Batch processing pdf files

BD
Posted By
Brett_Dalton
Dec 6, 2007
Views
257
Replies
3
Status
Closed
PDF’s being possibly multipage docs could cause problems with actions. I’m not sure but it’s a possibility.

You could save the docs from Indesigns as an EPS or even a raster format in the first place? That would be a work around.

BRETT

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Michael_Griswold
Dec 6, 2007
Thanks, Brett. That’s a good thought that had not occurred to me. Here’s the problem, I have with it.

End result of all this hoopla is that I want a .tif or .png to insert into Word documents. Here’s the picture: I wanted to supply a Word document for use with every school in the school district I work for. While our printing & graphics department provides an official letterhead for school and department use, it is expensive and they often print their own materials. I wanted to convert each school’s letterhead info (which consists of a placed AI grayscale .eps, and text merged in ID) into a raster image. That would preserve the standard image, including fonts, into a format that could be inserted into a Word document, that is the most accessible format to our users.

The really big convenience of the pdf format was double. First and most important, it allowed me to set up the options for the incoming file. With a pdf file, this allows me to limit the document to the bounding box for the artwork, perfect for my need. It also allows me to choose a resolution (600 ppi worked out best in my scenario) and a color mode (grayscale for file size).

Opening a .jpg or .eps exported from ID opens the entire 8.5 x 11 page. I’m sure I could reformat my document to the size I needed but this document would be more useful in it’s original size.

Finally, (sorry to be so wordy), why is it than when I export a pdf from ID (no matter what preset, high quality or press for instance), when I open it in PS in grayscale mode, the black is now at 87% instead of 100%? Smacks of color management and black point conversion issues…

My CS3 global color settings are: RGB-Pro Photo; CMYK-US Sheetfed coated v2; Grayscale-2.2 gamma; I’ve tried grayscale color management policy set to off and ‘Convert to working gray’. Same-o.

Kind of a complicated but certainly a real world problem…. Thanks for your help!

Cheers!

Michael
BD
Brett_Dalton
Dec 10, 2007
There are various placement options in ID that allow you to define how a placed object will behave. I understand the bounding box advantage, which is great, but again ID can be set to output a raster version set to a crop marks or bounding box I believe. I was doing exactly this to prepare a merged documents as Clappers for Video Edits.

As for the colour issue, when you say 87% black are you looking at the K value in a CMYK doc? It may be that the documents are exported as a "Rich Black" which is K overprinted with a percentage of CMY as well opposed to a "Pure Black" which is ONLY 100% K. The reason it’s not 100% all 4 colours is most production presses can only handle up to 300% total ink before you get smearing and smudging problems.

BRETT
MG
Michael_Griswold
Dec 11, 2007
Thanks for the thoughtful responses, Brett. From what I see, jpg is the only raster export from ID. But you are right. You can limit the export to the selection instead of taking the whole document. Thanks for pointing that out. Sometimes you miss those little checkboxes.

Regarding the colour issue… In the instance of an exported jpg, you are given no way to set the color space upon export. When I open my exported jpg, (which contains black ID type, and a placed AI grayscale logo) PS sees the document as RGB with black values of 21, 21, 21. When you convert this to grayscale you have 87%. When I export a pdf, I’m given the option to specify a color space. Regardless of which space I pick, I’m allowed to convert that space upon opening in PS. Doesn’t matter which space is chosen, the black value always comes out the same.

My preferences are set to display and output black and rich black accurately. It doesn’t change anything if I change that however. Actually, it doesn’t change anything if I turn off color management either. To me, it doesn’t seem right that ID’s black type should export as RGB values as a jpg or a pdf. When I export 100% black type, I want to get 100% black type. I don’t want to have to throw in a curves adjustment to get back to where I was to start with. Please tell me I’m missing something.

So to make my first question clear: PS will not work with pdf files when doing a batch operation. Guess I should put that one on the wish list. Along with accurate export of black type!

Thanks!

Michael

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