When distributing documents, the portable document format (PDF) created by Adobe Acrobat has many benefits:
- A pdf file is 1/10th to 1/100th the size of a regular PostScript file.
- All fonts and graphics are contained in one file that is viewable as individual, complete pages with everything in place just as it will be on the printed page.
- PDF files can run equally well on IBM/PC, Mac, or Unix platforms.
- PDF files are stable and can be viewed without having to know the various page layout programs.
- Although creating the original PDF often requires the purchase of the full Acrobat package, a free Reader application (and browser plug-in) is available from Adobe.
Whatever the program, the process of creating a PDF is fairly simple—the most popular applications can export directly to a PDF file. Keep in mind that although Acrobat is good for making big documents small. It cannot add data. Make sure that your documents use proper fonts and that artwork is saved at the correct image resolution and color space.
On–Screen Use Good for documents intended for the Internet, low-resolution printing on local printer (laser, inkjet)
- Acceptable fonts: TrueType or Type 1
- Resolution: Images saved at actual size at a resolution of 72dpi
- Color space: set to RGB
Local Laser Printing Best for printing on local laser printers or for documents to be distributed on CD–ROM.
- Acceptable fonts: TrueType or Type 1
- Resolution: Images saved at actual size at a resolution of 150dpi
- Color space: set to RGB
Offset Printing
For commercial printing equipment use. Files prepared this way tend to be quite large.
- Acceptable fonts: Type 1
- Resolution: Images saved at actual size at a resolution of 300dpi
- Color depth: set to CMYK (process color)
Use the following settings for reliable export of PDFs from the two most popular page assembly programs:
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