On Fri, 2005-08-05 at 09:14 +0800, Rob Davies wrote: > > Hi Rod, > > > > I'm not sure about this, but I don't think Pages can output in > > CMYK and I don't think Preview can convert RGB to CMYK. Photoshop > > I think can. > > Problem here is that Photoshop will usually modify layout and fonts/ > type??
Nope. If the PDF was created correctly - with all fonts embedded - Photoshop produces a fantastically accurate and rather high quality rendering. As noted in my other post, however, it /is/ a raster rendering, with the associated potential problems. > The other option is to convert your images, logo's etc to CMYK and > adjust for loss, in Photoshop or similar type of program > (GraphicConverterX, Painter, Illustrator, Freehand). That presumes that Pages will preserve the CMYK images untouched. It's not impossible that it uses Mac OS image loading functions to load them in its preferred colourspace, then exports those converted versions. I'd be surprised, but I wouldn't make any assumptions until I'd checked the resulting PDF with a tool like PitStop. > Problem you will > have here is does Page allow you to re-import as CMYK? Then to Export? It darn well should. You might need to try different image formats though - for example, it's possible it'll handle CMYK TIFF but not CMYK JPEG. The only way to be sure is to test, and then preflight the resulting PDF. > Yes output as PDFX-3, Be aware that PDF/X-3 permits RGB. Additionally, most printers' tools don't understand ICC profiles, often discarding them entirely. This is bad if you're relying on them to achieve the desired colour accuracy. If they want a CMYK PDF, your best option is to give them a basic CMYK PDF. If you can force ColourSync to apply your profiles then output a plan CMYK PDF document, that'd be the ideal option. > This I am not sure will create what the printer is actually after, > usually requiring actual separated files I'd be stunned to have any printer ask me for explicit separations these days. That largely went out when CTP arrived (thankfully) though it's sometimes still necessary for hexachrome and other advanced printing. Even CMYK+spot can be handled easily in a single integrated PDF. If they want explicit PDF separations, you need a printer that's noticed we're not in the early 90s anymore. Their preflight, imposition, or RIP tools should do this for them to their specifications with no fuss at all. > If not specifically ask him what he requires. ... and send them a file to test BEFORE DEADLINE and ask them to preflight it and tell you if it's OK. If they say "huh, pre-what?" then find a new printer. -- Craig Ringer
