PDF/X-1a Error - Suggestions?
Out of context: Reply #13
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This is a VERY old thread, but the link still comes up at the top of search engines for PDF/X-1a issues, so I am going to post a fix that I FINALLY found after years of searching thanks to some help on another thread (Superuser).
18 October 2016
I have been a graphic designer for almost 16 years and I have come across my fair share of PDF/X-1a bleedbox and trimbox errors when I can find no logical reason for them. This is the FIRST true fix I have found after years of searching! My steps were slightly different than Kurt's, so I will share:
In your program, set up print settings for high resolution (in InDesign, this is on the "Advanced" print tab) and for PDF printer preferences, uncheck "rely on system fonts", select the PDF page size, and select "Press Quality."
In Acrobat Pro, open the "Press Quality" PDF you just created, then open the preflight tool. (In Acrobat Pro XI (CS5), this is under Advanced > Print Production > Preflight.) Click and expand the PDF/X compliance tab. Choose Convert to PDF/X-1a (SWOP) unless you know for sure you need one of the other settings. Select "Analyze and Fix." You can save your final "fixedup" PDF/X-1a:2001 PDF as whatever name you choose and it will create the file.
In my case, the preflight tool determined there were no PDF/X-1a errors in my file. (YAY!) I have read on other threads (such as this one) that there is a glitch in InDesign that can occur with bleed/trim when creating PDF/X-1a. Perhaps there are glitches in other programs, as I have also had this issue in Illustrator.
I found more hints about the preflight tool here: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/…
BTW - you would print as PDF/X-1a:2001 format for publishers. Every magazine I have ever advertised in requires ads and articles to be PDF/X-1a:2001 format for PDFs (from Jan 2001 to currently in Oct 2016).
Hope this helps anyone in the future who is just as stumped! ;)
- lol. print as ps. distill the ps with a custom pdf preset. work done. since 2003.********
- lol. print as ps. distill the ps with a custom pdf preset. work done. since 2003.