Adobe Creative Suite 4 Printing Guide
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a default preset, duplicate it, and edit the duplicate preset for your workflow. While the interfaces
for creating PDF options differ slightly between the applications, the concepts are the same. An
introduction to the features of the common default presets follows.
Smallest File Size
Appropriate for online distribution or e-mail attachments (but not for commercial printing), the
Smallest File Size option aggressively compresses and resamples image content, and converts all
RGB, CMYK, and grayscale content to the sRGB color space (spot colors are retained, however).
This may result in noticeable color shifts from the original artwork. Note that the compatibility
setting for Smallest File Size is now Acrobat 6.0, to reflect latest best practices and requirements.
Settings include:
•
Compatibility:
Acrobat 6.0 (PDF 1.5), which maintains live transparency and layers.
•
Color Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 100ppi; Compression = Automatic (JPEG);
Image Quality = Low.
•
Grayscale Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 150ppi; Compression = Automatic
(JPEG); Image Quality = Low.
•
Output:
Destination = sRGB IEC61966-2.1.
High Quality Print
Intended for imaging on in-house proofers and desktop printers. Any RGB, Lab or spot-color
content will remain in the original color space and won’t be converted to CMYK. While this
might be appropriate for desktop printers or other digital imaging devices, color appearance may
be compromised if the PDF is processed in a workflow that does not honor color profiles. High
Quality Print settings include:
•
Compatibility
: Acrobat 5.0 (PDF 1.4), which maintains live transparency.
•
Color Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 300ppi; Compression = Automatic (JPEG);
Image Quality = Maximum.
•
Grayscale Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 300ppi; Compression = Automatic
(JPEG); Image Quality = Maximum.
•
Output:
No color conversion; include tagged source profiles.
Press Quality
The settings of the Press Quality preset create a PDF that is appropriate for commercial offset
printing. Note that PDF Compatibility is Acrobat 5.0, which maintains live transparency. Press
Quality settings include:
•
Compatibility:
Acrobat 5.0 (PDF 1.4).
•
Color Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 300ppi; Compression = Automatic (JPEG);
Image Quality = Maximum.
•
Grayscale Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 300ppi; Compression = Automatic
(JPEG); Image Quality = Maximum.
•
Output:
Convert content with profiles to destination; preserve color numbers for
untagged content; maintain spot colors.
Settings available from within individual applications
Standard [available in Distiller only]
Intended for viewing and printing business documents (but not for commercial print). Most spot
color content is usually maintained, but areas interacting with transparency may be converted to
RGB. Standard settings include:
•
Compatibility:
Acrobat 6.0 (PDF 1.5).
•
Color Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 150ppi; Compression = Automatic (JPEG);
Image Quality = Medium.
•
Grayscale Images:
Bicubic downsampling to 150ppi; Compression = Automatic
(JPEG); Image Quality = Medium.
•
Output:
Destination = sRGB IEC61966-2.1.
