Sending a .pdf from XDPX to commercial printer

[Riftvalley]

I have tried searching the forum how to do this but all the posts I can find talk about using Illustrator etc.

I wish to send a PDF/X, 300 pdi file to a commercial printer (A4 and then A3 versions) using just XDPX.

How do I include bleed margins and crop marks?

I tried to achieve this by creating a custom page oversized from A4 to accomodate crop marks and a 3mm bleed margin. When I exported this as a .pdf I got a displaced image within an A4 page.

How do I create a suitable file?

Many thanks and kind regards

Martin

[Riftvalley]

Hi,

I am replyig to my own question!!??

I tried putting everything on to a single layer and changing the page size to 250X330 and now it exports to pdf/x properly.

I note that in the advance options I have PDF/X-1a:2001 (!SO 15930-1) and that the dialogue allows up to PDF/X-3: (ISO 15930-6) which is best to use, please?

Also, I have it set to CMYK, Font subset only, 300dpi, JPEG @ 85%, excluding invisible layers (I have deleted all non-used or invisible layers).

I note that on the layers tab the box is ticked that says include crop and printer marks in .pdf document. Marks included are determined by the settings in the Print Options dialog on the Imagesetting Tab. I cannot access the Imagesetting Tab as 'print options' is greyed out.

I would like to use the in-built printers marks as this seems comprehensive, but I cannot access them.

regards

Martin

[mwenz]

Hello Martin,

Right-click over a blank area on a page and choose Page Options at the bottom, or choose Page Options from the file menu. Select the Page Size tab. In the top section, choose your page size and or create a custom page size. In the middle section, there is a box for entering a Bleed Margin, in the UK a common amount is 3 mm. Click OK.

From the File menu, select the Print Options choice. On that dialog, select the Imagesetting tab. Click the Output Printer's marks check box. By default all the options will be checked with the exception of the last two choices, which is typically fine.

When you are ready to Export to PDF, make sure the Export dialog is set to "PDF or PDF/X," name the PDF and click Export. Another dialog appears, make sure it is set to Commercial Printing. There is an Advanced button at the bottom right. Unless you need to alter something, leaving it at the preset (not clicking the Advanced button) is typically fine.

Take care, Mike

[Riftvalley]

Many thanks Mike.

Why is it that the simplest things always catch you out! The main reason I was floundering was that I did not realise that if the 'Page Options' dialogue box is showing, then the 'Print Options' dialogue is greyed out.

Dead simple, but took me ages to figure out, as it seemed that the 'Page Options' box switched itself on and off at random!

In the help file IMHO there should be a great big warning that says "Ensure the PAGE DIALOGUE BOX is switched OFF before trying to access the PRINT DIALOGUE BOX!"

On the road to the print shop now.

Thanks again

Martin