QXP8_PDFBestPractices

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WHITE PAPER

People use PDF les in a variety of ways,from Web and e-mail distribution tohigh-end offset printing. Each way of using a PDF le has its own requirements.For example, if youre creating a PDF fordistribution through e-mail, you may bewilling to sacrice some quality to achievea small le size. However, if youre creatinga PDF for high-end offset printing, delity iscritical and le size is essentially irrelevant.

This document is intended to help you tounderstand and use the proper settingsand methods for creating PDFs fromQuarkXPress . By following the guidelinesin this document, you can make sure yourPDFs are always right for the job.

Best Practices:PDF Export


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Included PDF Output StylesQuarkXPress ships with a set of default PDF output styles, each of which is optimized for aparticular use. You can use these output styles as-is or modify them to better suityour needs.

QuarkXPress ships with a number of optimized PDF output styles.

Screen Low Quality/Low Resolution

Use this output style to create the smallest possible PDF files. The resulting PDF should besuitable forviewing on a computerscreen,but images might be low-quality and thePDF mightnotyield acceptable printed output.

When youuse this output style, QuarkXPress:

I Downsamples images to 72dpi with the highest possible compression (low quality)

I Uses low resolution forareas that are rasterizeddue to transparency attening

I Converts all colors and images to RGB

I Includes all hyperlinks dened in the layout

Always ask your outputprovider which color,resolution, compression,and bleed settings are best forthem. For information aboutthe PDF/X specications, see

www.digitalpreservation.gov/formats/fdd/fdd000124.shtml.

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Screen Medium Quality/Low Resolution

Use this output style to create small PDF les for on screen viewing with higher-quality images.The resultingPDF should be suitable for viewingon a computer screen, but the PDF might notyield acceptable printed output.


I Downsamples color images to 72dpi with medium compression (medium quality)

I Downsamples monochrome (1-bit) images to 144dpi with medium compression(medium quality)

I Uses low resolution forareas that are rasterizeddue to transparency attening

I Converts all colors and images to RGB


Print Medium Quality/Medium Resolution

Use this output style to create PDF les that are relativelysmall but can be printed to anofce or desktop printer.


I Downsamples color and grayscale images to 150dpi with medium compression(medium quality)

I Downsamples monochrome (1-bit) images to 600dpi with lossless compression(medium quality)

I Uses medium resolution for areas that are rasterized due to transparency attening

I Converts RGB images, Lab images, and spot colors to CMYK


Press High Quality/High Resolution

Use this output style to create PDFles for print production.PDFs created with this outputstyle shouldbe suitable foroutputon a digitalor offset press, wherequalityis more importantthan le size.


I Downsamples color and grayscale images to 300dpi with low compression (high quality)

I Downsamplesmonochrome(1-bit) images to 1200dpi withlossless compression (high quality)

I Uses high resolution forareas that are rasterizeddue to transparency attening

I Converts RGB images, Lab images, and spot colors to CMYK

I Does not include hyperlinks

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PDF/X-1a:2001

Use this output style to create PDFles that conform to the PDF/X-1a:2001 specication.



I Downsamplesmonochrome (1-bit) imagesto 1200dpi with lossless compression(highquality)

I Uses high resolution forareas that are rasterizeddue to transparency attening

I Converts RGB images and Lab images to CMYK

I Leaves spot colorsas-is

I Sets the Output Intent to the QuarkXPress Generic CMYK prole (see Color settings)


I Performs a verification process at the end to confirm that the PDF conforms to the

PDF/X:1a specification

PDF/X-3:2002

Use this output style to create PDFles that conform to the PDF/X-3:2002 specication.



I Downsamplesmonochrome (1-bit) imagesto 1200dpi with lossless compression(highquality)

I

Uses high resolution forareas that are rasterizeddue to transparency attening

I Includes images in their original color spaces

I Leaves spot colorsas-is

I Sets the Output Intent to the QuarkXPress Generic CMYK prole (see Color settings)


I Performs a verication process at the end to conrm that the PDF conforms to thePDF/X:3 specification

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Understanding PDF settingsThePDFoutput styles includedwith QuarkXPressprovide a well-rounded startingpoint forPDFoutput, butunderstanding PDFsettings canhelp youcreate outputstyles foryour specic needs.

Compression settings

Compression settings ( Edit > Output Styles > New/Edit > PDF > Compression pane ) arecritical for PDF export. You can use several types of image compression, including JPEG, ZIP,CCITT Group 3 and Group 4, andRLE.Noneof these compression types is ideal for every PDF,though, so its important to understand howeachcan be used.

Compression settings let you controlhow images andtext arecompressed.

JPEG COMPRESSIONJPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a lossy compression algorithm for color andgrayscale images.Lossymeans thatthe algorithm compressesan image by removing someof theinformation in theimage le. Themore lossycompressionyouapply, thelower thequalityof the compressed image.

If youuse lowcompressionsettings,youcan useJPEG forhigh-qualityoutputandgeta smallerle than you wouldfrom ZIP compression. However, JPEG can sometimes be a poor choiceeven with lowcompression. Forexample, if a QuarkXPress layoutuses imported JPEG images,those images areuncompressed and thenrecompressed duringPDFexport,possibly resultingin an increased loss of quality. Because the effectof JPEG compression can be hard to predict,its important to be aware of what kind of images a layout uses.

In cases wherequalityis critical,usea lossless compressionalgorithmsuch as ZIPrather than JPEG.

ZIP COMPRESSIONZIP is an efcient lossless compression algorithm forcolor, grayscale, and monochrome (1-bit)images. Lossless means that the algorithm compresses an image without removing anyinformation. ZIP is a good choice when high quality is important and lesize is not.

QuarkXPress offers 8-bit and 4-bit ZIP compression for color and grayscale images. However,it is important to note that 4-bit compression reduces an images bitdepth, resulting in highercompression but drastically reduced image quality. 4-bit ZIP compression is provided only forlegacy compatibilityand is not recommended.

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CCITT GROUP 3 AND GROUP 4 COMPRESSIONCCITT Group 3 and Group 4 areefcient losslesscompression algorithms formonochrome (1-bit)images. These algorithms were created for use with fax machines, to optimize the transfer of data over phone lines. Both algorithms are highly efcient, butGroup 4 is slightly more efcientthan Group 3.

Because it is lossless and highly efcient, CCITT Group 4 is almost always the best compressionalgorithm for monochrome images.

RLE COMPRESSIONRLE (run-length encoding) is a simple lossless compression algorithm for monochrome (1-bit)images. It is not as efcientas CCITT andoffers no clearbenet, other than possibly compatibilitywith some legacy applications.

RESOLUTION SETTINGSWhen youexporta PDF, you can leave images at their effective resolution, or downsamplethem (reduce their resolution) to create a smallerPDF le.

When you make decisions about image resolution in a PDF le, thinkabout how the PDF will beused. For color and grayscale images:

I Ifthe PDF will beviewed onlyon screen and there isno needforusersto zoomin for a closerlook at the images, 72dpi should be sufcient.

I If you need a higherlevel of image detail, 150dpi provides more detail without increasing thele size drastically. The150dpi resolutionalso works well for PDFs that will be printedto an ofcelaser printer or inkjet printer, as long as quality is not critical.

I If the PDF will be printed at high resolution, 300dpi is a good choice because it is high enoughto accommodate both high-quality digital printing and offset printing (up to about 175lpi).

I If quality is critical and lesize is not an issue, do not downsample color andgrayscaleimages.

Because monochrome image files are composed of a grid of 1-bit (black or white) pixels,they are much smaller than color or grayscale images that have the same resolution.However, monochrome images typically require a higher resolution to render well. Formonochrome images:

I Ifthe PDF will beviewed onlyon screen and there isno needforusersto zoomin for a closerlook at the images, 72150dpi should be adequate.

I If youneed a higher level of image detail,300600dpi provides more detail without increasingthele sizedrastically.

I If the PDFwill be printed at high resolution,manyoutput specialists recommend that theresolution of any monochrome images be the sameas the device resolution. Forexample,

if you are sending output to a device that is configured to create output at 2400dpi, amonochrome image with an effective resolution of 2400dpi should reproduce very well.Other output specialists say half of the output device resolution (in the above example,1200dpi) is sufcient.Alwaysaskyour outputproviderfor their preferred resolutionsettings.

It is important to understandthat PDF resolution settingsare applied based on animages effective resolutionin QuarkXPress. An imageseffective resolution inQuarkXPress is equal tothe images native resolution(as stored in the image le)divided by the images scalingin QuarkXPress. For example,if you import a 300dpi picturebut then scale it to 200%, itseffective resolution is 150dpi(300 divided by 2).

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Color settings

QuarkXPress includes ve color output setups:

I Grayscale

I Composite RGB

I Composite CMYK

I Composite CMYK and Spot

I AsIs

These outputsetups, which are created using generic ICCproles, are a good choice formanyPDFcreators. Formore precise control over color, however, youmightwant tocreatespecializedcolor output setups using your own ICC proles.

Color settings let you optimize a PDF for the target output device.

If you are working with an output provider, you might want to ask them to provide you with acustomoutput setup for their output device (ideally, along with a JobJackets le that includesthat output setup). This can help take the guesswork out of color output.

It is important to note that when you export PDF files using PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-3:2002verification, the ICC profile assigned in the applied output setup is used to define the outputintent of the resulting PDF le.

For more informationon QuarkXPress colormanagement and customcolor output setups,see Best Practices:Color Management .

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Font settings

When you exporta layout in PDF format, you can choose to reference or embed (download)the fonts used in that layout.

You can choose to reference or embed fonts in an exported PDF.

I Referencing means that only the names of the fonts used are included in the PDF le. Thishelps to minimize thesize of theexportedPDF. However, in orderfor thedocument to rendercorrectly, the fonts must be available on the computer where the PDF is opened or processed.If the fonts are not available, you run the risk of font substitution (where an incorrect font issubstituted fora missingfont).

I Embedding means that the fonts themselves are included in the PDF le. This increases thesize of the PDF le, but ensures that the text will displayor output correctly.

When you choose to embed fonts in an exported layout by checking Download All Fonts ,QuarkXPress always subsets the fonts, meaning that only the characters actually used in thelayout are included in the PDF le. This minimizes le size whilehelping to ensure text delity.

Transparency settingsIf youexporta layout that uses drop shadows or opacity, QuarkXPress must atten that layout.Formore information, see Best Practices: Transparency .

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2008 Quark, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is a violation of applicable laws. Quark, the Quark logo, QuarkXPress andJob Jackets are trademarks or registered trademarks of Quark, Inc. and its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. Adobe, Acrobat,Distiller andPostScriptare either registered trademarksor trademarksof Adobe SystemsIncorporatedin theUnitedStatesand/orothercountries.Allothermarks arethe propertyof theirrespective owners.

North AmericaQuark Inc.1800Grant StreetDenver, CO 80203www.quark.com+1.800.676.4575+1.303.894.8888

EuropeQuark Media House SrlRueDu Monruz22000 NeuchtelSwitzerlandeuro.quark.com00800 17878275+41(32)720 1414

AsiaQuark India PvtLtd.A 45 Industrial AreaPhase VIII B Mohali 160059Punjab, Indiawww.quarkindia.com+91.172.2299.131

JapanQuark Japan K.K.West 248 bldg.2-4-8 Ebisu-nishiShibuya-ku,Tokyo150-0021Japan japan.quark.com+81-3-3476-9440

Creating PostScript for laterdistillingQuarkXPress makes it very easy to create a PDF file directly from a layout. However, Quarkrecognizes that some workows require the useof third-party PDF software (such as Adobe

Acrobat Distiller) tocreate PDFlesfrom PostScript output. There are two main ways todo this.

Print to the a PDF-generation driverOne way tocreate a PDF isto choose File > Print and then select a PDF driver such as theAdobe PDF Printer (included with Adobe Acrobat Standard and Professional). While this isa valid way to create a PDF file, it can be difficult to find the appropriate combination of QuarkXPress Print dialog boxsettings and driverconguration options.

Create a PostScript le for later distilling

To create a PostScript file from QuarkXPress, go to the PDF pane of the Preferences dialogbox (QuarkXPress/Edit > Preferences ) andselect Create PostScript le for Later Distilling .When youchoose File > Export > Layout as PDF , QuarkXPress creates a PostScript le at thelocation you specify.

QuarkXPress preferences let you control whether to generate PDFs orPostScript les for later distilling.

One advantage that this approach has over the PDF-driver approach is that it lets you createa PostScript lewithout specifyinga page size, linescreen, orPPD(PostScriptPrinterDescriptionle). This is an advantage because a PDF is supposed to be a device-independent le, withoutthe device-specic dependencies included in many PostScript les.

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