PDF Proof-Acrobat or Preview More Accurate?

[SubaruNation555]

I am coordinating with a printer on a brochure. They sent me a final PDF proof and when viewed using Safari's PDF plugin or Preview some of the transparencies look washed out. When viewed using Acrobat 9 Pro everything looks as it should. I don't want to tell the printer to make corrections based on a false representation of my publication. Which application do I trust and why are they not consistent? Thanks.

[MisterMe]

I am coordinating with a printer on a brochure. They sent me a final PDF proof and when viewed using Safari's PDF plugin or Preview some of the transparencies look washed out. When viewed using Acrobat 9 Pro everything looks as it should. I don't want to tell the printer to make corrections based on a false representation of my publication. Which application do I trust and why are they not consistent? Thanks.Wow! Just wow.

PDF is an Adobe-originated format.
By your admission, the PDF looks better in Acrobat 9 Pro.
If your printer is a professional, then you can rest assured that he used an Adobe utility to generate the PDF file. This can easily be verified using either Acrobat 9 Pro or Preview.

This is a really tough call, but I would go with Acrobat.

[SubaruNation555]

Wow! Just wow.

PDF is an Adobe-originated format.
By your admission, the PDF looks better in Acrobat 9 Pro.
If your printer is a professional, then you can rest assured that he used an Adobe utility to generate the PDF file. This can easily be verified using either Acrobat 9 Pro or Preview.

This is a really tough call, but I would go with Acrobat.

Spare me the sarcastic response. This is my first time doing any print work and I posted to get a question answered and learn. If you think my question is stupid or amateurish either respond politely or not at all.

[Belly-laughs]

Preview uses some sort of licensing feeless implementation of the PDF standard, leaving out the high end rendering I would imagine.

How clients see your PDFs is another issue.

[Kwill]

Acrobat is more robust. Within its preferences Acrobat can be adjusted to apply appropriate profiles for images lacking embedded ones.


Preview generally relies on ColorSync paired with Apple's default monitor profile. Such behavior can be globally changed with the ColorSync utility but I wouldn't recommend it.


A calibrated monitor is also essential.

[MisterMe]

Spare me the sarcastic response. This is my first time doing any print work and I posted to get a question answered and learn. If you think my question is stupid or amateurish either respond politely or not at all.You suffered a failure of common sense.

FWIW, for virtually every PDF that I want others to see, I print to a PostScript file and then use Adobe Acrobat Distiller to generate the PDF. This is the oldest method of producing PDF files. It still produces the most consistent error-free PDF files of any workflow that I know.

[AppleMatt]

This is my first time doing any print work

Personally I'd ring the printer and say "sorry for a dumb question, but this is my first time doing print work. I noticed that..."

I'd expect they'd be nice anyway, but especially considering they'll be thinking you could chuck more work at them in the future. Plus if it goes wrong, they're to blame.

The alternative is them saying "well why didn't you ask".

AppleMatt

[mlblacy]

I am coordinating with a printer on a brochure. ... some of the transparencies look washed out...

Definitely trust what you see in Acrobat Pro, over Preview. I have never seen a difference between the Safari plug and Acrobat itself, but you can save the PDF from Safari, and then reopen it using Acrobat Pro.

Your "washed out" colors did raise a concern though that should be noted. A very common error when sending files is failing to convert the images to CMYK. RGB files appear really wonky, washed out, and have an odd cast to them. So give your original a once over and make sure your converted all your artwork to CMYK...
cheers,
michael

[SubaruNation555]

Thanks for the responses. I am very excited to get the final product back. I have really enjoyed the experience: working with InDesign, Illustrator, learning about typography and types of printing etc., but know I have a huge amount more to learn.

[Rt&Dzine]

Thanks for the responses. I am very excited to get the final product back. I have really enjoyed the experience: working with InDesign, Illustrator, learning about typography and types of printing etc., but know I have a huge amount more to learn.

Even after years of doing professional print work, I still get excited to see the final printed piece. Well, maybe not excited . . . but I look forward to seeing it. Congratulations!

[decksnap]

I would always request a printed proof. You want to see what it's really going to look like, not what a screen representation of it (calibrated or not) looks like. Soft proofs don't exactly instill confidence. It's just not the same.

Also, there's nothing stupid about questioning Adobe software. It has a million quirks and I don't trust them half the time either.

[sclough]

I am coordinating with a printer on a brochure. They sent me a final PDF proof and when viewed using Safari's PDF plugin or Preview some of the transparencies look washed out. When viewed using Acrobat 9 Pro everything looks as it should. I don't want to tell the printer to make corrections based on a false representation of my publication. Which application do I trust and why are they not consistent? Thanks.

FWIW, we publish some books where I work and the people in publishing specifically use Acrobat to view PDF previews rather than Preview. They say Acrobat has better color. Sure, I'd want to see a paper proof before you go to print, but I'd probably trust Acrobat over Preview if it were me.

[gingerspice]

I Have A I Mac And The New Notebook , And I Would Like To Know How Or Where I Can Find A Way To Change A File To Pdf File?
Anybody Help Me? I Am Kind Of New To This, So If U Can Help, I Don't Know All The Lingo, So Be Easy On Me

[gingerspice]

I am coordinating with a printer on a brochure. They sent me a final PDF proof and when viewed using Safari's PDF plugin or Preview some of the transparencies look washed out. When viewed using Acrobat 9 Pro everything looks as it should. I don't want to tell the printer to make corrections based on a false representation of my publication. Which application do I trust and why are they not consistent? Thanks.

I am trying to find a way to change a file to pdf file and don't know how or where to go, am new to this . i have the new notebook,mac and and i mac, one is leopard and one is tiger(i mac
can u help me?
3macg5@gmail.com
gingerspice
thanks

[MisterMe]

I Have A I Mac And The New Notebook , And I Would Like To Know How Or Where I Can Find A Way To Change A File To Pdf File?
Anybody Help Me? I Am Kind Of New To This, So If U Can Help, I Don't Know All The Lingo, So Be Easy On MeEvery Mac app with the ability to print has the ability to print to a PDF file. It is a part of the OS. Look in the lower lefthand corner of your File/Print... dialog box. If you have additional problems, then give the type(s) of file(s) for which you want PDF versions.

Word to the wise: Capitalizing every word in a post makes it difficult to read.

[design-is]

It should also be mentioned that Acrobat will let you preview any overprinting you've got going on and let you spot problems with said overprinting.

Overprinting white, for example, will be a problem and will show up using the 'Overprint Preview' option in Acrobat - better than waiting to receive the printed article only to find something's mysteriously vanished ;)

/Doug