Global Graphics has updated their popular «Do PDF/VT Right™» guide.
The english publication offers a good overview on PDF/VT and tells what is necessary for an efficent use of this standard.
In addition to a general overhaul there is a section on the new ISO 21812 standard that allows workflow controls to be added to PDF files.
The new edition also contains notes on Harlequin-specific hints, to get even more speed out of your DFE if you are a Harlequin user.
Global Graphics announced that the Harlequin RIP V12.1 and higher supports PDF Processing Steps.
PDF Processing Steps is a relatively new ISO standard (ISO 19593-1:2018) for clearly defining technical information (e.g. die line, varnish) in a PDF file (usually for packaging) that is not normally printed.
Martin Bailey, CTO of Global Graphics, explains in a comprehensive blog post the additional RIP functions made possible by the PDF Processing Steps.
In September 1999, when the first pure PDF workflow system «Prinergy» was introduced by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen and Creo (now Kodak), four tutorials on PDF Workflow were published, which I had written for the two manufacturers.
The tutorials were distributed in printed form (I still have some copies in my basement) and as digital eBooks (of course interactive PDFs) in German and English for free download. The interest was very big. I stopped updating the statistics after more than one million downloads (from several platforms).
After I reported about the disastrous PDF/X-4 compatibility of the new Affinity Publisher a few weeks ago, a reader drew my attention to another problem.
When preflighting with the PDFX-ready preflight profiles, a warning is generated regarding the output intent for PDF/X files of Affinity Publisher V1.7.1 and V1.7.2 with the message “!!! Output Intent not suitable for printing (unknown ICC profile)”:
For over 20 years I have been offering one-day seminars on PDF in print production at various locations. Recently, however, it has become more and more difficult to get the necessary number of participants together and events were therefore often cancelled at short notice. In many companies there have been so many staff reductions recently that it is becoming more and more difficult for the remaining employees to attend a training course for one day.
Since digitalization has also reached the training area, I am currently evaluating digital possibilities to bring the know-how about PDF in print production – which in my opinion is still urgently needed – directly to the users in the companies (or at home).
I would also like to take into account the needs and preferences of the readers of PDF-AKTUELL.
Therefore, I have started a first survey about the preferred online services for professional training: