I layout a monthly publication and frequently get supplied PDF's that were exported from Indesign. The problem is that I'm seeing opaque blocks in Quark wherever Indesign's transparancy function was used. I've done my own tests and think that the problem is with anything exported in a version over 4.0. Are there any plugins or workarounds for Quark that would allow me to handle this type of file without just giving it back to the client to backsave? Thanks!

Hi Tinhouse,

Welcome to the forum. The post does not say what version of Quark and OS you are using. I will assume that it's all current, which would be Quark Xpress 6.5 and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher. If you are not using Quark 6.5, that's an immediate update/upgrade, any version prior to 6.5, that includes Quark 6.0 and Quark Xpress 6.1 will have various problems with imported PDF files.

Generally you are very close to knowing the problem. Quark Xpress requires and or prefers an adobe acrobat 4 compatible PDF. It will sometimes work with newer PDF but it isn't advisable. Additionally, Quark Xpress will always work best with an ASCII formatted PDF file, most PDF files are created as Binary.

In general Adobe does not want it's PDF files compatible to Quark Xpress. That's one reason we have all these problems, Adobe wants it to be difficult so they can squeeze Quark out. So, to deal with it and protest our preferred layout app, Quark Xpress, we need to know all we can about what Quark wants and how to feed it.

One of my favorite methods that I use is PDF Optimizer, available in Adobe Acrobat 6 and Adobe Acrobat 7. I use PDF Optimizer to "backsave" that PDF into a more compatible file without bothering the customer. The InDesign snobs will relish the situation.... Quark user calls, can't place a PDF in Quark, needs my help, Bla Bla, Bla... It's getting so old.

PDF Optimizer is DANGEROUS as it has settings for reducing the size of Adobe PDF files. SO BE DAMN CAREFUL, In most cases, the default settings are appropriate for a LOW RES DISASTER. I do not use if for it's intended purpose, I use it to make files more backwards compatible, to flatten them out, to make them more Quark Xpress compatible. The ideal PDF for Quark Placed image is ASCII, Flattened, Acrobat 4 Compatible. You'll find that not all your PDF files will want to flatten out to Acrobat 4.

Some cases the PDF will have to maintain transparencies too complex for Acrobat 4 to render. In these cases, start saving these files as EPS Level 3, ASCII, all fonts convert to Type 1. In fact, this format really works better than placed PDF files IMO, atleast for use as fractional art in publishing jobs.

PDF Optimizer can save space by removing some embedded fonts, compressing images, and removing items from the file that are no longer needed.

Before you optimize a file, it's a good idea to check the resolution settings EVERY TIME.

Important: Some methods of compression may make images unusable in a print production workflow. You should set all resolutions to 600 dpi, don't use PDF Optimizer for resolution downsampling, just a PDF reformat for compatability, maybe a little flattening.

To optimize an Adobe PDF file:

(A) Do one of the following to open the PDF Optimizer dialog box:

Choose Advanced > PDF Optimizer.

Choose Tools > Print Production > PDF Optimizer.

Click the PDF Optimizer icon in the Print Production toolbar.

(B) From the Make Compatible With menu, choose a version of Acrobat that the PDF will be compatible with (QUARK PREFERS ACROBAT 4). (The options available in panels vary depending on this choice.)

(C) Select Images on the left, color 600, grayscale 600, and monochrome 1200

(D) Select Fonts on the left, and then unembed any fonts that aren't needed, such as system fonts or fonts that you know are already installed on users' computers.

(E) Select Transparency on the left to implement transparency flattening and set flattening options.

(F) Select Discard Objects on the left to select which objects to discard and whether to convert smooth lines to curves.

(G) Select Clean Up on the left to set additional compression options, encoding options, items to be removed or discarded from the file, and whether to apply Fast Web View.

(H) Click the Save button to save and name your customized settings.

When you are finished selecting options, click OK.

In the Save Optimized As dialog box, select a new name or location, be safe and DONT overwrite the original. Most PDF Optimizer settings are comparable to the settings available when you create a PDF file using Acrobat Distiller.
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JoePostscript -- support administrator

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