PDF - Margins from Printer's Marks

[shelbycott]

Hi everyone,

I'm not very optimistic about this, but is there a simple way to find the dimensions added to a PDF when exporting with bleed marks, crop marks, slug, etc.? InDesign is a bit unpredictable in how it handles margins so unfortunately it's not as simple as retrieving the bleed and offset from pdfExportPreferences.

I've been able to figure out the total vertical and horizontal difference in page size using Javascript in Acrobat but specifically need the amount added to the left, right, top, and bottom of the page. Haven't found any documentation on this so any push in the right direction is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

[Sunil Yadav]

Hi shelbycott,

Take this code for your reference.

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var myDoc = app.documents[0];

var flattenerPreset = app.pdfExportPreferences.appliedFlattenerPreset;

var bottomBleed = app.pdfExportPreferences.bleedBottom;

var insideBleed = app.pdfExportPreferences.bleedInside;

var outsideBleed = app.pdfExportPreferences.bleedOutside;

var topBleed = app.pdfExportPreferences.bleedTop;

var isBleedMark = app.pdfExportPreferences.bleedMarks;

var isCropMark = app.pdfExportPreferences.cropMarks;

myDoc.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, File("~/Desktop/Test_Web.Pdf"), false);

////////

This is how you can have more information on this link : https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#PDFExportPreference.html

Best

Sunil

[shelbycott]

Hi Sunil,

My mistake, should have been more clear. I still want to show PDF export options and have the user choose their own settings.

Unfortunately, the bleed does not make up the entire margin when combined with crop marks and other printer's marks and InDesign doesn't handle this in a straightforward manner. I was wondering if there's any other way to find the total amount added to each side. Appreciate the reply though!

[Willi Adelberger]

Open the PDF in Acrobat, in the left lower corner you see the dimensions of the file.

But if you want to place a PDF with the same final size, place it in InDesign and use the Align Panel, select align to Page and click the center buttons.

[shelbycott]

Thank you for your reply. I am able to find the new dimensions but right now I have no way of knowing how much of the margin was added to the left vs. right side, top vs. bottom. I'm writing an extension so need to find this via Javascript.

[Sunil Yadav · Accepted solution]

Hi shelbycott,

Why don't you first understand all the export as pdf options within application.

First clear your mind what you exactly need.

First understand what you exactly need.

Because about bleed and sludges, some time people use their own print presets.

You can have all those information from javascript, but first understand what actually you need before exporting as pdf.

You can find all those preferences here : PDF Export Preference

Best

Sunil