In Perspective- PDF/X-1

Michael Weinglass and Alan Darling expound on the practicalities of PDF/X-1.Is it feasible to incorporate PDF/X-1 into a publisher's or prepress supplier's workflow now, less than a year since its accreditation? We asked two experts, Michael Weinglass, vice president, production, Easyriders, and Alan Darling, president and COO, Western Laser Graphics, about how they're embracing PDF/X-1.P&PE: What file formats are you currently employing for content delivery to printers?Weinglass: Easyriders currently has 14 titles, 12 of which are consumer titles produced on web presses. All of these are delivered as CT/LW files to our printer, which uses ScenicSoft Preps for imposition and a Creo Trendsetter for platesetting. Our workflow begins in PostScript, and we use a Color-Central OPI system before feeding our files to CreoScitex VIP software to create CT/LW files. Our other two titles run 32 pages each and print on a sheetfed press at our Los Angeles-based printer. We're supplying PDF/X-1 files for these books.Darling: Western Laser Graphics delivers between 3,000 and 4,000 digital pages per month, about 50 percent of the total number of pages we produce. The majority of our pages are delivered as TIFF/IT-P1 files, with the exception of full-page copydot scans, which are delivered as thin PostScript and DCS 2.0 files. In some cases—which we resist—we will deliver application files, as well. The TIFF/IT-P1 files are produced on our CreoScitex Brisque, as are the PDF/X-1 files we produce using CreoScitex's PDF2Go software RIP.P&PE: Why PDF/X-1?Weinglass: Our Los Angeles printer has an Agfa Apogee system that is perfectly suited for a PDF workflow. Prior to 1998, we were sending native application files, but then we initiated a new PDF workflow using Acrobat Distiller. Periodic problems with embedded fonts and images—as well as clumsy proofing on the back end—told us that it was only a marginal improvement over what we'd been doing before. Then came PDF/X-1, which promised to resolve these issues.Darling: One of our client's printers could not process TIFF/IT-P1 files. We prefer not to deliver application or PostScript files, since there's the potential for inadvertent editing, but PDF/X-1 fits the bill!P&PE: What PDF/X-1 supporting tools did you need?Weinglass: We use Rorke Data's PageComposer, which we had been using to proof our CT/LW files as digital bluelines in house. When Rorke added a PDF/X-1 module, we were able to add these smaller books to the CT/LW workflow and then hot-folder those to create PDF/X-1s.Darling: We use our CreoScitex Brisque to create PDF/X-1 files. We also use the DDAP's PDF/X-1 Verifier. … And we view and edit the files in Acrobat with an Enfocus PitStop plug-in.P&PE: How well do the PDF/X-1 files perform?Weinglass: Without a hitch. Our printer is extremely satisfied, and it actually helps our workflow by allowing us to proof the CT/LW files before conversion to PDF/X-1.Darling: There was some initial concern as the printer had not received these files before, but once they ran a few, things went well.P&PE: Why do you feel PDF/X-1 is a superior format? Are there any drawbacks?Weinglass: We see PDF/X-1 files as perfect companions to CT/LW. The combination allows us greater flexibility. We still have to come up with a better way to proof PDF/X-1 and other PDF files. They can be rather tedious to process during screen redraws and printing. But I am looking forward to receiving PDF/X-1 files from our advertisers.Darling: PDF/X-1 files are smaller in size, and they can be viewed in standard applications like Acrobat. They can also be intentionally edited through PitStop. … I like to say that PDF/X-1 files are bullet proof, but TIFF/IT-P1 files are bazooka proof. Plus, the tools that are available for TIFF/IT-P1 are more mature than for PDF/X-1, especially in the area of proofing.P&PE: Will you ever abandon other file formats for PDF/X-1?Weinglass: With our current file creation software, we can provide a wide variety of formats. As you might suspect, between all of the printers and vendors, one device will favor PDF/X-1 over DCS over CT/LW over PostScript, etc.. We will provide whatever file format works for a printer, as long as it works efficiently within our own workflow. By being flexible, we expect special financial consideration from print vendors.Darling: The smaller file size and file structure makes PDF/X-1 our file of choice, and we are talking to several of our clients to see if they are interesting in leaving TIFF/IT-P1 for PDF/X-1. We are also in the process of testing PDF/X-1 with several other printers to make sure that they will run through their workflow with the same predictability and consistency that we've become accustomed to in four years of TIFF/IT-P1. Once the testing is complete, it will be up to our clients to specify their accredited file format of choice.

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In Perspective- PDF/X-1

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