TIP 26: Using Photoshop PDF
The Adobe Creative Suite products contain internal PDF file creation processes. In Photoshop CS, choose File > Save As to open the Save As dialog. Click the Format pull-down arrow and choose Photoshop PDF. In the dialog, the name and folder location of the original document is shown by default; choose an alternate name and storage location if you want. Although you work in layers in Photoshop, Acrobat 7 doesn't support the layers in the converted PDF document.
Using Version Cue
If you are working with Adobe Creative Suite and using Version Cue, click the Version Cue button on the standard Save As dialog to open its Save As dialog. You can choose the same PDF settings options as those available from the Photoshop Save As dialog. |
Depending on the contents of the file and its original format, a number of options appear in the Save Options area from which you can choose (Figure 26a). Features that are present in the original document are available, such as layers or annotations. Click to deselect options you don't want converted. Annotations added to a Photoshop document are converted to note comments in the exported PDF document.
Figure 26a. Select PDF file options in the Photoshop Save As dialog.
Next, choose a color option. The document's color profile is selected by default. Click Save to open the PDF Options dialog (Figure 26b). Select options according to how you intend to use the PDF as well as its content: Choose from either ZIP or JPEG compression. ZIP is lossless compression, and best used for images containing large areas of single colors. JPEG compression is lossyyou can create a smaller file size than ZIP compression, but its quality is not as high. Set the quality by using the sliders, clicking the pull-down arrow, or typing a value in the field.
PDF Formats
Photoshop PDFs are a single image, regardless of whether the source file contains a combination of image and text. Other programs, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Visio, and Adobe InDesign, export the PDF document as both text and image, which is important if you want to search the document's text. Chapter 17 describes converting an image of text into actual searchable text. |
Select Save Transparency to create white areas where the image is transparent. If your document doesn't contain transparency, this option is grayed out. Choose Image Interpolation to use antialiasing for lower-resolution images; at higher compression levels, interpolation can improve the image's appearance. Select the Downgrade Color Profile option to use the PDF in a program that doesn't support higher color profile versions: This option is only active if your chosen Color Profile can be downgraded. This option downgrades an ICC (International Color Consortium) Profile (Windows) or Embed Color Profile (Macintosh) to a version 4 color profile. Click PDF Security to add protection to the file. When you click the check box the Security Settings button becomes active; click this button to open a dialog that lets you set passwords and specify file rights (such as whether you'll allow other users to print the document or change its content). The Include Vector Data option is active if your document contains vector objects or type. Choose this option to preserve vector objects and type. Deselecting the option causes the objects and type to be rasterized. Click Embed Fonts to embed the fonts used in the Photoshop document; this allows others to use and view the file using your original fonts. Click Use Outlines for Text to convert the text to paths. You have to uncheck Embed Fonts to activate this option.
Figure 26b. Configure PDF export options according to the document's contents.
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