Automating Print to Adobe PDF/X on Mac OS X Sierra 10.12.6

[AS Scripter]

HI: I'm using Adobe CC 2018 on Mac OS X 10.12.6. I have installed Acrobat DC, which provides all applications with a "Print to Adobe PDF" selection via the Print dialog's PDF popup. After "Print to Adobe PDF" is selected, various options are presented. I am interested in the PDF/X option.

So far, I have found that the OS and other applications don't remember this particular setting, and I have to manually select it every time. Is there any way for the OS or other applications to remember the PDF/X setting to print to? In old Mac OS's, it was possible to make this setting a virtual printer, which showed up as a device along with any physical devices, and apps could just print to that virtual printer, but this seems no longer possible. (?)

Thanks for any help or tips!

[Test Screen Name]

Yes, Apple blocked virtual printers.

From what app are you making the PDF? PDF printing is considered the worst possible choice, to be used only if nothing else is possible...

[AS Scripter]

Hi, thanks for confirming the lack of virtual printers! They want to make a lot of small ads with a photo in each one (usually), and then send the ad files to be placed in a large Quark or InDesign document and then ultimately printed in a glossy magazine (eg, Seattle Magazine). They want to use MS Word and Filemaker to automate making the ads from simple template documents. I thought PDF/X might be a good option because the photos are CMYK. Seems like there must be some similar workflows that have been developed for this kind of scenario, if you could recommend any. Thanks for any further insights you can offer!

[Test Screen Name]

I think using PDF/X here would be counterproductive. And the photos won't be CMYK because Word and FileMaker will export or print in RGB. So you should not use CMYK photos at all. Use tagged RGB and convert to CMYK all together in InDesign which can make PDF/X).

[AS Scripter]

So, if I understand correctly, the PDF driver won't make any difference because the application (here, Word and Filemaker) would have to be able to "speak" CMYK, as it were, and send its data to the printer in CMYK format – which neither of these do? Ha, there goes that plan... Do you know of any simple programs that can output to CMYK and can combine text and graphics in a simple layout? Thanks for all your help!

[Test Screen Name]

I think a step back. Why do you want to work with CMYK graphics at all?

[AS Scripter]

All of the existing images are CMYK, and all the new ones being created are as well.

[Test Screen Name]

You will struggle to find software that does what you want, I think. CMYK support is rare, and generally found only in prepress software. If your images were tagged RGB then InDesign does just as good a job of converting to specific CMYK profiles as Photoshop does, and this late conversion also future proofs you against a change in printer (which would need different CMYK).

[AS Scripter]

It does sound like a no-go. Drat! Thanks for your expertise!