Hi Steve, I guess the real question would be what version of PDF are you preflighting? There are several PDFx flavors that allow transparencies and spot colors. You should be preflighting files against what the RIP can handle. Some are Adobe PDF engines these days other are still interpreters. Best to test which PDFx files process the best with the RIP or ask the RIP vendor which PDFx files are supported. Steer clear of any RIP manufacturer that says they won’t support PDFs reliably and only support EPS. - Dan On Aug 24, 2012, at 12:00 PM, colorsync-users-request@lists.apple.com wrote:

From: Steve Miller <SLMiller@norwood.com> Date: August 24, 2012 6:27:50 AM MST To: "colorsync-users@lists.apple.com" <colorsync-users@lists.apple.com> Subject: PDF, spot colors,RIPs, and ink jet printers

I've been doing some research with PDF files and RIPs. We want to have a PDF only workflow and one RIP vender is saying we should not use PDF files. Instead, they recommend .eps, .tif or .jpg. Here's a reply from one RIP vender.

"The pdf print engine is implemented as a base feature in the" (enter any vender name here) " RIP programs. It has advanced handling of pdf and pdfx file formats. It was necessary for" (enter any vender name here) "to add this feature due to Adobe's constant alteration of the pdf encoding process and handling of transparencies, spot color handling in gradients, and compression methods. There is a basic flaw in the conversion of spot color in the pdf format to the rastered ink dots of an inkjet printer. This is a problem that all RIPs have.. It is a problem inherent in the pdf format being rendered into the inkjet dot format. The repeat printability of colors suffers in this format. While Adobe also alters the EPS format, color consistency from print to print is stable."

Is this a true statement?

-- Steve Miller Color Management Specialist

"Quality Begins Here"

BIC Advertising & Promotional Products 1000 3rd Ave. SW Sleepy Eye, MN 56085

Tel.: (1) 507 794 8203 E-mail: slmiller@norwood.com www.norwood.com / www.bicgraphic.com

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