PDF X/1A format output to commercial printer

[eyebeams]

I have seen a couple of threads on this but I am still confused.

I am using Affinity Publisher (latest version as of Nov 2023) on a desktop Mac to typeset a small booklet of poems for print.

The printer has told me that the ideal output for him to import for printing would be the  PDFX/1a format (at the very least).

I can find no such export function on Publisher - can anyone clear this up as I am using AP exclusively to commercial print and if I cannot export simply and efficiently then I guess I will have to use InDesign instead.

Anyone have a fix for this or point me to resources / threads that might elucidate?

Cheers,

Eye

[loukash]

1. File → Export → select "PDF" from the popup menu → File Settings → Preset: → select "PDF/X-1a:2003"
2. click "Export"
3. voilà

[loukash]

Oh, and ask the printer if you should include bleed or printer marks. That needs to be added manually in the Advanced section of the Export dialog.

[loukash]

Also to keep in mind:
When using PDF/X-1, any transparencies, layer effects or objects affected by adjustment layers that you may have used in your layout will be rasterized. That might eventually lead to undesired side effects on export and thus in print.

[eyebeams]

39 minutes ago, loukash said:

1. File → Export → select "PDF" from the popup menu → File Settings → Preset: → select "PDF/X-1a:2003"
2. click "Export"
3. voilà

 Thanks for the amazingly quick response - I was on the iPad and didn’t see the dropdown! Doh!

[eyebeams]

Thanks - once again for the further info on export. Brill.

 

EYE

[eyebeams]

On 11/9/2023 at 12:52 PM, loukash said:

Also to keep in mind:
When using PDF/X-1, any transparencies, layer effects or objects affected by adjustment layers that you may have used in your layout will be rasterized. That might eventually lead to undesired side effects on export and thus in print.

Right,

 

So on doing some research I need to use CMYK/8 - I think and have a certain colour profile for a specific printer but use that colour profile in RGB for a soft proof of how it would print to a digital printer so I can get some idea of how it would look?

 

Is that right?

 

Are the other FDF/X options any better?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Eye