How do I get a high quality PDF file?

Dear Lori,

I have a book that I have written in Adobe InDesign.

It is a technical book with many EPS technical drawings and a good number of photographs. I have been told that I would be better off if I converted the new edition of my book to a PDF file.

My questions are:

• Will converting to PDF give me as high a quality print job as the original InDesign digital files?
• If I do convert to PDF, will I still need to send all the linked EPS drawings, fonts and linked photos?
• What problems should I be aware of when converting from InDesign to PDF?
• Are these questions best answered by my print house?

Thank you for your time.

— HH, Ohio

Lori responds,

Dear HH,

Before you change to a workflow in which you send PDF files to your printer, make sure your printer is comfortable with PDF workflows and that you have "a meeting of the minds" in terms of what type of PDF files you will deliver and how they are created. Printers that routinely are successful receiving and printing PDF files will generally advise you as to which InDesign PDF settings ("Job options") to use.

Note that switching to a PDF workflow puts the burden of creating technically correct content and performing preflight on you as opposed to letting the printer do all that work. On the other hand, once you have mastered the process, a PDF print workflow should streamline the process of getting to press once you have delivered the PDF files to your printer.

Figure 1: The Export Adobe PDF dialog box found in the Adobe Creative Suite 2 applications, including InDesign.
See larger image

— Lori

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