Dropouts from PDF

[Paul]

I need some help with a problem printing a PDF on a Docutech. The problem is that some characters, generally in heads, that appear when the PDF is viewed and that printed correctly in a Laserjet proof, did not print when the PDF was run on a Docutech.

It's a booklet intended to be printed on 11 × 17 paper, with the imposition done by the Docutech operator. The publication is produced in InDesign 2.0.2 running on Windows XP, using ID's export function. The export settings are to optimize for print and use Acrobat 4 compatibility(because we also make this available on a web site and don't know what version of the Reader anyone might be using), and to embed all fonts. The imposition is done by the Docutech operator.

We've had the same workflow for about two years, and we've never seen this problem before. There have been no changes in our procedures but I don't know whether the printing company has changed anything. I'm irked that the print shop did not seem to notice that the output did not match the proof, but before I take this up with them, I hope to have some idea what is wrong.

I'm going to attach the PDF, and I would appreciate it if anyone who has the time could download it and print some or all of the pages. Page 5 is one of those where a head disappeared. If you have any idea at all what might have gone wrong, please tell me.

[PeterArnel]

Paul
I have downloaded the file on my WindowXP laptop top and printed the job on a Xerox 35/35 it seems ok - what letters were mssing ???
Peter

[Paul]

Peter, the omissions are on page 5. In the heads, "B'nai Mitzvah" printed as "B'nai Mitzva"; "Remembering 9/11" printed as "Re e bering 9/11"; and "Sukkot & Simhat Torah" printed as "Su & S T" -- it is baffling to me since the same fonts were used in other heads.

I used to see Postscript errors that resulted in this kind of problem fairly frequently, but it has been a long time, and never when printing a PDF. I'm starting to wonder if, instead of merely using the Adobe Reader to print the PDF and imposing on the Docutech, the operator did something peculiar. The same shop has been imposing our PDFs on the Docutech for several years and this has never happened before.

[Franca]

Hi, Paul,

I'm irked that the print shop did not seem to notice that the output did not match the proofKinko's perchance? Have had this problem with them more than once. Their quality control is virtually nonexistent here.

I printed your PDF on my Xerox printer. It's not a Docutech but I thought I'd check anyway. All pages printed and looked fine. One odd thing did happen, though - between pages three and four an error page printed with the "offending command" being an image. Usually when I get one of these error messages the printer dumps the rest of the job, but this time it continued on and I could find nothing missing anywhere in document.

It's possible there's one odd item in your publication (one of the images perhaps?) that is causing the strange output, but also quite possible that the print shop opened your PDF in their version of Acrobat, resaved it, and output it from there having set something incorrectly. I've stood by and watched as print shops did this over my objections, assuming that they knew better than I what to do with my file. One time they lost my fonts; another time they altered the resolution of the images and dropped out all of my tables. Aaaargh. The woman who insisted her way was best proudly handed me the proof with the tables dropped out and said, "How's that?" Couldn't she see the gaping holes on the pages??? Unless Docutech technology has changed significantly, the print shop should simply pass your PDF straight through to the Docutech - imposition is done by the Docutech operator at the machine itself. No need for the computer services geek to mess with your file first.

[PeterArnel]

Paul the only problem with the file is low res images on pages 3 and 5
u can see the refined pdf pages on
http://www.whpnewbury.com
click "here" under Ready for Print
u go to my prinergy/Insite server - user name " link" password "link" all lower case
Click on Peters Job and then requiring approval - click on the thumbnail page
what u see is what u get
Peter

[Wharfrat]

You must have fonts that are not being properly embedded in the PDF.
The fastest workaround - since you have the original InDy document
is to go through, page by page, - select all - type to outlines.
-- No more fonts - no more problems --.
Just make sure to do a "Save as".

MSD