QuarkXpress PDF Creation Guide

QuarkXpress 7
®
PDF Creation Guide
for Print Production
Version 2.0; May 21, 2007
Contents
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 1
2. Supported Versions..................................................................................................................... 1
3. PDF Setup and Creation Processes........................................................................................... 1
3.1. Screenshot Tutorials............................................................................................................. 1
3.1.1. Direct PDF Export...................................................................................................... 1
3.1.2. Writing PostScript Files/Distilling-to-PDF................................................................... 6
4. Summary................................................................................................................................... 12
5. Implementation Date................................................................................................................. 12
6. Feedback................................................................................................................................... 12
Technology Division
Pilgrim Five, Suite 5
5 Pilgrim Park Road
Waterbury, VT 05676
Phone: 802.244.1457
Fax:
802.244.1462
Email: [email protected]
QuarkXpress® 7 PDF Creation Guide for Print Production
DJS_QuarkXpress2.0b: version 2.0b; March 21, 2007; pre-web release
version 0.1
version 1.0
version 1.1
version 2.0b
version 2.0
March 17, 2004
March 26, 2004
April 26, 2004
March 21, 2007
May 21, 2007
Draft; KL
Initial Release; after Preflight comments, AB
Revision; after IT comments, SW
Pre-web release; KL
Web release; after TechDev comments, SW
1. Introduction
This document is intended as a QuarkXpress reference guide to create prepress-quality PDFs for delivery to Dartmouth Journal Services. Following these guidelines will assist in producing PDF files which process efficiently and print as intended. Consult the Configuring a Workstation for PS/PDF Generation document for other important information regarding Adobe Distiller
setup if using the PostScript/Distiller method of PDF creation.
We will update this document as necessary to accomodate emerging technologies and software revisions.
2. Supported Versions
QuarkXpress 4.x-7.x are supported.
3. PDF Setup and Creation Processes
PDFs can be created by either: a) directly exporting-to-PDF; b) writing PostScript files and normalizing to PDF with Acrobat
Distiller.
Prior to QuarkXpress 6, saving directly to PDF was not recommended. However, it is now relatively easy to achieve prepressquality exported PDFs, assuming proper application criteria have been set. In most cases, this method will provide the best
possible quality.
Please use the process with which you are more comfortable; both PDF creation methods are outlined in this document.
3.1. Screenshot Tutorials
Please use the following guidelines to first set application criteria and then create PDF(s). By defining a “preset” or “style”, you
can save time by not having to configure the settings each time a PDF file is created. The guidelines also provide baseline
criteria for previous versions, and are available as ready-made importable preset files in the DJS Resource Library (www.
dartmouthjournals.com/resources).
3.1.1. Direct PDF Export
• Select Edit–>Output Styles...
• Select New–>PDF button
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• Input a name for the new PDF Style
(example: DJS Prepress-Quality PDF Style)
• Select Pages tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select MetaData tab
• This criteria is optional and does
not affect final quality.
• Select Hyperlinks tab
• Set criteria according to window
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• Select Compression tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Color tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Fonts tab
• Set criteria according to window
3
• Select Marks tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Bleed tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Transparency tab
• Set criteria according to window
4
• Select OPI tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select JDF tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Summary tab
• Review selected options
• Select OK button
• Select Save button to preserve the new PDF style
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After new PDF Export Presets have been saved, these steps should be followed to create PDFs:
• Select File–>Export–>Layout as PDF
• Select a destination folder for the PDF
• Select the proper PDF Style
• Select the Save button and the PDF will be
created in the folder specified
This concludes the QuarkXpress Export method of PDF creation.
3.1.2. Writing PostScript Files/Distilling-to-PDF
The Prinergy Refiner PPD file that is referred to in this section is available
in the Resources area of the Dartmouth Journal Services website (www.
dartmouthjournals.com/resources). Please refer to the Configuring a Workstation for PostScript/PDF Creation document for each platform’s installation
guidelines.
• Select Edit–>Output Styles...
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• Select New–>Print button
• Input a name for the new Print Style
(example: DJS Prinergy Refiner PostScript)
• Select Device tab
• Set criteria according to window
Notes:
Prinergy Refiner will be available if it was correctly installed according
to your OS. The Configuring a Workstation for PS/PDF Generation
document provides installation instructions for the Prinergy Refiner
PPD.
Paper Width and Paper Height should be set to 1" larger dimensions
than the Document Size (trim size) to oversize PDFs (i.e. 8.5" x 11"
trim size of book = 9.5" x 12" page size). Page marks and bleeds will
then remain visible in generated files.
• Select Pages tab
• Set criteria according to window
7
• Select Color tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Pictures tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Fonts tab
• Set criteria according to window
8
• Select Marks tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Bleed tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Transparency tab
• Set criteria according to window
9
• Select OPI tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select JDF tab
• Set criteria according to window
• Select Advanced tab
• Set criteria according to window
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• Select Summary tab
• Review selected options
• Select OK button
• Select Save button to preserve the new Print style
After Print Style criteria has been input, these steps should
be followed to create PDFs:
• Select File–>Print
• Make sure that both the proper
Printer and Print Style has been
chosen
• Select Print button
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• Select the destination folder for the
PostScript file
• Select Save button and the PostScript
file will be created
• Use Adobe Distiller to create PDFs from
PostScript files. Be sure to use the
recommended DJS Joboptions outlined
in the Adobe Distiller Guide to preserve
graphics and text quality.
This concludes the QuarkXpress PostScript-to-PDF method of PDF creation.
4. Summary
A properly configured Output Style for exporting or printing (with appropriate Distiller Joboptions) will help preserve graphics/text quality and produce PDFs which process well. Please consult the Configuring a Workstation for PS/PDF Generation
document to make certain your PostScript printer has been correctly configured and other accessory files have been properly
installed.
The example screenshots in this tutorial were created from QuarkXpress v7.02 running on the Windows XP platform. Other
versions of Quark, including those on Macintosh, may contain menus that slightly differ. However, critical parameters and options used herein are available in previous versions and on the Macintosh versions.
5. Implementation Date
Please implement these settings after May 21, 2007.
6. Feedback
This document is designed as reference material to simplify creation of high quality PDF files, but the goal is also to develop
solutions and techniques that can work well within a broad range of online and print production workflows. Therefore, we welcome your suggestions if you feel there is something that can be improved upon, and welcome any questions you may have
concerning this data. Please contact us via email at [email protected] with comments.
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