PDFs from AP

[drawntoasia]

After using Adobe software since 1995, I am about to trial Affinity and do a few tests so I guess the process may answer my question. But I produce publications - reports in InDesign with (currently with Illustrator) graphs as EPS or AI native files on a regular basis. I output to PDF for review, receive back with comments and for final output for online use and print. I guess I still need to pay for Acrobat DC to avoid issues, right? Not sure some of the cheaper options such as Nitro will output properly.

I have read some of the issues outputting to PDF from AP (such as variable fonts) but would welcome any advice 

Thanks

[thomaso]

7 minutes ago, drawntoasia said:

I guess I still need to pay for Acrobat DC to avoid issues, right?

How do you use Acrobat DC in your current workflow and what problems does it avoid or solve?

PDF export from APub (= Publisher, AP = Photo) works a little different than from ID or AI for instance and also has a few limitations though it basically does not require a PDF reader or editor app for a correct PDF output.

What specific PDF export workflow or setting do you want to use in APub that you are used from ID/AI? This info might help to tell possible differences or issues.

[drawntoasia]

Hi thanks for your reply. Yes,I know I don't 'need' a reader even to output a PDF, but it's crucial  for the client reviewing process and my workflow. I know the reader can be used for commenting too.. I also use it to check final outputs so again the reader will probably do for that.  

[thomaso]

It sounds to me like your concerns about Affinity actually only relate to tasks with the exported PDF, not the export process itself. The comment features are not affected by Affinity or its PDF export but only by the PDF reader app.

Unlike ID, you can open your exported PDF in Affinity and access its objects, for example to check whether a vector object was exported as vector or rasterized during export. Colour checking could also be done this way, for example whether text was exported as 100K. However, this is not an equivalent to Acrobat's preflight capabilities but rather crude.

When reading forum posts about Affinity issues it can be required to consider their initial date. Over time, quite a few bugs got fixed and features added, for instance your mentioned support for variable fonts in v2.5. – Recent bug reports get commented in related threads by a user called "Affinity Info Bot" as soon they were fixed with a new app update while older forum threads might not get this Info Bot comments.

[drawntoasia]

Many thanks for your reply and yes, you are right, my concerns are mostly related to final file checking (Does AP have a preflight and packing function? I also use that in ID routinely too), for commenting (though I think the current basic Acrobat Reader has that functionality ) and confidence that things like vectors and imported files display correctly. 

[Alfred]

2 minutes ago, drawntoasia said:

Does AP have a preflight and packing function?

As Thomas indicated, you should use the abbreviation APub for Affinity Photo.

19 hours ago, thomaso said:

PDF export from APub (= Publisher, AP = Photo) works a little different than from ID or AI for instance

If you hover over the abbreviation in a desktop browser, you’ll get a tooltip showing how your chosen abbreviation is interpreted.

To avoid potential confusion, I use the abbreviation APh for Affinity Photo. Some people use APu instead of APub for Publisher, but the important thing is to refrain from using the two-letter abbreviation if you’re not using Photo.

[drawntoasia]

Ah OK. Thanks for thatI am still getting my head around the idea of using a different set of apps, let alone actually doing it. Though I said that about Quark Xpress.

[thomaso]

51 minutes ago, drawntoasia said:

I am still getting my head around the idea of using a different set of apps

However, you have only mentioned the PDF commenting feature so far... which is not a question of Affinity, InDesign or Quark. – That's why I recommended to tell us your expected/required app layout workflow or PDF export features to enable you and the forum to make judgements and decisions for possibly missing options or available workarounds.

Maybe this recent thread contains some relevant information for your goal:

 

[drawntoasia]

It is as Thomaso says, how a PDF generated in APub compares to one generated in ID when viewed in Acrobat  (with particular reference to the kind of work I do) I have seen that post you shared before and use a couple of the features. I think I need to do a sample to see for myself and share that with people I work with to see if there are any gliches. And go from there.

[thomaso]

5 hours ago, drawntoasia said:

how a PDF generated in APub compares to one generated in ID when viewed in Acrobat

"Usually" there shouldn't be a difference in the exported PDFs but rather in the workflows to achieve that PDF. So you better compare the two app workflows rather than two exported PDF files.

8 hours ago, drawntoasia said:

Does AP have a preflight and packing function?

Yes, APub has both. – For more available features see the various feature lists for various app updates (version 2.0 – 2.5): https://affinity.serif.com/whats-new/

For new features and bug fixes also this thread may be useful (which also may show why it makes sense to ask about specific features or bugs rather than a general judgement about ID vs. APub)

[drawntoasia]

Thanks for that.