From the article: PDF
PDF is so prevalent that some people may not think of it as anything special. But downloading or reading PDF files is far different from actually creating them. Depending on how they are to be used (on-screen reading vs. printing, for example) they can be simple or complex. As a designer, do you offer conversion to PDF to your clients as an extra service? A few years ago a reader asked, "I am curious as to how many desktop publishers are offering conversion to PDF especially those doing newsletter or forms development. Do you see this as service migration?" Is PDF an interim format you use or an end product? An Extra or Expected?
PDF Creation
- I'm working for a medium-sized company specialized in handling PDFs. We offer a PDF creation, conversion, and editing software called All-in-One PDF (our site of course is http://www.allinonepdf.com ) and we are proud to be highly involved in the PDF creation and conversion market and are always looking to connect with others.
- —Guest Lisa
Newsletters
- I do a print newsletter as well as a PDF version for online viewing. I send the printer a PDF file for printing. The PDF i put online is different. I change the format a little to make it better for viewing online plus of course since it's not intended specifically for printing it's lower rez etc. I've been doing this newsletter for many years but only receltny started doing the online PDF version. Up until a couple of years ago I sent Pagemaker files for printing. It took some adjusting but I run into alot less problems with the PDF files than the Pagemaker files.
- —Guest Kelly
Preliminary Proofing
- I currently use PDF files as email attachemnts for clients to view where possible as it saves the time and expense of going to multiple colour prints before final sign-off. This way the client gets expedient service, particularly when the client is far away or on Fridays when couriers are almost always overbooked! If the client doesn't have the Acrobat viewer, I attach that as well. I still send the client a colour laser proof before going to film as most people like to see hard copy before they feel completely comfortable with signing-off. I send the full DTP file to bureaus for film or bromide, but perhaps this is just me being over cautious?
- —Guest Jane
