PDFs and TRAPPING vs EPS or PS files

[grasshopper]

We run some jobs which require significant trapping and currently we are using EPS files through our stepping workflow. Our 'understanding' is that PDFs cannot hold trapping through the ripping process to make the 1-bit tiff file. We may be incorrect in this assumption but what drawbacks are there to PDFs vs EPS files when traps are involved?

I see some advantages to using PDFs already and wondered if your success with them would be transferrable to the metal decorating side of things:

One advantage the PDF would afford is the abiltiy to step the image (in our stepping software which can use PDFs) and export the fully stepped ' virtual plate' for proofing. Its much easier to print a file that is 200megs vs one that is over 1000 megs. Sometimes we produce a plate/1-bit tiff that is 25 up.

The EPS method - which requires the rip to make the stepped TIFF file (easily over a gig per color) provides almost no way to get a digital print without nearly crashing our digital inkjet proofer or the software which opened the stepped 1-bit tiff file.
I've watched our PMG4 spin the pizza of death for 10 minutes opening one of these files- even with 2 gigs of RAM and dual processors and the latest software.

Even if we must, we could save the 4 color process job out in 4 sections, each with it's own single image PDF and then collate them in the stepping software program to make the final job or even run them through as a single plate image.

Does PDF hold and reproduce vignettes as well or better than Illy (without photoshop elements)?

Is there life after film?
Did I leave the iron on?

GAsp*

[steve2112]

I work in a small size shop with a few smaller presses. When I have to trap I just trap it in indesign. Indy can only trap .pdf or .ai file not eps or ps. It works really well for me. I actually do not have to trap for my heidelberg di too often as it handles itself pretty good. Sometime i have to tweak it.

steve

[jimking]

I've worked with Rampage which uses a eps workflow, PrintReady and ApogeeX which uses a pdf workflow. By far the best trapping is the pdf workflows. The eps workflow's trapping was ok but it did have issues.

[seetomtype]

Like steve2112, I use InDesign to do all my trapping. PDF the client's files, impose
them either with Quite Imposing or manually in ID, then place the imposed files or the
one up files into ID to rip. I rarely use .eps files, but they're still necessary. FH files
need an extra directory sometimes because I export .eps then impose in ID then
export a pdf to place back into ID for my trapping. Works awesome for our presses.

[PeterKleinheider]

Hi

You should not compare EPS/PDF trapping, but InRip Trapping vs. object trapping. Both methods are available for PDF's.

the advantage of object trapping inside the PDF is the possibility to visualize the Traps in Acrobat, thus giving you the possibility to print them on any printer. Since the resulting objects are PDF objects, you have the possibility to modify them (if you have the proper tools). You can then output this PDF on any CTP system without the need of further trapping. You also have the ability to get rid of the traps and retrap the page.

An example for such a tool is Heidelbergs Prinect Trap Editor.

regards

Peter

[TimS]

We get trapped pdfs from our prinergy workflow. They can be opened in acrobat and you can see the traps, although this may be due to the prinergy plugin. We can export them without the traps if we want.