Secure PDF and RIPs

[Big_Red_Orange@adobeforums.com]

We have a printer who claims they will not be able to work with any PDF's we supply that have Acrobats security features built into them. The client we deal with for these specific jobs requires PDF's that have all printing editing rights turned off.

Can anyone please shed some light on this? Can certain levels of PDF security play nicely with a RIP, or do they have to be left wide open?

Thanks

BRO

[de_Siem@adobeforums.com]

Tell me, how on earth do you expect to print/rip a pdf that in fact has security preventing printing in the first place?

Or why has the client mutually exclusive goas in mind? On one hand they want to make sure their pdf's aren't reproduced by using the security features, yet on the other hand they do want to reproduce the pdf by sending it to a printer..

Anyhow, my guess is that your client uses the same PDF for different uses, one for on the web/ email and the other to print out/ harcopy.

In that case they should have 2 copies of the same pdf. They secure the one that's going on the web.
And an unsecure one that goes to the printers, as pdf security and pre-press don't mix. (Also security is not allowed in the PDF/x ISO standards)

[Big_Red_Orange@adobeforums.com]

De Siem

I do appreciate your reply, but not so much the tone (or maybe I am miss reading it?).

If I could answer your first (rather blunt) question, I wouldn't have needed to ask mine would I?

My experience in this field is 0, hence my question sounding rather stupid to and expert.

My client has sensitive information in the PDF, with huge implications if it is changed during the approval process. Ideally, the same PDF that is approved should be sent to the printer.

The question was asked so I could understand what levels of security could be retained whilst giving the printer the access he needs to do his job.

I would very much appreciate any advice you can offer

BRO

[MarkATS@adobeforums.com]

It can have any level of security as long as you allow printing. Otherwise, they won't be able to print it. And if you restrict editing, they won't be able to make any corrections to the file, and will send it back to you to make changes, delaying the job.

[Big_Red_Orange@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Mark

Delays for editing by us I can handle. Delays because the product went to shelf and needed recalling because the printer made a change the shouldn't have could be a little trickier to stomach, as it's us that are paid to edit and control the contents of a file not the printer.

I noticed on another thread in this forum someone who used Kodak's Prinergy couldn't use a secured PDF (with printing allowed) because their RIP normalised the PDF (requiring editing permissions I guess?).

Is this a common practice for RIPs?

[MarkATS@adobeforums.com]

For printers that have a PDF workflow that doesn't invlove opening the PDF and using the Print command, any sort of file security may be problematic for them. It all depends on the RIP.

If the printer asks for unsecured files, ask them to explain their reasoning, them trust them that they know what they are talking about, or take your work somewhere else.

[Claudio_González@adobeforums.com]

I don't find de Siem's question blunt or his tone offensive. He asked a natural question in view of the insufficient information you provided, and he gave an answer based in his understanding of that information.

There are not many mindreaders around here.

[Big_Red_Orange@adobeforums.com]

Hello Claudio

I don't want to make a mountain out of a mole hill, so I'll try and keep this short.

If you notice my response I added 'or maybe I am miss reading it?' as I'm sure you know, it's very hard to understand the tone of a persons reply in an email. I thought it seemed a little curt but admitted I could be miss reading what was wrote.

Where I come from, if someone uses the words 'how on earth do you expect' within a reply it generally infers you shouldn't have asked the question as the answer is obvious.

Now, to someone who knows the subject and has experience in this field the answer may indeed seem obvious, but at some point in the past they had to ask questions to get to their level of knowledge. I am simply asking questions to gain that level.

what I did not say in any of my reply's was that de Siem's reply was offensive, please do not put words in my mouth.

I agree, there are no mind-readers, nor are their people that have all the answers. I simply asked a question. And as I pointed out I am no expert and do not pretend to be, hence my question may have seemed a little poorly worded.

Anyway, I appear to have rambled on enough. Thank you to all for your replies, I apologise if the quality of information in the question wasn't as precise as I'd have liked it to be.

BRO

[Claudio_González@adobeforums.com]

If you got the answer you needed, everything is fine. If you didn't, keep on asking. I only found it curious that you complained of the reply from one of the really helpful people around here. Of course you are welcome to ask anything you may need, however basic; I never questioned this.

I agree that it is difficult to understand the tone of a persons reply in an email, so I think it's better not to venture to guess it. Critizising it in public may lead that person to stop wishing to help you, specially if your guess was wrong. No matter how many "maybe"s.

[Aandi_Inston@adobeforums.com]

It is common for printers to require a completely unprotected PDF.
There are several reasons for this.

To give one example, the printer may need to create a larger sheet
containing several original pages. This is a kind of editing, so you
would need a PDF that allowed editing.

One way around this would be to provide the file password to the
printer. Protection at this point should be based on trust and
contractual obligations, not Acrobat's security.

Aandi Inston

[de_Siem@adobeforums.com]

Hi BRO, there was indeed a bit of a 'tone'(mild consternation i think it was :) ) in my first post, but it was directed at your client and not yourself really.

I hope after reading all repsponses you know why pdf security and pre-press 'do not mix'.