Adobe InDesign CS3 - Manual (Page 572)

INDESIGN CS3
User Guide
565
The following tables list recommended printer drivers and output methods for achieving the best results with post-
processing applications and InDesign. If your document will be processed by an OPI server, or by an imposition,
trapping, or other prepress application before it is printed by a RIP, choose PostScript® File in the Printer menu in
the InDesign Print dialog box. That way, InDesign has complete control over the DSC output. For desktop printing,
use any supported PostScript printer driver.
The tables use asterisks to indicate the relative suitability of each method for prepress work:
*** The PostScript file is fully DSC-compliant, and very suitable for use with a wide variety of post-processing appli-
cations, RIPs, and workflows. This method is the best all-round choice for applications that rely on DSC.
** The PostScript file is largely DSC-compliant, and generally suitable for use with a wide variety of post-processing
applications, RIPs, and workflows. Some compatibility issues may exist for certain types of applications that rely
heavily on DSC.
A printer driver isn’t used when the printer selection is “PostScript® File.”
The PPD used by the selected printer appears in the PPD text box at the top of the Print dialog box.
Create a device-independent PostScript file
Select PostScript File in the Printer menu, and select Device Independent in the PPD menu. A device-independent
PostScript file has the following characteristics:
• It is 100% DSC-compliant, making it ideal for such post-processing tasks as trapping and imposition.
• All device and driver dependencies are removed, so that the file will print to almost any output device. However,
special printer features found in PPD files, such as image exposure, available media sizes, and optimized screen
frequencies, aren’t available in device-independent output.
• The color output is always composite CMYK, but it also includes spot colors. As a result, it has to be separated in
post-processing software, or at the RIP using in-RIP separations.
• It cannot be trapped by InDesign; trapping must occur at the RIP, or in post-processing software.
• It can only be printed to file (not directly to a device or application) from InDesign.
Printer selection: PostScript® File
Operating system PPD Prepress suit-
ability
All platforms Device-independent ***
Device-dependent ***
Printer selection:
Operating system Printer driver Prepress suit-
ability
Mac OS 10.2 Built-in PS Driver for
Mac OS X **
Windows 2000/XP Pscript 5 **