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CREATING A PDF FILE USING Groupe RICCOBONO
  • Mac OS 9.x
  • QuarkXpress 4.x
  • Adobe Acrobat 4 or 5
    		•  Click here to view these instructions in PDF.
    Click here to download this instructions in ZIP file.

    In this example we have used a page size of A4 (210 x 297).
    You can, of course, create a PDF file in this manner using ANY page size above or below A4 to a maximum of 5 metres x 5 metres.
    The golden rule is to remember that within QuarkXpress, your output page size will be the final trim size PLUS the relevant bleed value.
    An A3 PDF with 5mm symetric bleed would, for example, be 297 (+ 5 + 5) x 420 (+5 +5) or 307 x 430.

     

    Configuring Adobe PS    		 Go up
     

    Start by configuring ADOBE PS in your chooser: APPLE MENU > CHOOSER.
    Click once on the ADOBE PS icon.
    Deselect any printer in the Postscript window to the left of the Adobe PS icon.
    Close the Chooser.
    Access the FINDER and select FILE > PAGE SETUP.
    You should select VIRTUAL PRINTER from the printer pop-up menu.
    By default the current PPD will be “Generic”.
    Click the SELECT PPD button and from the Printer Descriptions window that opens select Acrobat Distiller.
    -> See Picture 1

      Picture 1
    Picture 1

    Setting up QuarkXpress    		 Go up
      We suggest that you create a PRINT STYLE from within QuarkXpress that pre-records all relevant page and bleed sizes
    for any A4 page you want to convert to PDF.
    By doing this once, you will be able to quickly produce other PDF files without having to repeat the same process several times.
    From within QuarkXpress go to EDIT > PRINT STYLES.
    Click NEW and fill in the relevant windows as shown in Pictures 2, 3, 4, and 5.
      Picture 2
    Picture 2
      Picture 3
    Picture 3
      Picture 4
    Picture 4
      Picture 5
    Picture 5
      Name your Print Style A4 PDF.

    Once you have created your PRINT STYLE, you can now proceed with creating the POSTSCRIPT file from QuarkXpress.
    This Postscript file will be converted to PDF using Acrobat Distiller.
    From within QuarkXpress go to FILE > PRINT.
    From the Print Styles pop-up menu choose your newly created A4 PDF style. (See Picture 6)
    We shall now show you how to complete the PAGE SETUP and PRINTER sub menus.
    These need to be configurerd just once and saved as the default settings for Virtual Printer.
    Firstly, click on PAGE SETUP...
    and then follow Pictures 7, 8, 9 and 10.
      Picture 6
    Picture 6
      Picture 7
    Picture 7
      Picture 8
    Picture 8
      Picture 9
    Picture 9
      Picture 10
    Picture 10
      When you click the OK button you will revert back to PICTURE 6.
    Click the PRINTER button and you will be asked where you would like to save your POSTSCRIPT file:
    Again, there is a sub menu under the GENERAL tab.
    Follow the instructions in pictures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, then click the SAVE SETTINGS button.
    This will save all these options within QuarkXpress for future use.
      Picture 11
    Picture 11
      Picture 12
    Picture 12
      Picture 13
    Picture 13
      Picture 14
    Picture 14
      Picture 15
    Picture 15
      Picture 16
    Picture 16
      Picture 17
    Picture 17
      Picture 18
    Picture 18
      When you click the SAVE button and you will be asked where you would like to save your POSTSCRIPT file.
    As a general rule, it is best to save your postscript files to your desktop.
    This makes them easier to find later when you are ready to convert them to PDF files using Adobe Acrobat Distiller.
    As a general rule, it is best to save your postscript files to your desktop.
    This makes them easier to find later when you are ready to convert them to PDF files using Adobe Acrobat Distiller.
    A useful tip when saving PDF files: try to avoid using special characters, such as /()*-><. Always use an underscore (_) to separate words.
    Whilst we generate all our PDF files on a Macintosh platform, our Pitstop Servers run on Windows 2003 Server Edition, so special characters are actually a DOS command to do something, such as change a directory, or stop printing!

    Setting up Adobe Acrobat Distiller     		Go up
      There is a reason why your “printer” is called Virtual Printer: Adobe Acrobat is a programme not a printer.
    Acrobat Distiller needs to be open to convert your Postscript files to PDF.
    You can choose to use HOT FOLDERS or not for converting your files (See Adobe Acrobat Help File); you can convert all your pages to postscript and then convert a batch of files to PDF; or you can convert pages one at a time.
    The important thing to remember is the naming of the files.
    Wherever possible use this method : MyJob_pages_1_16.pdf / MyJob_page_17.pdf / MyJob_pages_18_23.pdf etc ...
    Although you have split your QuarkXpress file into several PDF files, we can easily identify the running order of pages.
    When you install Adobe Acrobat Distiller 4.0 there are three pre-defined job options included.
    We need to modify the PRESSOPTIMISED settings and make one or two amendments.
    Under the SETINGS menu you will find a FONT LOCATION commmand.
    It is necessary that Adobe Acrobat Distiller knows where on your machine (or external hard drives) it can find the font families to incorporate the fonts into your PDF files.
    We have concluded that having one font folder housing all our fonts in A-Z folders make life easier.
    You simply need to ADD each relevant font folder into the Distiller preferences once.
    If, however, you rename or move a font folder once added into Distiller you will need to add it a second time.
    Concerning WATCHED FOLDERS, refer to Adobe’s help file.
    Select PRESSOPTIMISED job option and under the setting menu select JOB OPTIONS.
    A window will open with 5 TAB options.
    Access each one in turn and make the necessary amendments as shown in pictures 19, 20, 21 , 22 and 23.
      Picture 19
    Picture 19
      Picture 20
    Picture 20
      Picture 21
    Picture 21
      Picture 22
    Picture 22
      Picture 23
    Picture 23
      Once you have completed the five tabbed windows, click SAVE AS and call your new Job Option "RICCOBONO".
    Your option will be automatically saved in the Job Options folder.
    -> See Picture 24
      Picture 24
    Picture 24
      Finally, select the RICCOBONO job options from the pop-up menu and drag and drop your postscript file onto the Distiller window.
    Depending on the speed of your machine the PDF file will be produced and saved in the same place as the postscript file.

    Finally, drag and drop your POSTSCRIPT file onto ACOBAT DISTILLER’S window.
    Your PDF file will be saved to the same location as your postscript file.
    If all goes well and your PDF file has been produced, you can delete the postscript file from your desktop.
     
    TIP:
    Open your PDF file at 400% in Adobe Acrobat.
    Given that your screens resolution is 72dpi and 4 x 72 = 288; as close to 300dpi as possible.