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Known Participant
June 26, 2018
Answered

InDesign (Print Booklet) >PostScript>Acrobat= Trim box errors

  • June 26, 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 3442 views

The problem I am having is my finished PDF files have no art box (least important from what I hear) or trim box (important). They are not centering on the page at the printer, so I had pages returned to me that the center fold marks were not aligned.

  • I have not been able to figure out how to get the page size to include bleed marks created in InDesign without adding extra space to the top and right, or cropping parts of them off.
  • The pages in the PDF are not centered, they are bottom and left aligned
  • In the end, the pages are printed on a 29" x 20.8125" sheet

My workflow (Mac):

  1. I am creating book layouts in InDesign with 1/8 inch bleeds
    • Printer's marks added in InDesign
  2. From there, I use the "Print Booklet" feature to create 8 or 12 page signatures.
  3. I then open the file in Distiller, where I have custom PDF settings based on PDF/X-1a:2001
    • Custom page size based on two 13" x 13.5" pages with 1/8" bleeds
    • Error returned:
      • Bounding Boxes [Violation] Neither TrimBox nor ArtBox was found on the following pages: (all pages)

    • From what I have read, the TrimBox is what the printers will use to align the document

Workflow 2:

  1. Same as above, except in step two, I did not add printer's marks
  2. I added Printer's marks in Distiller and the page size was predictable, but it excluded the fold marks so I cannot use it.

InDesign Print Bookley settings:

Print settings from InDesign Print Booklet dialog box:

PostScript settings—Pages size was made by adding .125*2 and .4167*2 to the finished spread size of 27x13.

Thanks in advance.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer rob day

You are using the wrong PPD. Do a search for Adobe PDF 9.0– Device Independent wont reliably work with Print Booklet

5 replies

Participant
July 25, 2018

I cannot print postscript. As soon as I choose postscript as an option on any Adobe product, the program crashes. I can print to the same printer non-postscript. I can print postscript from Word documents but not Adobe.

Legend
July 25, 2018

BG commitment, how does this relate to the problem here with trim boxes or imposition? very important not to “me too” when your problem is different, because it means you have less chance of getting help.

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 26, 2018

You are using the wrong PPD. Do a search for Adobe PDF 9.0– Device Independent wont reliably work with Print Booklet

rob day
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 26, 2018
pwfasprodAuthor
Known Participant
June 26, 2018

I appreciate everyone's responses regarding how historically this has been done differently, but please consider that the printer I am working with wants print-ready files. If you cannot answer the question, then please do not.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 26, 2018

We answer questions, not only for the OP but for others, who may face similar issues. If you are unhappy with our answers I suggest you proceed elsewhere.

pwfasprodAuthor
Known Participant
June 26, 2018

Suggestion noted, but not at all helpful.

ceyhun_akgun
Legend
June 26, 2018

Book printing should only be used for modeling purposes. The solution I get is as follows: Make PDF from Indesign as normal. During PDF processing, you can enter the distance of the page cut line at the desired value. Once you've done the PDF, automatically pull all the PDFs individually using the "PlaceMultipagePDF" scritipini. Then you can Print BOOKLET PDF.

Graphic Designer Educator / PrePress Consultant
pwfasprodAuthor
Known Participant
June 26, 2018

Thank you—I will try that.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 26, 2018

Your printer should impose your pages, not you. Unless s/he’s given you a spec use the InDesign PDF presets, select PDF/X4 and supply pages, (not spreads) include trim marks and tick Include Document Bleed Settings. 

pwfasprodAuthor
Known Participant
June 26, 2018

This is a short rum book going on a digital press. Most want ready to print pdfs. I will check with them as to whether they will impose for us—thank you.

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 26, 2018

I have never had a printer request or demand imposed PDFs…in fact, many will charge you extra to break them up and reimpose them.

Derek’s instructions are identical to what I would give you.