A PDF/X file is intended to be more predictable because it has
commonly agreed-on characteristics. Using PDF/X does not guarantee
the performance of a file, but a PDF/X file will be free of certain
common prepress problems such as missing fonts and images, and
non-press color space.
Outputting to PDF/X
If you are intending to output PDF/X, you must first choose Refine to
PDF/X, rather than just outputting to PDF/X. Prinergy detects and
deals with many PDF/X issues at the refine stage. When you select a
PDF/X format when outputting, Prinergy checks the master files for
PDF/X conformance. However, some issues, including font embedding,
image replacement, and color conversion cannot be handled on output
and cause Prinergy to fail the file.
What are the flavors of PDF/X?
PDF/X-1 family:
PDF/X-1:1999—Approved by ANSI (American National Standards
Institute) as PDF/X-1 in October 1999. This format is based on PDF 1.2
plus Adobe Tech Note 5188.
PDF/X-1:2001—Approved by ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) in April 2001. This format is based on PDF 1.3. It is an
updated international version.
PDF/X-1a:2001—Approved by ISO in April 2001. This format is based
on PDF 1.3. Embedded files are not allowed. This is the version that
Prinergy can refine to.
PDF/X-1a:2003—Not yet approved, but the approval process is
underway. This format is based on PDF 1.4, but will not allow such 1.4
features as transparency and JBIG2 compression.
PDF/X-2
—Not yet approved. All fonts must be embedded. PDF/X-2
does not use OPI; instead it uses a Global Unique ID (GUID) to
reference an external file. The external files must be PDF/X-1 or PDF/
X-3 files.
PDF/X-3:2002
—Approved by ISO in 2002. This format is based on
PDF 1.3. It allows for PDF/X-1 color spaces plus L*a*b and RGB spaces.
PDF/X-3:2003
—Not yet approved, but the approval process is
underway. This format is based on PDF 1.4, but does not allow such 1.4
features as transparency and JBIG2 compression.
Proofs and final output
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