rasterise: unsupported properties vs nothing?

[affinota]

Hi,

if I choose on export of PDF-X4

• NO downsample
• use  document resolution
• NO jpeg compression

and choose rasterise: unsupported properties I get different file as if I choose rasterise: nothing

If nothing is chosen, I get no glow effects and all images are darker.

What is the point of it?

cheers

affinota

[Ldina]

@affinota I assume you are using Designer (or perhaps Publisher). If you have a design that you want to keep as vector, you need to export to a file format that supports vectors, (e.g., PDF, SVG). When you open the export dialog window, the default settings may say "some areas will be rasterized", which indicates some objects, features, etc, cannot be exported as vectors. Selecting "rasterize nothing" will ignore those items that cause rasterization and will not include them in the export, which can change the appearance. When I see the message saying some items will be rasterized, I have a few choices.

1.) Find out what I did that is causing rasterization, then correct it 2.) Accept rasterized output if it's not absolutely critical that everything is retained as vectors. 3.) Try selecting Rasterize Nothing and see how the file looks. 4.) Try playing with various settings in the export window and see if one will retain vectors as vectors (e.g., different PDF presets or options).

Some things that can lead to rasterization include FX, Live Filter and Adjustment Layers, pixel layers, blurs, etc. If you absolutely must have 100% vector output, these are things you can investigate and try to correct. I'm guessing your "glow effect" was done with FX, blurs, or something like that, so if you choose to rasterize nothing, those elements will be ignored during export so that your output doesn't include non vector elements (as you requested by selecting 'rasterize nothing').

EDIT: Since you chose PDF/X-4, I assume you are sending a color managed project to a printing press. I'd expect most jobs heading to Press (at least ones with pixel based elements...JPGs, TIFFs, PSD documents, etc) to include rasterization, unless your project is created entirely from vectors and text. I'd carefully inspect your exported PDF file to make sure line art, text and vector shapes that need to remain super sharp are retained as vectors. Photos, drop shadows, etc, will be rasterized, which is to be expected.

[affinota]

@Ldina

thanks!

I work with publisher in that case, forgot to mention it.

The glow effect is within FX, yes.

But what is about curves adjustment, brightness/contrast, shadows/highlights which I put into a layer of a photo?

If I choose rasterize nothing, then the photo is much darker, so as I understand, the curves etc. don't take any effect then.

But if I choose rasterise: unsupported properties then, everything is fine, even the glow effect. So if I rasterise that way within PDF-X the things can be printed?

 

[Ldina]

@affinota I'll try to answer your questions...it's been a while since I had to send any jobs to Press, and I've never used Publisher for a Press job (only InDesign), so others here can give you better, more up to date advice.

If you "place" bitmap images into Publisher as JPG, TIFF, etc, many of those files will already be flattened, single layer files, so whatever effects you applied in AfPhoto or AfDesign willl have already been "baked into" your file. That means the effects are already applied and will be printed as raster images without changes. Bitmap formatted files remain raster images for Press. Placed vector formats that meet the proper requirements may remain as vectors, depending on the content and how they were exported.

If you place Native AfPhoto and AfDesign files into Publisher, the placed files will include whatever layers, adjustments, filters and effects you used when creating them. Many of those effects will be rasterized if they cannot remain as vectors. I'd probably choose to export those to standardized formats (JPG, TIFF, PDF, etc) and place them into Publisher instead of using native Photo and Designer files. 

Not all printers are the same, so you need to check with your chosen printer to see what their submission requirements are. The PDF/X versions were created to help standardize print work and were a big step forward, but printers still have their own requirements within the scope of those standards. If you choose PDF/X-4, you need to be sure your printer can print a conforming PDF/X-4 file (most should these days). You'll need to know what ICC profile they use for their work (US Web Coated SWOP, ISO Coated, etc), along with their other requirements. Most printers list those requirements on their website to guide designers. Generating a conforming PDF/X-4 file that meets your printer's exact requirements is fairly exacting, and it can get a bit complicated. 

It helps to review the PDF-X/4 file you export from Publisher before sending it to your print service provider, preferably using PDF Production Software (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro, PDF ToolBox, etc). You will almost always want to make sure black text and line art are K-100 ONLY and remain as vectors to maintain sharpness and avoid multi-color registration issues (ghosting). Most printers will expect that. All bitmap files will be rasterized, and some vector designs can be rasterized without problems if the DPI is adequate, though it's usually preferable to keep vectors as vectors. A PDF Analysis tool will allow you to view and analyze your exported PDF and make sure you are meeting the proper requirements. It gets deep fast. I'm not sure exactly which Affinity FX, Filters, Adjustments, etc, will cause rasterization, and which do not. I'll have to defer to others who are doing this regularly with Affinity Products. 

Make sure text, line art, and small vector details (frames, arrows, thinly drawn objects, table borders, etc) remain as vectors so they remain sharp. Most other objects are fine if they are rasterized, as long as they don't cause rasterization of part or all of your fine line work or text that lays above or beneath your rasterized object (e.g., text on top of a background image). I know this is not complete, but hopefully, it is a start and will clarify some of the issues to be aware of for Press related work.

[affinota]

thanka a lot, I will consider it!