If you're producing a Photoshop PDF file that's going straight to press for CMYK output, select this preset.
Again, you only need to pay attention to this preset if you're required to submit files in the PDF/X-3 format, and all you need to do to comply is save a copy of your Photoshop file with this preset selected. This preset exists for the same reasons as PDF/X-1a, but where PDF/X-1a is a pure, traditional CMYK standard, PDF/X-3 allows RGB and color-managed files. If you aren't familiar with PDF/X-1a, just think of it this way: If your clients aren't asking for it, you don't need to worry about it if your clients are asking for it, all you need to do is save a copy of your Photoshop file with this preset selected and it will conform to the standard. Some media organizations now specify PDF/X-1a as the standard format for submissions such as ads.
PDF/X-1a is an ISO (International Standards Organization) standard for CMYK press output. Don't be intimidated by the cryptic name. It can be good for PDF presentations if you need better image quality than you'd get from the Smallest File Size preset. It isn't intended for color press outputdon't confuse this preset with the Press Quality preset. This preset is intended for desktop printing, proofing, or review. Here's a brief overview of the built-in Adobe PDF presets: Note, however, that these presets are designed primarily for output from page-layout programs where documents include lots of text and graphics these presets are included in Photoshop mostly for consistency with other Adobe Creative Suite products. Adobe carefully designed presets that would work well for their intended uses. When you use Photoshop PDF format, chances are you'll simply be able to use one of the built-in presets. The Photoshop PDF format option is available in the Save As dialog box. If you're not sure if you need to use the Photoshop PDF format, see the section "Saving Flexible Files" in Chapter 15.įigure 4.24. If you usually save images in Photoshop (PSD), TIFF, or JPEG (JPG) formats, you probably won't need to deal with PDF presets very often. Photoshop PDF is an option in the Format pop-up menu in the Save As dialog box when you choose File > Save As, or when you use the PDF Presentation command to convert multiple image files into a multiple-page document or a PDF presentation. You only need to pay attention to Adobe PDF presets if you save a Photoshop file in Photoshop PDF format ( Figure 4.24). To see the Adobe PDF presets, choose Edit > Adobe PDF Presets. To help keep PDF simple, Adobe developed presets for exporting PDF files and have standardized those presets across the Adobe Creative Suite, which includes Photoshop. You can make a PDF that's too big for the Web, yet lacks necessary information for a press. Ironically, although PDF was invented to simplify document exchange, there are so many possible ways to set up a PDF that you can easily create a PDF that's wrong for its intended use. As PDF has matured, Adobe has extended the format to meet more of the specifications required to send a file quickly over the Internet and to print a file reliably on a presstwo opposing goals.
Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format) has been hailed as a way to solve the problem of exchanging files with people who don't have the same software that you do.