ADOBE PDF FORMAT for PostScript Type, Layers, & Vector Data
by Shan Canfield, Photoshop Mama ©2003
The Adobe PDF format supports everything that the native PSD format does. The one advantage of the Adobe PDF format over the PSD format is its ability to transfer over the web, for layered files with PostScript Type & Vector data. Another advantage is the compression option. You can either save the PDF with ZIP compression, which is a "lossless" algorithm or you can dial in various JPEG quality compression settings. JPEG is a "lossy" algorithm. The final file size and quality will depend on whether you choose a high quality setting of 10 or greater or a lower quality. The higher the quality setting, the greater the file size. Usually for "webbing" a quality setting of 10 is perfectly fine! But here's the kicker! Compare the following as it pertains to a 640x480 pixel RGB document. This file contains a Background, a layer set (with two styled layers), a regular pixel layer, a Type layer, a Vector Shape Layer and one Alpha Channel:
1. Adobe PDF format (JPEG 10) = 2.8MB
2. Adobe PDF format (ZIP) = 3.1MB
3. Native PSD format = 3.4MB
So you can save on file size anywhere from 10 to 20%, and be able to transfer layered files via email or post them for download on a web page without having to use a third party compression utility! I did test this with the Stuffit DropStuff Utility and got a file size of 2.9 using maximum compression, for the Mac platform. So even, here there's a 100 K savings with the PDF (JPEG 10) setting format! A file saved in the Adobe PDF format is NOT the same as the Acrobat PDF format, however you can view the Adobe PDFs in the free Acrobat Reader or the full version of Acrobat. Acrobat does not support layers, so if you open a layered file in the Reader you will just see a composite image.
by Shan Canfield, Photoshop Mama ©2003
The Adobe PDF format supports everything that the native PSD format does. The one advantage of the Adobe PDF format over the PSD format is its ability to transfer over the web, for layered files with PostScript Type & Vector data. Another advantage is the compression option. You can either save the PDF with ZIP compression, which is a "lossless" algorithm or you can dial in various JPEG quality compression settings. JPEG is a "lossy" algorithm. The final file size and quality will depend on whether you choose a high quality setting of 10 or greater or a lower quality. The higher the quality setting, the greater the file size. Usually for "webbing" a quality setting of 10 is perfectly fine! But here's the kicker! Compare the following as it pertains to a 640x480 pixel RGB document. This file contains a Background, a layer set (with two styled layers), a regular pixel layer, a Type layer, a Vector Shape Layer and one Alpha Channel:
1. Adobe PDF format (JPEG 10) = 2.8MB
2. Adobe PDF format (ZIP) = 3.1MB
3. Native PSD format = 3.4MB
So you can save on file size anywhere from 10 to 20%, and be able to transfer layered files via email or post them for download on a web page without having to use a third party compression utility! I did test this with the Stuffit DropStuff Utility and got a file size of 2.9 using maximum compression, for the Mac platform. So even, here there's a 100 K savings with the PDF (JPEG 10) setting format! A file saved in the Adobe PDF format is NOT the same as the Acrobat PDF format, however you can view the Adobe PDFs in the free Acrobat Reader or the full version of Acrobat. Acrobat does not support layers, so if you open a layered file in the Reader you will just see a composite image.
Have you ever encountered this warning dialog box? Do you know what font substitution is? You get this warning when the original postscript font cannot by found on the current system, which means that a default font like Courier, Times, or Helvetica will replace the cool font that was probably pretty important to your design! Now if the font is pretty standard to begin with, like an Adobe Garamond or Verdana—you might be lucky with the substitution!
Following is a tutorial to guide you through what I think is the best way to save a file for web transfer, that preserves quality, layers, alphas, Type, and Vector data. I've also included some "snag" issues that you may run into, while trying to preserve your Type! I've also included a back-up plan for being able to print the vector quality of Type when the original font cannot be found on the system or cannot embed because of platform compatibility issues.
STEP ONE: Highlight your PostScript Type Layer and press [Macs: Command J], [PCs: Control J] to jump a duplicate copy to a new Type Layer. You're going to turn this Type Layer into a Shape Layer, as a backup in case you are sending the file to a computer that is not the same platform.
STEP TWO: Click the visibility icon off for the original Type layer.
STEP THREE: Highlight the Type Copy layer.Go under Layer>Type>Convert to Shape.
This will create a Shape Layer, which is a vector clipping path that outlines the Type Shape and fills the path with its previous color and applied Styles. It is no longer editable as Type, but you can still edit the color and styles. You can edit its shape with the Vector Tools and the Transformation Commands. Remember, this is just a back-up layer, in case you open or send your file to a different computer. You still want to keep the editable Type layer, as this has the Font Family information on it and can be re-edited anytime you are on a system that either has that font or is platform compatible for embedding the font.
SNAG #1: Sometimes when converting Type to a Shape Layer, you will get this Warning box. You are stumped! You look at the Character palette or the top Options menu for the current font and it says "Regular,"— it might even say "Italic or Bold," but there's no mention of faux anywhere!
If your Character Palette is not in view, go under the top menu item Window and slide down to the bottom of the drop down menu to check Character. If there's already a check mark there, than it's already open but probably hidden behind another palette. Click the flyout tab for the Character palette and you'll see that "Faux Bold" is checked. Select it to uncheck! Now, you can make a Shape Layer out of your PostScript Type.
A note on any of the "Faux" items is that while these are fine for web display, they should not be used for postscript printing. They will cause problems! Using the "Faux" options in Photoshop is like using Menu Styling in QuarkXPress or InDesign. If you are familiar with "Menu Styling" in a desktop publishing program, then you already know NEVER to use them on fonts for printed outputs! Menu Styling is usually done by clicking icons on the palette that represent Bold or Italic. Tempting for the novice—but problematic for professional output!
STEP FOUR: Now you're ready to save your layered file with PostScript Type and Vector Data (the Shape Layer). Go to the top menu Save As...and choose Adobe PDF from the Format tab. In this dialog box make sure that all the options pertinent to your file are checked if you want to preserve them (ie Layers, Alpha Channels, Embed Profile). Click Save and the PDF Options dialog box will open. Here you can choose either the ZIP encoding, or JPEG. As I said, I prefer the JPEG for Web attachments and downloads because of the file size savings. If you are archiving files for later editing then choose ZIP compression.
If your file has Vector Data and PostScript Type, the Include Vector Data, Embed Fonts, or Use Outlines for Text will be available choices. You can choose either the Embed Fonts or the Use Outlines for Text, but NOT both. As, I have said, I prefer to use Include Vector Data and Embed Fonts. Having already prepared a back-up Shape Layer. Click OK and you've made it through this tutorial—ah except for one more possible snag!
If your file has Vector Data and PostScript Type, the Include Vector Data, Embed Fonts, or Use Outlines for Text will be available choices. You can choose either the Embed Fonts or the Use Outlines for Text, but NOT both. As, I have said, I prefer to use Include Vector Data and Embed Fonts. Having already prepared a back-up Shape Layer. Click OK and you've made it through this tutorial—ah except for one more possible snag!
SNAG #2: It's possible you've made it this far but when the PDF Options box opens, the Embed Fonts or Use Outlines for Text is grayed out. But you know you have a Type Layer in your document! Here's the snag. If the Type layer's visibility icon is not on, then this option will be grayed out! So, just Cancel out and go back to your Layers palette and turn on the visibility icon for the Type Layer.