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unrealsimon
Known Participant
March 23, 2016
Answered

editable PDF and repro

  • March 23, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 738 views

I have a problem, I have been asked to supply PDFs with editable fields so dealers can add their details to ads, using reader, then supplying them to local papers. Having looked at the finished PDF in output preview the fields don't seem to be appearing as plates. One of the newspaper group failed the PDF on preflight because of the fields (when it 'corrected' it the fields disappeared. Is there anyway to make the editable fields part of the CMYK? Simon

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Correct answer Dov Isaacs

Assuming you are using Acrobat Pro, use the Preflight tool to flatten forms into the document. They will no longer be editable, but will be printable in the same manner as the rest of the document.

                  - Dov

1 reply

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
March 23, 2016

Assuming you are using Acrobat Pro, use the Preflight tool to flatten forms into the document. They will no longer be editable, but will be printable in the same manner as the rest of the document.

                  - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
U
unrealsimonAuthor
Known Participant
March 23, 2016

Thanks, that would be OK if I was making the changes but I'm not. They are downloaded by dealers and modified using Reader, then sent to publication. It's as if Adobe want to force people into buying Pro. Anyway the preset required by the publications in preflight removes the fields completely. Simon

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
March 23, 2016

Adobe isn't trying to “force” anyone to license Acrobat Pro. That having been said, Reader is a free program designed primarily for consumption of PDF - primarily viewing, forms filling, and printing of PDF files. If your dealers were printing directly from Reader, the forms fields would print. But from your description, they are sending the PDF files to publications that have particular requirements for PDF files that are placed in those publications as ads. Publications and professional printers typically don't handle PDF files with live forms. They most often require PDF/X files (usually PDF/X-1a or preferably PDF/X-4) that totally disallow live forms fields. Bottom line is that you are trying to bridge an enterprise PDF forms workflow with a graphics arts PDF workflow, a task which is well beyond the scope of the free Adobe Reader product.

If your dealers don't have Acrobat and you still wish to use forms to customize ads, maybe you (and your dealers) could have an arrangement where the publications would routinely flatten the forms in your dealers' submitted PDF ads prior to placing the PDF files in the publications?

                - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
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