Why Some PDFs Aren’t Good For Digital Printing
June 26, 2008 – 6:28 pmOk, let’s set the scene. We use a Fiery EXP50 attached to our Digital Machine (DC5000). We don’t use the latest version of the Fiery software because our servers are mission critical and our experience of RIP’s is that the latest version of complex RIP software is “unstable” causing more issues than we get with the more stable (older) version. But we do get issues with complex PDF’s especially when dealing with PDF’s. Let me explain why..
PDF’s are a document type with the ability to harbour a lot of information and can be (to some extent) editable. For instance some files have drop shadows and transparency effects, that with the help of PitStop and Acrobat can be managed and changed in some ways. This “technology” if you like means the document is in layers, despite only being seen as 1 flat image. It’s the flat image however that’s ideal for Digital. Awkward I know.
The Fiery software we use is unable to interpret the layered data correctly and will somtimes place white boxes around things, and outline the transparencies making for a frankly awful print. The way we get round this is to “Rasterize” the document in a suitable graphics manipulation program. It takes all the data and basically flattens it right back so it’s 1 image, with no layered data it’s just one static picture with all “layers” removed and embedded into the background. This way the Fiery can read it more efficiently and cause us and yourselves less issues.
Of course if you’ve got 1 or 2 pages then Rasterizing is an easy workaround. It does take a bit of time though depending on the number crunching power of your system. But if you have a 36 page brochure, that’s another story…
Basically, if you want your flyers processed at maximum speed, supply TIFF’s or JPEG’s at 300dpi! That’s a top tip for supplying artwork for Digital Print! whilst Fiery resolve this issue.
A detailed guide to “The Perfect PDF File For Digital Printing” is availble here.
3 Responses to “Why Some PDFs Aren’t Good For Digital Printing”
So do you recommend the Fiery RIP?
By darrenweavers on Jun 26, 2008
It largely depends on your application, but for a busy printers who receive artwork from many different sources, the Fiery can’t cope with the inconsistency that perhaps a more robust RIP could.
By tomdavison on Jun 26, 2008
It should be remembered however, that many other manufacturers (Konica Minolta is one) use Fiery. Also there are plenty of adverse comments about the Creo RIP (also available for the Xerox machines) flying around at the moment! The main problem is that the sales potentialfor RIPs is very restricted compared even with specialist layout programmes like Quark and InDesign and so extensively testing the software for bugs is not possible and even Quark and InDesign are by no means bug free.
By grahamgooda on Sep 9, 2008