export from indesign wont let me select separations

[Dov Isaacs]

Further on this subject ...

PDF's normal role in print publishing workflows is that of the repository of content in final form as input to a RIP that does separations. Adobe does not endorse or support such "pre-separated PDF workflows in which each original page occupies "n" page so of the PDF where "n" is the number of separations. That is why neither separations, negative, or mirror image are not options for PDF export.

Hopefully you aren't reporting this as a requirement of some Neanderthal printer?

- Dov

[susabel@adobeforums.com]

I'm afraid so. More than one printer that we use needs the pdf to be pre separated so that they can print them straight to plate.
This wasn't a problem from quark, but because we are upgrading to indesign, I'm having trouble finding the same option.

Many thanks for all your comments and help!

[Steve_Werner@adobeforums.com]

I'm afraid so. More than one printer that we use needs the pdf to be pre
separated so that they can print them straight to plate. This wasn't a
problem from quark, but because we are upgrading to indesign, I'm having
trouble finding the same option.




The problem is definitely those printers. All they know is QuarkXPress, probably version 4.x!

You need to look for other printers who are more up-to-date. Here's a start—the Adobe Partner Finder helps you find print service providers who can handle Adobe products:

<http://partners.adobe.com/public/partnerfinder/psp/show_find.do>

[Peter_Truskier@adobeforums.com]

This wasn't a problem from quark, but because we are upgrading to indesign,
I'm having trouble finding the same option.




What version of QuarkXPress were you using? I'm guessing it was 6 or later as older versions did not have an "Export PDF" feature. But, Quark's "export" is not an export in the same sense that Adobe apps' are. It is, rather, an under-the-covers generation of PostScript which is then fed to a Distiller-like component (licensed from Global Graphics) which creates the PDF.

You can do exactly the same thing from InDesign if you have Acrobat Distiller which you do. The easiest way to do this, as Bob suggested, is to "Print" to the Adobe PDF virtual printer that was installed with Acrobat Distiller. In that case, you are able to selected separated output from InDesign.

[AlFerrari]

You can do exactly the same thing from InDesign if you have Acrobat Distiller
which you do. The easiest way to do this, as Bob suggested, is to "Print"
to the Adobe PDF virtual printer that was installed with Acrobat Distiller.
In that case, you are able to selected separated output from InDesign.




Peter,

The second paragraph in the original post seems to be using the same approach, but the OP reports the need to convert the resulting ps file to pdf by

(From there I have to open it and resave it)




Using IDCS I can confirm that your method works in one step. But the OP is on CS2. Why the different behavior?

Edit: One explanation would be that the OP has selected the printer button in the print dialog, and from there selected output options by clicking and holding the copies&pages pop up, and checked "save as file", followed by selecting "postscript" from the format pop up. If that was it, DON'T DO THAT. Don't go into the printer button at all. Just select the separation settings you want in the main print dialog after selecting the PDF Printer, and print. That creates the pdf in one step.

Al Ferrari

[Peter_Truskier@adobeforums.com]

Using IDCS I can confirm that your method works in one step. But the OP
is on CS2. Why the different behavior?




Al,

It's no different in CS2. I do it regularly. Perhaps there is something wrong with the PDF Printer/Distiller installation...

[AlFerrari]

Peter,

See my "Edit:" in #8.

Al