Export bleed with pdf/x-1a

[caruso john]

I've seen similar questions posted but did not understand the responses. I'm have an Affinity Publisher file with 8.5" x 8.5" margins and .125" bleed on the top, bottom, and outsides. When I try to export this I can EITHER use PDF/X-1a OR specify include bleed. If I choose one, the other option is unselected, and vice versa. If I export with PDF/X-1a specified (and "include bleed" forcibly unchecked), the resulting PDF does not have the bleed (the margins are 8.5x8.5; it is as if the printer has already lopped off the bleed). I was told to use PDF/X-1a because the result would be CMYK for the images, but is it not possible to include the bleed with that preset? 

Are other preset export options going to give me CMYK for the images? Actually it looks like choosing ANY preset unchecks the "include bleed" box. 

Is a way around this simply to add my .125 to the margins and have 0 bleed rather than adding the .125 as a bleed? 

Thanks! 

 

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[caruso john]

On 4/13/2021 at 3:24 AM, Lagarto said:

Yes, it is. This is just bad UI design (IMO) as it confuses users to think that bleeds might be something that are incompatible with PDF/X-based presets (though technically only graying out and making an option non-available would indicate that, so it is technically ok to do this in the way it has been done). It would be better to have the option as "PDF/X-1a:2003 (modified)" as long as the user's selections are within the specs, but this of course requires more code. 

UPDATE: Bleeds are ok with any print preset, including all PDF/X-based. PDF/X-1a:2003 forces CMYK and flattened transparencies, PDF/X-3 forces transparency flattening (but allows RGB), and PDF/X-4 allows both RGB and transparencies.

Thanks for the response Legarto, but I'm still not sure precisely HOW to do this.  If I select PDF/X-1a:2003, I can't pick "include bleed" and the resulting export does not have bleed (i.e., is the precise measurements of the document size, e.g., 8.5x8.5, without an additional .125). 

Thanks.

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[caruso john]

Ahhhhh ok, so it will still be CMYK? (my printer demands this).  How do I doube check that?  (rookie question!).  Did you mean to write that the export method would still be within PDF/x-3 specs, as opposed to PDF/x-1a specs? My understanding is the x-3 could (and likely would) include RGB whereas x-1a is fully CMYK which is what I need. 

I am sure the export did not include the bleed (I checked the extreme areas of the photos in the exported PDF and the outside pixels present in the document were not present in the exported PDF, but that was before I knew that I should RE-check the "include bleed" box, sacrificing the preset PDF/X-1a designation.  

Thanks again. 

 

 

 

[caruso john]

OK, that looks good. So, I will select the x-1a preset, then check the "include bleed" box, the preset designation will disappear but the exported PDF will still be fully CMYK.  Right? 

Thanks for the tip on crop marks too! 

One other question since you clearly know your stuff: when setting up the document initially, does it make any difference which color space I choose?  I would pick CMYK/8 since I know in the end I will want CMYK, but as long as I export under the specs noted above does it matter where I started?  

Thanks. 

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[caruso john]

OK, I think I got it now. As you can tell I'm not very experienced and this the first time I'll be doing my own layout for my own book. 

So, when setting up the document I've selected CMYK/8 as the color space, and the printer-provided ICC as the color profile (after copying their ICC profile into my C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color folder). 

Now, I'll start on the layout, placing Lightroom-edited jpegs within the document. Then, when it is time to export, I'll select the x-1a preset, check the "include bleed" box, and not be bothered when the preset designation disappears.

I think this means I will not have to worry about "convert" versus "assign," but if it comes up I will assign. 

Thanks again Lagarto, I suspect you'll be seeing another question (or 10) from me in the coming weeks 

 

 

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