The print providers I work with using Apogee workflow have always requested PDF/X-1a. There are times that native files along with packaged assets are requested, and PDFs are generated by printing postscript, sent to an Apogee Distiller/Refiner. And this process is creating a flattened, ver 4 PDF as well.
In my situation, I either provide files to their specifications. Or if PDFs are not to spec, the onus is completely on me, regardless of how digital proof or hard copy proof appeared during approval.
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