CERTIFIED PDFs FROM INDESIGN

[jamesmurphy]

My printer has requested Certified PDFs which I thought was the PDFX1a setting from InDesign? However I'm guessing this is not the case, can anyone shed some light on how I can create a Certified PDF from InDesign?

Thanks!

 

[jmgalvin]

Certified pdfs, if the printer understands it correctly, are sort of a big deal and can be created in Acrobat pro. You need a "digital signature" which is not cheap to buy froma certification vendor.

It basically guarantees that the pdf came from you and allows the creator to specify what can be done with the pdf or individual parts of the pdf. It's sort of like the "security" you can put in a pdf in Acrobat pro, but more so.

I've never heard of a printer wanting this and, if one did, we would have to charge the client about another $600 for the job.

I would guess that the printer really means "compliant", as in pdf/x. That would "certify" that the pdf meant basic standards. If the guy wants pdf/x he should be providing you with the destination profile (advanced tab of psf export)

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[dropkickmurphy]

What they probably want is it certified by a profile done through Enfocus apps (

http://www.certifiedpdf.net

). I use Pitstop to certify using 2005 Ghent 3 profiles (

http://www.gwg.org

). But like jmgalvin said, you will need to find out specificly what profiles they want you to conform to. They will most likely be PDFX-1a compliant but certified takes it to a more detailed level. You certify your PDF it will be PDFx1a compliant and it can be checked and corrected for a number of other things that can cause troubles on press that go beyond just PDFX1a complaint.

Pitstop is a little overkill unless your doing corrections and prepress because it costs $699 USD. They make another product InstantPDF that lets you create certified PDFs that $299 USD. Iv never used it though. (

http://www.enfocus.com

)

If they specifically need an Enfocus Certified PDF you will need one of Enfocus' apps to do it. It will embed the profile and the status of the PDF within the file.

You will need to find out what they want specifically. Maybe PDFX1a by itself will be acceptable.

Making clean files goes a long way. Garbage in Garbage out. Can't say I have seen anyone in my area demanding that they receive certified. Though standards are brilliant, really like how Quark has implemented JDF. Maybe JDF next time around for adobe? Limit the garbage in at the design stage.

Cheers

Cheers,
Dropkick Murphy
______________________________________________
Alcohol & Tobacco Quality Assurance Specialist

http://www.bancomicsans.com

 

[jamesmurphy]

Thank you SO much for your assistance on this!

I think you are 100% correct with what you are suggesting.. Please see the below email from the printer..

.......

The requested profiles and job options are available at

http://www.enfocus.com/

<

http://www.enfocus.com/>

The steps to process the cPDF files are:

1. In Design; Print a Postscript file based on the Sheet CMYK 1v3 profile.

2. Distil the Postscript file in Acrobat Distiller based on the job option Sheet CMYK 1v3.

3. Certify the PDF file in PitStop (

http://www.enfocus.com/

<

http://www.enfocus.com/>

); use the Sheet CMYK 1v3 PitStop profile.

4. The cPDf can be checked with Enfocus StatusCheck,(free download).

The alert that pops up by printing the file about binary encoding of the EPS files should be neglected; it is only a problem when distiller or pitstop do not distill or certify.

Hopefully this information helps you processing the cPDF files.

.........


So, I need to purchase two applications then?

J.

 

[jmgalvin]

I've been shipping stuff to printers for well over 20 years, have never had anybody "demand" this, and have never had a problem. I've been almost exclusively shipping out pdfs for going on 4 years and have not had that demand nor any problems.

It might be cheaper for you to simply package up the Indesign job, put it on a cd and Fedex it to the printer so they can print direct from that.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[gba1]

You don't need PitStop if you just need to 'certify' a PDF. InstantPDF will do exactly what your client wants.

I've only got one client that insists on 'Certified PDF' and Instant PDF keeps them happy!

Have a look at

http://www.certifiedpdf.net/home.php

 

[MarcusStringer]

As with jmgalvin (although this doesn't help jamesmurphy at all)
I have never had any printer ask for this, and I send PDFs to printers all over the world.



Marcus

http://www.midlandtypesetters.com.au