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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS2
User Guide
Adobe PDF standards
Choose an Adobe PDF standard from the Standards menu at the top of the Save Adobe PDF dialog box. Currently,
the most widely used standards for a print publishing workflow are available in two different types of PDF/X formats,
PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-3. For more information on PDF/X, see the ISO website and the Adobe website.
None
Does not use the PDF/X standard.
PDF/X-1a (2001 and 2003)
PDF/X-1a is an ISO standard for graphic content exchange. PDF/X-1a requires all fonts
to be embedded, the appropriate PDF bounding boxes to be specified, and color to appear as CMYK, spot colors, or
both. PDF/X-compliant files must contain information describing the printing condition for which they are
prepared. PDF files created with PDF/X-1a compliance can be opened in Acrobat 4.0 and Acrobat Reader 4.0 and
later.
PDF/X-3 (2002 and 2003)
Like PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3 is an ISO standard for graphic content exchange. The main
difference is that PDF/X-3 allows the use of color management and device-independent color (CIE L*a*b, ICC-based
color spaces, CalRGB, and CalGray) in addition to CMYK and spot colors. This allows you to use ICC color profiles
to specify color data later in the workflow at the output device. PDF files created with PDF/X-3 compliance can be
opened in Acrobat 4.0 and Acrobat Reader 4.0 and later.
Adobe PDF compatibility levels
When you create Adobe PDF files, you need to decide which PDF version to use. You can change the PDF version
by switching to a different preset or choosing a Compatibility option in the Save Adobe PDF dialog box.
Generally speaking, you should use the most recent version (in this case version 1.6) unless there’s a specific need for
backward compatibility, because the latest version will include all the latest features and functionality. However, if
you’re creating documents that will be distributed widely, consider choosing Acrobat 4.0 (PDF 1.3) or Acrobat 5.0
(PDF 1.4) to ensure that all users can view and print the document. The following table compares some of the
functionality in Adobe PDF files created using the different compatibility settings.
Acrobat 4.0 (PDF 1.3)
Acrobat 5.0 (PDF 1.4)
Acrobat 6.0 (PDF 1.5)
Acrobat 7.0 (PDF 1.6)
PDF files can be opened with
Acrobat 3.0 and Acrobat
PDF files can be opened with
Acrobat 3.0 and Acrobat
Most PDF files can be opened
with Acrobat 4.0 and Acrobat
Most PDF files can be opened
with Acrobat 4.0 and Acrobat
Reader 3.0 and later.
Reader 3.0 and later. However, Reader 4.0 and later. However, Reader 4.0 and later. However,
features specific to later
versions may be lost or not
viewable. A warning message
appears if the PDF file version
exceeds the PDF version
features specific to later
versions may be lost or not
viewable. A warning message
appears if the PDF file version
exceeds the PDF version
features specific to later
versions may be lost or not
viewable. A warning message
appears if the PDF file version
exceeds the PDF version
supported by the application. supported by the application. supported by the application.
ICC color management is
ICC color management is
ICC color management is
ICC color management is
supported.
supported.
supported.
supported.
Cannot contain artwork that
Supports the use of live trans-
Supports the use of live trans-
Supports the use of live trans-
uses live transparency effects. parency in artwork.
parency in artwork.
parency in artwork.
Any transparency must be flat
tened prior to converting to
PDF 1.3.
Layers are not supported.
Layers are not supported.
Preserves layers when
Preserves layers when
creating PDF files from appli
cations that support the
generation of layered PDF
documents, such as Illustrator
creating PDF files from appli
cations that support the
generation of layered PDF
documents, such as Illustrator
CS or InDesign CS.
CS or InDesign CS.