PostScript to PDF conversion guidelines

Learn the best practices for converting PostScript files to PDF using Adobe Acrobat Distiller.

PostScript to PDF conversion guidelines help you enhance the conversion process, ensuring you get high-quality PDFs while managing file size and preserving document integrity.

Guidelines for creating PostScript files

When preparing PostScript files for PDF conversion in Adobe Acrobat Pro, consider the following best practices:

• Utilize PostScript Language Level 3 to take advantage of the most advanced features of PostScript.
• Select the Adobe PDF printer as your PostScript printer to ensure optimal compatibility during the conversion process.
• For Windows systems, ensure that all fonts used in the document are sent along with the PostScript file to maintain text fidelity.
• Name your PostScript file identically to the original document, but append a .ps extension. Some applications may use a .prn extension instead.
• Use the color and custom page sizes in the Adobe Acrobat Distiller PPD file. Using other PPD files may result in inappropriate colors, fonts, or page sizes in the final PDF.
• Send PostScript files as 8-bit binary data when transferring files between computers, especially if the platforms differ. This practice prevents issues that can arise from converting line feeds to carriage returns or vice versa.

Guidelines for compressing and downsampling images

When preparing PostScript files for PDF conversion, follow these best practices to manage image compression and resolution effectively:

• Use ZIP compression for text, line art, and images with large areas of solid colors to maintain clarity and sharpness.
• Use JPEG compression for photographs and images with smooth color transitions to reduce file size while preserving visual quality.
• Use CCITT Group 3 or 4 compression for scanned monochrome documents, and Run Length compression for black-and-white images with large solid areas.
• Use bicubic downsampling for photographic images to produce smoother gradients through weighted pixel averaging.
• Use subsampling to speed up processing when image quality is less critical, by selecting a single representative pixel from each sample area.
• Maintain a resolution of around 300 dpi with low compression for print output to preserve high image quality.
• Use a resolution between 72 and 150 dpi with higher compression for screen or web output to reduce file size.
• Assign different compression and downsampling settings to individual images when needed to optimize background and foreground elements separately.
• Insert Distiller parameters in the PostScript file to control image handling, such as specifying resolution using the ImageResolution parameter before each image.