Apache OpenOffice Community Forum

Hi, I have created some DL flyers using OO Draw to be printed by a well known online print firm. I have exported the files now three times as a pdf following their requirements ie. 300dpi , CMYK colours and 109 mm x 214 mm dimensions. I paid to have the documents approved prior to the print run, the problem is I have received the following emails from them -

You have sent your PDF file in a version other than 1.3 (compatible with Acrobat 4.0). Other versions of PDF can generate serious errors in the processing of your files, as well as the printing of shadows in the place of texts, transparent designs, etc. Notice for correction: Please check the export settings in Software and choose PDF Version 1.3

Resolution too low: 62 - 137 dpi
Our graphics team has detected that the resolution of your file is too low. At a low resolution, the appearance of the images in the final print may be impaired and they will appear fuzzy or pixelated. The quality of printing varies according to the resolution of the images and because quality is a subjective appreciation, we can not give precise advice. To achieve satisfactory quality printing it is recommended that all graphics in the file have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi

RGB instead of CMYK
The colors of the files you have sent to us are in RGB color mode. To make an impression of your files we need the colors to be converted to CMYK mode.

I have been using OO regularly without any issues. I have checked and double checked all my settings for export and everything seems to be correct, I even increased the dpi value to 600 but they keep on sending me the same messages. I had a local print firm check over the files and they said the only problem they could find was with the text, it was showing as symbols.

Has anyone else had this problem and how can it be resolved. I am using AOO 4.1.3 on a Macbook using OSX 10.7.5
Steve

As a very quick workaround I suggest installing and trying a PDF pseudo printer. The text showing as symbols may be resolved by choosing PDF option PDF/A-1a, which embeds the fonts used in the generated PDF file.

Thanks for that Rory, but I have already tried this option and the exported pdf loses the colour gradients and replaces them with black instead. I would also like to know why the dpi is lower on the exported pdf than what is appearing in the export field. The CMYK colours are also reverting back to RGB???

Enfield Classics wrote:The CMYK colours are also reverting back to RGB???

OO is not able to export in CMYK colours, only RGB. No way to get CMYK, afaik. For that reason you better use Scribus (https://www.scribus.net/) or another DTP application. Scribus exports as PDF PDF/X-3a. This is current state of development.

version other than 1.3 (compatible with Acrobat 4.0)

Acrobat 5 was published around 2002.
I wonder that your printing house expects PDF 1.3, I think OO saves as PDF 1.4, but I am not sure. Sometimes the given format PDF/A-1a is optimal (RoryOF).

If the given resolution is too low you could enlarge your page and then export as pdf file; it's quick and dirty but may be successful. I sometimes edit in A3, A2, A1 formats and when printing out I let the pdf reader compress it to A4. Shrink/Fit to printable size is the wand.
You also could print out from Draw to pdf or real printer, the print dialog allows "Fit to printable page".

If the circulation of your brochure is not more than ca 300-500 you could use "digital printing", this means print out as copy of color laser printer or similar. Color separation like CMYK is not necessary and the results often are suitable.

Thanks for that, the online printing company has specific requirements for physical size, color and dpi. There is no flexibility whatsoever so I have ended up cancelling my order and paying that bit extra to have the documents printed by a local firm (same quality, double the price, minus the headache)