Creating Postscript and PDF files for Direct Response Postscards

Postcards: QuarkXPress | Adobe Distiller Job Options

 

Things You Should Know before submitting a digital file ...

  • Prepare your document within your page layout application. (QuarkXpress, Pagemaker etc.)

  • Document size should be the size of the postcard 3.5 x 5.5 plus 1 inch (4.5 x 6.5)
    No bleeds accepted. (All your postcard elements should be restricted to the live area.)

  • All PDF's should be composite, no separations. (There is no support for PMS colors in composite PDF formats at this time)

  • Final version of the PDF must be 4.0 or later.

  • All Fonts must be embedded and of a Postscript format. No True Type.

Preparation (the following steps are for files created with QuarkXPress)
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 indicate the Canon Job Option settings. Place the Job Option file in your Distiller Settings folder located inside the Adobe Acrobat folder.

  5. Restart before proceeding.


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 Acrobat Distiller (PPD)

  • 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.

  • 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:
    Custom

  • Paper Width:
    6"

  • Paper Height:
    4"

  • Reduce or Enlarge:
    100%

  • Page Positioning:
    Center

  • Fit in Print Area:
    OFF

  • Orientation:
    Portrait
Output tab: Follow Selections below.

  • Print Colors:
    Composite CMYK (No PMS colors)

  • Halftoning:
    Printer

  • Resolution:
    2400 dpi
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 printer

  • Paper:
    default

  • 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.

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

 

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 (keep the .ps extension).

  • Please use recognizable advertiser name.

  • 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_Postcard.
  • See next page for Distiller Job Options.

Review Creating a PDF File from Adobe Acrobat.

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Adobe Distiller Job Options

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

(Click on images to enlarge)

General tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Compatibility:
    Acrobat 4.0

  • ASCII Format:
    OFF

  • Optimize PDF:
    OFF

  • Generate Thumbnails:
    OFF

  • Resolution:
    2400 dpi

  • Binding:
    Left

 

Compression tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Color Bitmap Images

    Compression:
    Automatic

     Quality:
    Maximum
    300 dpi

  • Grayscale Bitmap Images

    Compression:
    Automatic

    Quality:
    Maximum
    300 dpi

  • Monochrome Bitmap Images

    Compression:
    CCITT Group 4
    1200 dpi

  • 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: OFF

Preserve Under Color Removal and Black Generation: ON

Preserve Transfer Functions: OFF

Preserve Halftone Information: OFF

 

Advanced tab: Follow the selections below.

  • Options

Use Prologue .ps and Epilogue .ps: OFF

Allow PostScript File To Override Job Options: OFF

Preserve Level 2 copypage
Semantics: ON

Save Portable Job Ticket Inside PDF File: ON
  • 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

Width: 396

Height: 252

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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