Trapping InDesign

[madebydan]

Hi chaps,

I'm wondering if anyone can help me.

I'm wanting to trap 2 colours to one another, however I can't seem to do it

I've followed this guys instructions 0504 Trapping Color.mov - YouTube  but I can't seem to preview or export and see the trapping.

When ever I export the PDF, no trap is visible,

Can someone help?!

Best,

Dan

[BobLevine]

Trapping is the printer’s job. It’s not something you should even be thinking about.

[madebydan]

Thanks Bob.

So when I send my PDF to them they should do all the trapping for me?

[rob day]

When ever I export the PDF, no trap is visible,

The document's Trapping Preset only has an affect when you Print separations—traps can't be built into the document itself. So an exported PDF has no traps, but can be trapped when printing separations from AcrobatPro—InDesign and Acrobat have the same built-in trapping.

Because trapping is a print function it is possible to Print a PDF with traps via Print>Output>Color>In-Rip Separations, but you really wouldn't want to do that because an exported PDF can be easily trapped at final output.

[madebydan]

Thanks Rob.

If i apply my trapping presets in InDesign, how do i know if I have applied enough trapping, as it doesnt show the trapping in InDesign?

[Jeffrey_Smith]

.003 inch trap width is Indesign's default and the industry's standard

[rob day · Accepted solution]

If i apply my trapping presets in InDesign, how do i know if I have applied enough trapping, as it doesnt show the trapping in InDesign?

The printer should be setting the trap sizes. It doesn't really matter what your InDesign preset is set to if you are not outputting the press separations. If you send an exported PDF, the trapping will be set by the printer in the separations either via AcrobatPro's built-in trapping or their RIP's trapping software.

You really don't want to send the printer a printed PDF with traps applied—but to print and distill an In-RIP separation you'll need the Adobe PDF 9.0 PPD installed

[madebydan]

Where do I get the Adobe PDF 9.0? I don't have this option.

[Laubender]

Hi Dan,

download a zip-file of the PPD from my Dropbox folder:

Dropbox - ADPDF9.PPD.zip

ADPDF9.PPD.zip

  ADPDF9.PPD

To install it you need access to your Applications folder. Do a new folder exactly named PPDs in InDesign's Presets folder of the Application folder and copy the ppd file to that folder. Adobe PDF 9.0 should be available instantly in the Print dialog of InDesign.

Regards,
Uwe

[madebydan]

That worked! Thanks Uwe!

[Laubender]

Hi Dan,

the "Correct Answer" should go to one of Rob's replies or one of Jeffrey's replies.

You could give me a "Helpful" if you like 🙂

Best,
Uwe

[Jeffrey_Smith]

The video addresses how to create a trap preset, and does not show the next part of the process.

- Which is printing postscript (instead of exporting to PDF)

- Selecting the correct print options (Output > Color: In RIP Separations + Trapping: Application Built-In

- and then using Acrobat Distiller to create a composite PDF that has viewable trapping.

[madebydan]

Cheers Jeff. I've tried to do this but my 'Color' Dropdown is greyed out? Any ideas?

Best,

Dan

[rob day]

This is In-Rip Sep output with ID's defaults: