Acrobat Distiller: where is it available?

[Satyavan]

I don't get it.... searched and searched but am still confused.Is it a component of something, an extra package, an independent app o download and install or what? Can anyone help this newbie...?

[try67]

Acrobat Distiller is a part of Adobe Acrobat Pro.

[Long38514242x1mk]

After installing the trial of Acrobat Pro I can't find anything that is Distiller in it.  In the past the Acrobat software had an option for us to make an PDF Printer as a system printer so any software in the computer can print to a PDF file.  Can anyone help me to set up a PDF printer?  Much appriciated.

[Test Screen Name]

WHY are you looking for Distiller? Please be detailed. While it is still in Acrobat Pro, there are uses for which it is no longer appropriate, but bad and out of date advice on the internet doesn't go away...

[Satyavan]

Good question... In fact I don't know if that is the best tool. I need to adjust a pdf template for the cover of my book which is provided by a self-publishing company (IngramSpark). They advised me to adjust it via Indesign or Acrobat Distiller. The first does not allow me to try a free trial period (tells it is expired, but I'm not aware having it never used) so wanted to try with distiller. Any suggestion?

[Test Screen Name]

What form is the template in today? If it’s in InFedign form you’d need InDesign. If it’s already a PDF, what adjustments do you need? And, Mac or Windows?

[Satyavan]

I'm new to that (on other self-publishing platforms one can do the cover editing just by sending one's own pdf). Here instead they send you a predefined size trimmed cover template in pdf format (subdivided in specific areas, such as the front, the spine, the bleed, etc.). I work under Windows. You can download the pdf here: Cover.pdf

[try67]

This should be done in InDesign. You can't use Distiller for editing. It can only convert PostScript files to PDF files.

Acrobat can edit PDF files directly, but it's not recommended if you have access to the original file format used to create it.

[Satyavan]

Ok, thanks so far. However, since I'm only interested to create this cover once and never needed InDesign until now, the question at this point is if there isn't a cheaper way or alternative method to adjust this template? I mean...I have to spend more than $36 only to copy and past a couple of images with few text lines into that template.... would be nice if I could avoid that.

[try67]

Do you have Acrobat? You can try to edit it there. There's a free trial version you can use for 7 days.

[Dave Merchant]

That PDF is not a template you "adjust". It is a reference layer that you overlay with your own content, sticking to the boundaries shown. The template should not appear in the final export.

You can import the PDF as a layer into Photoshop or Illustrator, create your content then remove the template before exporting - but LSI expects covers to be professional quality print-ready PDF/X files, which is why they supply InDesign templates as well as PDFs. If you start rasterising text at the wrong resolution (or try to add your own barcode without using registration black) then they could well reject it.

[Satyavan]

I used to do that in Powerpoint. I imported the PDF as a layer and after creating the hires content (up to 500dpi) and then removing it, converted it back into PDF again... but that was rejected.

[Satyavan]

As further info here you can see the steps of the cover editing with its final pdf: Cover_edit.pdf (so you now know also on what I'm working on... :)))... )

[gary_sc]

Hi Satyavan,

While I do appreciate the desire to keep costs down as much as possible, think of it this way: if this is anything that you plan on getting money for, doing it as professionally as possible will make the item more worth the money. After all, would you be willing to buy a car made by someone who didn't want to spend any money?

Sure there is a big difference between a car and a book but making something professional is the point.

You do have several options: you do not need to get InDesign for years and years if this is the only thing you want to do with it. However, it's not like you can open InDesign and in a few hours learn how to use it and get your product. As such, you should probably consider getting it for (at least) several months to both learn and complete your project. Besides, it's not uncommon for folks to do something once, discover they like doing these kinds of things and spend many more years learning and doing something new and exciting.

Alternatively, pay someone else to do it. There are many folks out there who've spent much of their life making and creating things just like this and who'd appreciate a short job (such as this). You'll end up with just what you want, made professionally, and will best present what you have to offer.

Just some thoughts...

[Dave Merchant]

LSI have a semi-automated prepress system, if your cover or book block are rejected notes are attached to the rejection report - read them, fix them, resubmit. They charge every time you upload, but that's no issue for professional publishers (LSI's core customer base) as we all use inDesign or QXP and submit preflighted proofs. Trying to make anything for print in Powerpoint is like fixing an iPhone with a hammer. Just. Don't.

Since you are paying more than a month's Creative Cloud subscription for each LSI digital file submission, and you already said that your method has failed, why on earth you are trying to cut corners is beyond me. Follow their instructions to the letter, in the correct software, export a valid PDF/X1a document and the submissions will always be accepted. My publishing company has been using LSI to reprint short-run titles for years, never had a problem. The guys in sales don't even bother with proofs anymore.

[jhestrey_4928]

If you concert the file to Post Scrupt from Acrobat and save it, oncr you've done that just right click the file and it will gibe you option of opening it to Acrobat Distrller and put it on standard