document from page layout program)

Width: 612

Height: 792

Units: Points

  • Click Save As

 

Drop the PostScript file on top of this window to distill and
it will be converted to a high-resolution PDF file.

 

After you are finished distilling, check the PDF file with Acrobat Reader to make sure that you are satisfied with the ad.


Review Distiller Job Options.

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