| There are multiple methods for generating PDF files from InDesign files. Export to PDF: If you're using InDesign CS2, you'll be happy to know that the easy way is usually the best wayhow often does that happen? A PDF file generated via InDesign's direct export (File > Export, and choose Adobe PDF as the export format) is as digestible as one created by distilling PostScript. And, most importantly, there's less chance of vector and text content being rasterized during a direct export. Like Illustrator and Photoshop, InDesign contains the necessary resources to create PDF files without invoking Acrobat Distiller. Unless your recipient instructs you otherwise, use File > Export, and then choose the PDF/X-1a setting. Print to Adobe PDF: By default, this approach uses Distiller as the target printer, following the PDF job options last used by Distiller. However, you can change those settings by clicking the Printer button at the bottom of the Print dialog. In the dialog that follows, change Printer to Adobe PDF, and then click the Copies & Pages list and select PDF Options. Then you'll be able to choose from the full range of Distiller job options from the Adobe PDF Settings list. Vector and text content may be rasterized if it interacts with any transparency effects. Acrobat Distiller: Generate PostScript by selecting File > Print, and then selecting PostScript File for the printer. For PPD (PostScript Printer Definition), choose Adobe PDF unless instructed otherwise. Use Acrobat Distiller to convert the PostScript to PDF. Whereas this long-winded approach was previously recommended to minimize CID (Character ID) font encoding, you'll achieve equivalent results if you're using InDesign CS2. You may still encounter instances of CID font encoding in a directly exported or distilled PDF, since some glyphs must be CID-encoded regardless of the method of PDF creation. Save As PDF: The Macintosh operating system offers a built-in approach to creating PDF files. You'll encounter a Save As PDF option in Print dialog boxes in OS X 10.3.9 and below. In 10.4 and above, you'll see just a PDF button. While this method is acceptable for PDF files intended for a quick-and-dirty e-mail attachment, it does not offer appropriate controls for making a print-ready PDF file.
To sum up, direct export from InDesign CS2 is the preferred method unless the file recipient specifically instructs you otherwise. If you're still using InDesign CS, and you need to make a PDF for unknown circumstances, generate PostScript and use Distiller's PDF/X-1a settings to minimize any CID font encoding that might be problematic on older devices. CID font encodingnecessary for Asian fonts and some special charactershas been part of PostScript and PDF specifications for years, but many RIP vendors neglected to allow for it. Earlier versions of InDesign encoded all fontseven lowly Times Romanas CID. Distilling PostScript was the common fix to avoid CID font encoding. But with the release of InDesign CS2, this should no longer be necessary. |
