[semi-ot] What PDF/X standard is your favorite?

[Dov Isaacs]

>From the viewpoint of reliable PDF publishing workflows, PDF/X-4 is definitely the way to go. It supports fully ICC profile-based color managed RGB and CMYK color along with spot color as well as "live" transparency.

PDF/X-4 is supported via direct export from InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. It is also fully supported by Acrobat Pro beginning with version 9.

Unfortunately, there is no way to directly create PDF/X of any flavor directly from FrameMaker. With quite a bit of work with the Preflight facility within Acrobat Pro X, you might be able to coerce a PDF file from FrameMaker to qualify as one or another PDF/X standards, but until (or if ever) FrameMaker moves to a post 1990's imaging model and direct PDF creation model (or perhaps is folded into InDesign), and PDF standard such as PDF/X or PDF/A from FrameMaker is very problematic at best.

                - Dov (Chair, ISO TC 130 WG2 TF2 PDF/X Task Force in charge of the PDF/X standards)

From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Art Campbell
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 9:40 AM
To: FrameUsers List; Free Framers
Subject: [semi-ot] What PDF/X standard is your favorite?

Just started working with a department that produces a large number of manuals that are printed.

However, the printing is handled by a different department (manufacturing) that sends the PDF files to printers around the world; there isn't any direct contact between the writers and the printers; it's kind of remote control.

I'm thinking a good way to ensure some level of quality is to pick a PDF/X standard to convert to / run against, and dispatch those files.

The question is if you don't know what kind of equipment is going to be used, which flavor of PDF/X is best/safest/most reliable?

Cheers,
Art

Art Campbell                                                                          art.campbell at gmail.com<mailto:art.campbell at gmail.com>

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