Which format does the print shop prefer

[roncurington]

I'm  always created this stuff before in Photoshop so it was never an issue. I now have Creative Suite with Photoshop, Illustrator, & Indesign. So Now I'm wondering which is the preferred format ie. design software of print shops, Illustrator or Indesign.

Which of these two platforms is going to produce a better file for the Printer to setup and work from?

[BobLevine]

Ask your printer but generally speaking PDF/X-4 is the modern standard for files supplied to printers.

[dannygarber]

To reiterate what Bob said, a properly formatted PDF. If you're unfamiliar with printer/production terminology, read up on it. Bleeds, Registration, Embedding Fonts, Transparency Settings, DPI. Realize that if you create a graphic/image in Photoshop that's intended for the web and use it in your print document/PDF, if it's not at 300 dpi to begin with the resulting print image will be of lesser quality in appearance on the printed page. Simply bumping up the dpi in Photoshop won't solve the resolution issue. At the outset, if you know what you're working on will be used for print as well as web, you should have two versions of the art file. Always easiest to create what's intended for print at 300 dpi and then save a version for the web at a lower dpi.

[hammer0909 · Accepted solution]

Bob and Danny are both steering you in the right direction but your best bet is to call the printer and ask them. If you're working with a small Mom and Pop printer, they may actually want the native files in which case make sure you package them to include the fonts and graphics that will be needed. Larger/modern/up-to-date printers will more than likely ask for a PDF file in which case PDF/X-4 would be a good output preset to use. If it sounds like we're avoiding giving you a straight answer, that's not the case. It's just not a black and white answer and the answer really is - It depends. Hope that helps!

[Dov Isaacs]

In terms of the “Mom and Pop printer” that might want native files, be aware that:

(1) Such small operations often don't have the latest version of the software that you used to create your content.

(2) Very often providing source files results in changes from what you specifically designed due to differences in their settings / options or ignorance on their part.

(3) If such a small shop can't take PDF, it means that they don't even have a copy of the free Adobe Reader installed, much less Acrobat. How are they going to reasonably produce output?

(4) With virtually all commercial fonts (including all fonts from Adobe and the Monotype/Linotype/ITC conglomerate), the font EULA (End User License Agreement) specifically prohibits sending font files to print service providers or other designers unless they also are directly licensed for the fonts. This is rarely true with most print service providers, especially the “mom and pop printers” cited.

Based on our experience, the only time where it really makes sense to send anything other than print-ready PDF (preferably PDF/X-4 with the output intent specified by the print service provider) is if you are really sending a raw design concept to a combination design/print service provider who is actually doing final layout. Otherwise, you are really looking for trouble!

          - Dov

[hammer0909]

I disagree 100% Dov. We're not debating the validity of Mom and Pop printers here, I was trying to answer the OP's question while providing some insight into the different possibilities available. No need to scare people into thinking that sending native files is bad. I output native files and PDF files for 15 years with great results on both ends. As for your points:

(1) Such small operations often don't have the latest version of the software that you used to create your content.

You don't know that and the only way to find out is to ask.

(2) Very often providing source files results in changes from what you specifically designed due to differences in their settings / options or ignorance on their part.

Really? So you're saying if I send a packaged InDesign file to you, it'll look different than what I intended? Interesting. I haven't seen that. Ever.

(3) If such a small shop can't take PDF, it means that they don't even have a copy of the free Adobe Reader installed, much less Acrobat. How are they going to reasonably produce output?

Yeah, I'm not buying that one either. Most of these people are knowledgeable users and at the very least you can count on them having a copy of Adobe Reader and certainly Acrobat. More likely the reason they want native files is because they're using an older RIP and it's just easier for them to send the RIP the files that it can handle

(4) With virtually all commercial fonts (including all fonts from Adobe and the Monotype/Linotype/ITC conglomerate), the font EULA (End User License Agreement) specifically prohibits sending font files to print service providers or other designers unless they also are directly licensed for the fonts. This is rarely true with most print service providers, especially the “mom and pop printers” cited.

And yet some EULAs provide usage rights for reproduction purposes. There are many font vendors beyond Adobe/Monotype/Linotype so although you have a good point on this one, it's not always a show stopper.

To the OP, if you've read this far, just ask your printer what they would prefer.

[BobLevine]

To the OP, if you've read this far, just ask your printer what they would prefer.

Which is exactly what I advised in the first response. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it.

[hammer0909]

Good choice Bob. I/we have gotten way off topic.

[Dov Isaacs]

We will just have to agree to disagree on some of these items.

Likewise, I have no problem with “Mom and Pop” operations. I have likewise had excellent results from one-person operations. I do believe that the issue of sending source files in lieu of PDF is orthogonal to the size of the operation.

My advice comes from many years of dealing with Adobe customers both on the content creation and printing end and the problems both sides pose to us. I really don't make this stuff up.

On some specifics:

Even if a print service provider has “an old RIP” or even if they are just printing to a device that accepts neither PostScript nor PDF directly, something is exceptionally wrong if they can't print (or more likely don't know how to print) a properly-created PDF/X-4 file to that device from Acrobat or even Reader. That is the beauty of PDF and the PDF/X-4 standard in general.

Yes, we have indeed had reports of and I have personally actually experienced printers who decide on their own to make what I can best describe as “incorrect corrections” either graphically, editorially, grammatically, or some combination of same, rendering the final printed product useless. That is another strong point of PDF. (That having been said, we do know of rogue, unknowledgeable printers who think that they should open every PDF file they get in Illustrator “to check out the file” and possibly to “touch up the file” often yielding disastrous results when the file is saved. Adobe Illustrator is not a general purpose PDF file editor.)

I do agree that you must find out what the printer accepts and prefers. It ultimately comes down to a meeting of the minds between the content creator and the print service provider. You are setting yourself up for problems if what you send is what the printer accepts and/or prefers.

          - Dov

[Test Screen Name]

I’m going to make a short and emphatic reply. ** Trying to second guess what printers need is a common beginner error. **

Be willing to ask. This can be hard and awkward! Sometimes we have to resort to sending something sensible with the expectation that someone will tell us what they really need later.

One thing NOBODY will want is page layout done in Photoshop though. Some people do that then hope wrapping the page up in InDesign will make everyone happy.