I have a bitmap (which started life as a vector with a drop shadow) that I have overlain over a vector line box. When I create a print ready PDF I get distortion where the bitmap overlays the vector beneath it. (see attached, red oval highlights the area)
The only solution I can find is to make all page elements into a bitmap and output from there, but I'd rather not work this way.
Does anyone have any ideas?
TIA
JP
What PDF setting used?
Try
PDF X/3, compatibility Acrobat 8.0
Mek answer is the right solution.
Hello,
Flattening is sometimes tedious - but I still prefer it - since I can't control what kind of equipment or workflow another print shop has. Is their RIP going to interpret this level of PDF as you expect?
Sometimes... another prepress artist can "pick through" your art and possibly change something intentionally - or by accident - after opening your PDF.
As long as you trust where your art is going, try Mek's idea. If you want to ensure the art prints as you expect, I still flatten background elements.
Thanks for the replies
My printers suggest the following when sending files to them:
"If you save your PDF directly from a graphic program, please make sure to use PDF/ X-standard (PDF/X3 or PDF/X1a). We recommend picking the additional setting “compatibility 1.3” when saving your artwork files. Like that you can prevent problems with layers or transparencies that may arise during further work on your files in our workflow. and PDF 1.3 compatibility.
This means saving with compatibility as Acrobat 8/9 may cause problems.
Jeff, I have flattened the yellow 'corner flash' so that it is an image, can you explain further what I potentially could/should flatten (the whole page perhaps?)
The latest PDF/X3 standard was out on 2002/2003, that mean 15 years ago and it was compatible with Acrobat 4.0 at this time, the it will convert transparencies to bitmapt and split bitmaps in small parts.
Using PDF/X3 as start point is good, but you need to use "compatibility with Acrobat 8.0" or later in order to use lens and transparencies, Older version of Acrobat doesn't support transparencies.
The PDF x/4 is, basically, a PDF/X3 with compatibility to Acrobat 7.0 and this is the standard for printing companies around the world.