Comments on: The PDF/X-4 file format http://www.prepressure.com Prepress, printing, PDF, PostScript, Fonts and stuff... Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:01:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: David C. http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-146838 David C. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:48:31 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-146838 I attended a seminar about PDF/X-4 organized by the GWG. Quite interesting, there is a lot of new info to be added here ;) The GWG are working on 2 versions of the PDF/X-4 specs: - a deviceCMYK version that only allows deviceCMYK without icc profiles and spot colors, but with support for transparencies. - a color managed version with full support for iccCMYK/iccRGB/Lab/Gray... and transparencies, note, deviceRGB is not allowed! An output intent must be specified. If I remember correctly, NChannel will be the preferred color space over DeviceN. With Adobe CS 5.5 you can create PDF/X-4 files, with proper layer support. CS 4 & 5 seem to be missing the layer support. Cross-media options are also being explored. I attended a seminar about PDF/X-4 organized by the GWG. Quite interesting, there is a lot of new info to be added here ;)
The GWG are working on 2 versions of the PDF/X-4 specs:
- a deviceCMYK version that only allows deviceCMYK without icc profiles and spot colors, but with support for transparencies.
- a color managed version with full support for iccCMYK/iccRGB/Lab/Gray… and transparencies, note, deviceRGB is not allowed! An output intent must be specified.

If I remember correctly, NChannel will be the preferred color space over DeviceN.
With Adobe CS 5.5 you can create PDF/X-4 files, with proper layer support. CS 4 & 5 seem to be missing the layer support.

Cross-media options are also being explored.

]]> By: judi http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-63158 judi Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:49:31 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-63158 If you have an rgb image in an InDesign file, and you ouput using these PDF/X-4 settings, is it okay for the printer? does it convert the image to cmyk since it says it is for printing? Thanks, Judi If you have an rgb image in an InDesign file, and you ouput using these PDF/X-4 settings, is it okay for the printer? does it convert the image to cmyk since it says it is for printing?

Thanks, Judi

]]> By: Laurens http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-59424 Laurens Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:52:59 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-59424 I am not aware of any inexpensive or free creative software that can generate PDF/X-4 compliant files. It is a bit surprising that you claim to get an error about a missing program association when you try to open a PDF/X-4 file. Since such files simply end with the .pdf extension (they are PDF files after all), they should open with Adobe Reader or any other PDF viewer you may have installed on your system. I am not aware of any inexpensive or free creative software that can generate PDF/X-4 compliant files.
It is a bit surprising that you claim to get an error about a missing program association when you try to open a PDF/X-4 file. Since such files simply end with the .pdf extension (they are PDF files after all), they should open with Adobe Reader or any other PDF viewer you may have installed on your system.

]]> By: Ian http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-59391 Ian Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:13:31 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-59391 Its all very good to say that acrobat 9 and creative suite 4 are compatable with x4 files, but they all cost money that a lot of us do not have. Can you suggest an alternative? My problem is when trying to open an x4 file I get a grey screen and a blog stating that this file does not have a program associated with it, please install a program. If one is already installed, create an association in Default program control panel. If you have a suggestion please state it in plain english as all of these CMYKs, RGB/LAB/, and GWGs dont mean much to a computer hack like me. Any help would be appreciated??? Its all very good to say that acrobat 9 and creative suite 4 are compatable with x4 files, but they all cost money that a lot of us do not have. Can you suggest an alternative?
My problem is when trying to open an x4 file I get a grey screen and a blog stating that this file does not have a program associated with it, please install a program. If one is already installed, create an association in Default program control panel.
If you have a suggestion please state it in plain english as all of these CMYKs, RGB/LAB/, and GWGs dont mean much to a computer hack like me.
Any help would be appreciated???

]]> By: Laurens http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-40382 Laurens Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:36:46 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-40382 Since PDF/X-4 is a file format that is specifically created for guaranteeing good output results, your question is rather odd. You could interpret it as 'Is the workflow that drives my iGen 3 capable of processing PDF/X-4 files?' I have no answer to that question. In fact, I don't even know what RIP of workflow you have in front of the iGen. Maybe others can chime in, otherwise that question is better asked in a prepress forum, such as on http://www.b4print.com/forum/ Since PDF/X-4 is a file format that is specifically created for guaranteeing good output results, your question is rather odd. You could interpret it as ‘Is the workflow that drives my iGen 3 capable of processing PDF/X-4 files?’
I have no answer to that question. In fact, I don’t even know what RIP of workflow you have in front of the iGen. Maybe others can chime in, otherwise that question is better asked in a prepress forum, such as on http://www.b4print.com/forum/

]]> By: Jonny http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-40349 Jonny Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:28:19 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-40349 would PDF 4 da print out on an Igen 3 fine?or should expect problems? would PDF 4 da print out on an Igen 3 fine?or should expect problems?

]]> By: Alex http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-35902 Alex Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:26:12 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-35902 ;-D I have read the whole ISO 15930 family for writing a paper about PDF/X requirements and so. Sincerely, it was quite hard to understand the ISO languaje and a bunch of acronyms like OCCD, OCG, etc... But, OCCD today remains very abstract for me. Do you mean Callas PDFToolbox4? Laurens, Something to say about NChannel and DeviceN? What's the difference? Here is a very little description: http://www.enfocus.com/actionlist.php?id=921 I'm doing some test with PhotoShop multitone EPS + Indesing producing PDF in both ways: High Quality and PDF/X-1a. Then, looking at Pitstop inspector window, these objects will be NChannel or DeviceN depending the way you chose to produce the PDF. (sorry for burden you) Thank you! ;-D
I have read the whole ISO 15930 family for writing a paper about PDF/X requirements and so. Sincerely, it was quite hard to understand the ISO languaje and a bunch of acronyms like OCCD, OCG, etc… But, OCCD today remains very abstract for me. Do you mean Callas PDFToolbox4?

Laurens, Something to say about NChannel and DeviceN? What’s the difference? Here is a very little description: http://www.enfocus.com/actionlist.php?id=921

I’m doing some test with PhotoShop multitone EPS + Indesing producing PDF in both ways: High Quality and PDF/X-1a. Then, looking at Pitstop inspector window, these objects will be NChannel or DeviceN depending the way you chose to produce the PDF.

(sorry for burden you)

Thank you!

]]> By: Laurens http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-35656 Laurens Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:38:42 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-35656 Wow, I never managed to get past the first chapter of any of the PDF specifications. Congratulations on getting that far! What I haven't found yet (and most likely never will find) is an actual description of what this means with the current applications on the market. As far as I know only Callas ships a tool that can handle OCCD's but other apps that support this type of feature are bound to appear sometime. I've been told packing apps from vendors like Esko might profit the most from this type of functions. Wow, I never managed to get past the first chapter of any of the PDF specifications. Congratulations on getting that far! What I haven’t found yet (and most likely never will find) is an actual description of what this means with the current applications on the market. As far as I know only Callas ships a tool that can handle OCCD’s but other apps that support this type of feature are bound to appear sometime. I’ve been told packing apps from vendors like Esko might profit the most from this type of functions.

]]> By: Alex http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-35440 Alex Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:48:30 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-35440 Hi Laurens, I'm sorry Laurens. As now I'm reading in ISO 15930-7: OCCD is Optional Content Configuration Dictionary. A variant consists of one or more OCGs, which are associated through an Optional Content Membership Dictionary (OCMD) and an OCCD. Each OCCD determines which OCGs are grouped together to form a single variant. bye! Hi Laurens,
I’m sorry Laurens. As now I’m reading in ISO 15930-7: OCCD is Optional Content Configuration Dictionary.

A variant consists of one or more OCGs, which are associated through an Optional Content Membership Dictionary (OCMD) and an OCCD. Each OCCD determines which OCGs are grouped together to form a single variant.

bye!

]]> By: Alex http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/pdfx-4#comment-35420 Alex Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:59:45 +0000 http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/basics/the-pdfx-4-file-format#comment-35420 Hi Laurens, I googled it up for OCCD. If I understood well, OCCD is a group of OCGs, but, What exactly stands for the acronym OCCD? TIA, Alex Hi Laurens,
I googled it up for OCCD. If I understood well, OCCD is a group of OCGs, but, What exactly stands for the acronym OCCD?

TIA,
Alex

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