RE: [PDF-Basics] Why NOT PDF_Writer and PDF_Maker

[richsprague.com LLC]

Title: Message

The PDFWriter is outdated technology, having been discontinued with Acrobat 5.0x.   It was primarily intended to provide a simple means for people to make PDFs from Word and Excel documents. As such, resolution quality was limited, EPS graphics appeared in low-resolution (the Writer could not interpret PostScript), and font inclusion capabilities were severely restricted.   The PDFMaker is a macro for Office applications, which provides easy access to Distiller. Optimized settings for Distiller are accessed in Word, thus one can create higher resolution files, embed and subset all fonts, etc. Caution, however...all Office documents are still RGB color space and, without conversion to CMYK, are not suited for commercial printing. There are valid reasons for people to choose to make their PDFs with the PDFMaker, if the intent is for office purposes.   Your customers should make sure and use Distiller's optimized settings as established by you: print for Docutech and press for high-end offset printing. This implies, of course, that they need to understand the resolution required for original images.   Bottom line. If you're running true offset printing presses (I've heard of some digital presses called offset printing which confuses people to death), your customers should be using applications other than Word or Publisher to create their documents. Otherwise, you'll need an Acrobat plug-in such as Quite A  Box of Tricks to convert the PDF from RGB to CMYK. Then you'll need to be careful about resolution...most people who are used to working with Office applications are also used to 72 dpi...which is unsatisfactory for commercial printing.   Hope this answers your question.   Rich Sprague -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Russell D. Sherman Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 5:36 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [PDF-Basics] Why NOT PDF_Writer and PDF_Maker Can anyone provide a knowledgeable explanation, which can easily be understood by some "unknowledgeable" customers, as to why they should never use PDF_Maker or PDF_Writer when preparing PDFs for commercial printing.   I received too many bad PDFs with lousy graphics this week and my explanation as to why they're bad is obviously not working with my customers.   TIA Russ Sherman Pittsford Printing www.PittsfordPrinting.com Rochester, New York 14618 Ph:  585-383-0150