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haasprint · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2005, 03:58 PM

The Quark tech people need to "call me back on Monday"on this one. Here it is. I received a PDF created by the "Export to PDF" feature in Quark. The original Quark file had items in it native to Quark (text), Illustrator (graphics) and Photoshop (halftones). All were set to print in PMS 7519.I received a PDF from this customer earlier in the day that had just text in it set to print in PMS 7519. That one worked fine. I needed to place this new PDF in either Quark or InDesign for layout purposes. But when I did the PMS color was not showing up in the colors pallete. Acrobats "seperation preview" indicated a spot plate for PMS 7519. But it was not printing it as a spot plate but as a process build. The Quark "expert" said that Quark will always produce PDF's as CMYK and cannot retain spot color info. Wrong. I showed him. I want to be able to explain to the customer why this 2nd PDF did not hold the spot info. Even though it was set to print as "spot" not process. I feel somehow the mixed elements, (Illus.,PS,Quark) have something to do with this. Any feedback?

DCurry · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2005, 06:07 PM

I would find out if the PDF supplier used DeviceN when exporting the PDF. If they didn't, have them try it and see if that works (it's in the Options section of the Export dialog.)

pix3lphr3ak · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2005, 01:05 PM

I have had this exact same issue with Quark and Photoshop DCS2.0 images. It always makes them CMYK. I ended up exporting a PDF then placing it in InDesign and placing the logo file on top of it.
Quark just does a crap job when it comes to handling the PDF.

Serenak · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2005, 07:51 AM

I have (by pure coincidence) had exactly the same problem this morning...

A job created in Quark 6 has two jpg images placed into it and then inked as PMS 512 and then it was exported to PDF and sent to me.

I placed the PDF in to In Design for impositions and when I checked the seps these two images were showing as CMYK seps.

Opening the PDF in Acrobat and exporting these images creates RGB files...

Got the client to send the Quark doc and all the required bits and worked from that which is OK but a lot slower than imposing the PDFs.

Placing the same images into ID and inking and then exporting to PDF creates PDFs that separate correctly.

Tried using the Device N trick from Quark - that creates PDFs that display correctly but ID won't print them - returning an Adobe Print Engine error so that is not really a great step forward.

Anyone with more information on this phenomenon? especially how to get around it???

mattbeals · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2005, 08:22 AM

The only suggestion I have is to NOT use direct PDF export unless the art is CMYK or device Gray. Rather, export an EPS from Quark because it's more reliable then how they send info to Jaws. Or, print to PDF using the Adobe PDF printer queue.

chris_r · #6 (**permalink**) 11-07-2005, 09:19 AM

hey guys

until XPress has the word "adobe" in front of it, i will never trust it to make a pdf file. i go the old fashioned way...print to postscript and distill it using acrobat distiller, using our custom distiller settings. might take longer, but i rarely ever have pdf troubles.

cr

DefLepRadar · #7 (**permalink**) 11-11-2005, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbeals

The only suggestion I have is to NOT use direct PDF export unless the art is CMYK or device Gray. Rather, export an EPS from Quark because it's more reliable.... Or, print to PDF using the Adobe PDF printer queue.

I have also found that this always works.

I've run into this problem, and many more, when using Quark's direct PDF export. If you can, avoid using it- ever.

thumbslinger · #8 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 10:06 AM

The real thing is this: what are your default settings in Quark for a produced pdf?

If someone has InDesignCS, there's no reason to ever produce a pdf in anything else...if you understand settings.

We've converted all publications to InDesignCS files but we are split as to how many produce PDF files via an EPS and then Distilled or straight from from InDesign with the appropriate Distiller settings.

However, as for Quark, you have to understand settings and never import pdf's into Quark with the idea that you will override previous settings unless you specifically tell Quark to do so.

I've produced RGB, Spot color, CMYK and grayscale pdf's from within Quark but choose not to do so anymore because there are more settings available via Distiller or InDesign.

Although this isn't necessarily true, anyone who has Quark 6.5 probably has an older version they can use to convert back and into InDesignCS or use a plug-in to convert 6.5 doc.

The safest bet from Quark for those who do not wish to dig deep into the settings necessary for high-res, print ready pdfs would be to save pages as an EPS and then raster them in Photoshop to check for any problems. Then, you have an image that's 100% bullet-proof in terms of imaging properly. Or, you can then Distill the eps file to get a pdf if there are features of a pdf that is needed.

If you're going to press, 9 times out of 10 you don't need the real benefits of what PDFs provide so raster it at 100% and avoid all surprizes.

mattbeals · #9 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

If you're going to press, 9 times out of 10 you don't need the real benefits of what PDFs provide so raster it at 100% and avoid all surprizes.

End Quote

I think that this is singularly the most asinine statement I have ever read here. I feel like a lesser person for having read it...

almaink · #10 (**permalink**) 11-21-2005, 01:31 PM

Rasterize a PDF in Photoshop, come now, that should never happen in a real printshop! If you work with PDF's get some tools to deal with them.