PDF Guidelines

Bit Depth

Clipping Paths

JPEG Image Quality

CMYK vs. RGB

Conversion Calculator

Duotones

Effective Resolution

File Formats Explained

Fonts

Halftones

ICC Profiles & Color Mgt.

Image Format Basics

Image Resolution

Line Screen

Outline Fonts

Path Flatness

PDF

PDFWriter vs. Distiller

PDF Font Subset

Proofing

Total Ink Coverage

Transfer Curves

Basic Guide to Making PDF Files

Document and image delivery of PDF files will yield the best results if you follow these simple instructions. We have taken the most generic, and industry standard approaches to presenting this information for you. These pages will outline the tools and procedures you will need to generate and deliver perfect PDF's every time!

First you must start out building a quality document. Refer to the Digital Art Guidelines.
Second you need to make a PostScript file.

Finally you need to convert the PostScript to a PDF using Acrobat Distiller.

In order to make a PDF file, you will need to obtain and install some software. Below are links and instructions to the necessary tools:

	Macintosh	Windows

PostScript Creation	Adobe PS Print Driver	Adobe PS Print Driver

PDF and Acrobat Setup	Adobe Acrobat	Adobe Acrobat
	Job Options Distiller v 4	Job Options Distiller v 4
	Job Options Distiller v 5	Job Options Distiller v 5

Like most anything, if you put garbage into a process, you will get garbage out; and a PDF file is the same way. By starting out building your documents improperly, or with poor quality graphics, the resulting PDF will contain all of those bad elements. The best place to start the process is by reviewing and adhering to our Digital Art Guidelines. After you are sure that you have a quality set of files, progress to the next step.

To create a PostScript file, you will need these tools (links are available above):

PPD (DDAP generic PPD)
Print Driver (Latest LaserWriter and PSPrinter)

Before you start to make the PostScript file, you must install the Print Drivers and PPD's into your system.

	Macintosh	Windows

Installation of the PrintDriver and the PPD	Universal Macintosh Print Driver	Universal Windows Print Driver

Making PostScript is no more than printing to a regular printer, only you will be capturing the print commands to a file. We have been able to document the creation of PostScript on both Macintosh and Windows computers for a variety of programs.

	Macintosh		Windows

Writing PostScript	Adobe Framemaker		Adobe Framemaker
Adobe InDesign		Adobe InDesign
	QuarkXPress		QuarkXPress

Now that the PostScript file has been created, it is time to convert it to PDF using acrobat Distiller. It is important to note that you need to use Acrobat Distiller and not Acrobat PDFWriter to make your PDF files as unintended results may result. To complete the task, follow the instructions in the procedures for installing the joboptions file, and for using Distiller

	Macintosh	Windows

Using Acrobat Distiller v3	Distiller 3 procedure	Distiller 3 procedure

Installation of the joboptions file and making PDF's in Acrobat 4	Distiller 4 procedure	Distiller 4 procedure

Installation of the joboptions file and making PDF's in Acrobat 5	Distiller 5 procedure	Distiller 5 procedure

Once you have setup Distiller, you can go ahead and convert your documents to PDF files.

DDAP Web site (Digital Distribution of Advertising for Publication)
http://www.ddap.org

PDFZone
http://www.pdfzone.com

Adobe's PDF PDF guide book
http://www.adobe.com/print/prodzone/pdfs/PDFforPrint.pdf

Enfocus Software
http://www.enfocus.com