Adobe DC and old prepress software

Question

Hi out there - has anyone had any issues that are in the printing industry with the new Adobe Acrobat DC not being compatible with old prepress software?  I've just started work with this printing company who still are using CS6 and have very old prepress software.  I was amazed that they are still using this old stuff and missed my Adobe Cloud software and could only talk them into subscribing to Acrobat DC which I love.  They are saying that this is causing issues with their prepress software.  I can't see how or why - can anyone answer this question please?

Abambo · Answer

I’m not sure, but I think there was very little difference in the different PDF files produced since PDF/X-4:2010. That’s compatible with Acrobat 7 (PDF file version 1.6).

If the prepress software is older, then the next standard is PDF/x-3:2003, producing files compatible with Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3). If that is the case, you are « in trouble », because x-4 introduced such nice features as transparency and RGB pictures and offloading the core of flattening and colour separation to the RIP, which should be logical, because the RIP can produce an output optimized to the press system used.

You probably need at least one Acrobat DC to stay in business. If the customer sends Illustrator files or Indesign files or even Photoshop files you may be in trouble too. I would advice to have at least one subscription to CC to be able to open correctly what the client sends.

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