On Tuesday 07 April 2009 12:46:10 pm Gerard Cunningham wrote: > For a project I'm working on, the printer requires PDFX1A > (or should that be PDF/X-1A). > PDF/X-1A:2001 is required by LSI. If you don't have it they may rasterize the file twice. Apparently this is a big deal for covers but not so big for interiors.
The only sure way I know to get to this obsolete but required format is via Adobe Distiller. My alternate recommendation is to save the file selecting the pdf 1-3 standard in Scribus. To flatten it load it into Open Office Writer, save to a print file, and then use the Ghostcript script ps2pdf13 to put it back into pdf form. Transparencies and gradients will fail unless you flatten. If it weren't for the Ingram connection I would leave LSI like a shot and use someone more cooperative, like 360 Digital Books, who specify pdf 1.5 but when it comes to distribution LSI owns the bat and the ball so you have to play the game by their rules. It also helps if you leave off the bar code, and just put an appropriate white rectangle where you want it placed. That way if LSI feels compelled to rasterize it twice they will at least not fuzz the barcode. I have asked that the obsolete pdf X/1a:2001 format be added to Scribus but those who don't deal with LSI don't fully grasp why it is important to those of us who do. If the cover file pdf doesn't have that code string embedded then LSI will mess with the cover prior to prepress. PDF 1.3 (almost the same standard) isn't sufficient for LSI AFAIK. > I have Scribus v1.3.3.12 which I understand is the latest > stable version, running on Ubuntu 8.10. > > Can someone point me to a non-technical explanation of > how to export the PDF in the format required (assuming > that its possible to do so) or to a reasonable workaround > if not. > See above. > I gather I need to add CMYK plugins, what else do I need > to do? You should set up to work in CMYK from the beginning. With NO document active go to edit>colors and select the CMYK set from e.g. Open Office Writer. This won't work if you have a document active. The change is persistent. HTH. I share your pain. -- John Culleton Able Indexers and Typesetters http://wexfordpress.com
