Since Version 7 Acrobat has a built in preflight function (in the Professional version of the software). While this function can never be as smart as an operator, it makes it easy to check for frequent problems such as missing fonts, low resolution pictures and excessive colours. You can download our Acrobat 7 & 8 Preflight Profiles, which check for common problems.

From version 8 Acrobat is also able to apply fixes, correcting some problems by thickening lines, converting colours or removing colour profiles. Our profiles do not perform any operations that change your file, but if you go into the preflight options you can find them under "fixups" and add them.

 

 

 

Adobe Acrobat and pdf, the portable document format, have become a de facto standard for the distribution of documents. Adobe Acrobat is software that enables the exchange, management and printing of formatted documents regardless of computer platform. It is not a layout program like Quark Xpress or InDesign. The Adobe Acrobat file format was created to manage and distribute documents across different computer platforms (Mac, PC, UNIX) using the internet, disks or other means.

How does Acrobat work?

PDF files are generated from layout (Quark Xpress, InDesign, Word etc.) files. These applications can either save files as pdf or they can use a print driver to generate the pdf. PDF files can be high quality, all pictures and fonts can be embedded making sure that the file will display and print on a variety of computers. They can also be compressed, saving space and bandwidth.

The benefits of using Acrobat PDF files are

• files are complete
• files are compressed
• files can be viewed and printed on almost any computer with a similar result
• files can be used for high resolution printing; digital printing; online publishing

At SOS we have been using pdf files for many years to transfer artwork reliably. Showing customers how to prepare pdf files sucessfully has helped us to achieve incredible turnaround times, for example when producing the nightly research documents that have to be distributed within a couple of hours from receipt of the files.

Further information about Acrobat and pdf can be found at the Adobe website.

The Xeikon is a high speed, high quality digital colour press. It prints on paper fed from a reel, that's why it can print very long banners, posters and other oversize documents.

We have a range of stocks on hand, they include

• 100 gsm uncoated
• 100; 190 & 250 gsm digital paper (these are EMAS and FSC certified)
• 130 & 250 gsm coated matt art
• 130 & 250 gsm coated gloss art
• 350 gsm IVO laser
• 150 gsm Translucent

Other stocks can be ordered, a sample book is available from your SOS representative.

Like most presses the Xeikon prints in CMYK. When preparing files remember the image width should be no more than 475 mm, the length is virtually unlimited.
We prefer pdfs in cmyk, all transparency flattened. Solid black areas should be made up as rich black (eg. C40;M40;K100).
You can find our recommended Distiller settings for the Xeikon in our Acrobat settings section.