File Prep
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Creating a PDF File from Adobe Photoshop

These instructions are for those who have composed their file in Photoshop CS2, Photoshop CS and 7, or Photoshop 6 and older. Note: Creating files in Photoshop involves the flattening of all layers, thereby converting any vector objects, including all type, to raster. This process may make the edges of type appear soft. This will negatively affect the look of your file. We highly recommend creating text in a page layout program such as Quark Xpress or Adobe InDesign. Make sure your file is built at 300 DPI. To check the resolution of your file, choose Image > Image Size....Flatten all layers. To do this, choose Layers > Flatten Image. Choose File > Save As..., a Save As dialog box will appear. In this step, follow the instructions appropriate for your version of Photoshop: Photoshop CS2, Photoshop CS or 7, Photoshop 6 or older.

For Photoshop CS2:

Name your file and choose the directory in which the file is to be saved. Choose Photoshop PDF as the format. Make sure all other options are unchecked. Click Save. A Save Adobe PDF dialog box will appear. Under Adobe PDF Preset, choose [PDF/X- 1a:2001], which will automatically adjust all the necessary options. Click Save PDF. Once completed, be sure to compare the PDF version of the file with the original version.

For Photoshop CS and 7:

Name your file and choose the directory in which the file is to be saved. Choose PDF as the format and uncheck all other options. Click Save. A new dialog box will appear. For Encoding, choose: JPEG with the Quality at 12 Maximum. Make sure all other options are unchecked. Click OK. (Depending on the version of Photoshop being used, your dialog box may appear slightly different than pictured here.) Once completed, be sure to compare the PDF version of the file with the original version.

For Photoshop 6 or older:

Photoshop 6 and older versions do not have the ability to save PDF files. In these versions, saving files in EPS format is acceptable. Name your file and choose the directory in which the file is to be saved. Choose EPS as the format and click Save. An EPS options dialog box will appear. For Preview, choose Macintosh (8 bits/pixel). For Encoding, choose JPEG (maximum quality). Make sure all other options are unchecked. Click OK. (Depending on the version of Photoshop being used, your dialog box may appear slightly different than pictured here. However, always ensure all check boxes are unchecked in your version.) Once completed, be sure to compare the PDF version of the file with the original version.