Acrobat Distiller will leave a ‘.log’ file detailing errors encountered when distilling a Postscript file into PDF. This must be checked as a first step in pre-flighting a PDF file. For instance, the ‘.log’ file will detail errors when attempting to embed fonts into the PDF file.

One of the critical aspects to a digital workflow is to "preflight" the resulting file to determine that it complies with the settings as described above.

At the time of writing, there are a variety of plug-ins for Acrobat 4.05 and 5.0 that will permit the validation of a digital file as delivered against these guidelines.

Tools include Adobe Acrobat InProduction, Extensis Preflight Pro, Enfocus Pitstop and Enfocus Doublecheck.

The PDF you supply to the publisher and/or printer will be reintegrated into the publication via: exporting out of Acrobat as an EPS file or direct placement of the PDF file into a layout application or imposition application.

Base level specifications for preflight tools

• PDF 1.3 (Acrobat 4.0)
• Binary format
• All colour CMYK (no special colours, no RGB colours)
• Minimum colour and greyscale image resolution - 300dpi
• Colour and greyscale images compressed using ZIP compression
• Monochrome image resolution - 1200dpi
• All fonts embedded and subset
• No TrueType fonts
• Generated by Acrobat Distiller (not directly by an application or PDFWriter)
• PDF must not have security that disables printing or inhibits opening.