Category: Document

Description: This Fixup allows for the removal of private data stored in a PDF file by other applications, such as Adobe Illustrator, ArtPro, or Packz. In some cases, this Fixup can significantly reduce the file size. However, it may also impair functionality in applications that rely on this private data.

Use case: When an Adobe Illustrator file is saved as a PDF and the option Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities is selected, the resulting PDF file contains both the PDF Content Stream and the Adobe Illustrator Content Stream, effectively duplicating the content. If the PDF file is modified in the Workflow using this Fixup, only the PDF Content Stream is changed, resulting in a mismatch with the Adobe Illustrator Content Stream.

Add this Fixup to every Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template if you want to remove private data, including the Adobe Illustrator Content Stream, from print data.

Figure 1: The activated Fixup Discard private data from other applications

Category: Image

Description: This Fixup recalculates the resolution of selected image types to the desired value and compresses the images using the defined compression method.

Use Case: This Fixup enables the downscaling of high-resolution images in print files to a more practical resolution, while also compressing previously uncompressed image content. File size is significantly reduced through either lossless or lossy compression. A smaller file size conserve storage space within the Workflow and accelerates the opening of print data in external tools such as the PDF Editor. However, it is important to note that this does not necessarily reduce rendering time, as compressed files must be decompressed during the rendering process, which may also take time.

Figure 2: The activated Fixup Downsample and/or Compress Images

Additional information you need to know about this Fixup:

• The resampling of color and grayscale images is performed using bicubic interpolation. In this process, the new color value of the calculated pixel is derived from the average of the pixel values, weighted according to their proximity.
• The compression of color and grayscale images is carried out either losslessly using ZIP compression or with some loss of quality using JPEG compression at a medium quality setting.
• Black-and-white images are downsampled either using bicubic interpolation, in which the new pixel value is calculated as a weighted average  of the surrounding pixels, or using a faster method that selects a single pirxel value from the group of pixels to be reduced. While the faster method offers improved performance, it can result in visible banding in gradients, potentially reducing image quality.
• The compression of black-and-white images is performed using either RLE, ZIP, or CCITT compression. As a general rule, CCITT should be used, as this compression typically achieves the highest level of file size reduction.

Category: Document, Object, Page Content

Description: This Fixup removes all objects that are located entirely outside the MediaBox.

Use Case: Objects outside the MediaBox have no effect on the printed result and are therefore removed. This helps to reduce the file size, speed up processing in the RIP, and minimize the risk of printing errors.

Figure 3: The activated Fixup Remove Objects outside MediaBox

Category: Document, Object, Page Content

Description: This Fixup removes all non-visible objects that have no impact on the printed output. To qualify for removal, the objects must be completely covered by other objects, and the covering object must not use overprint or any blending mode such as Multiply or Overlay. Objects using Technical Colors are not removed, even if they are fully covered. The same applies to objects with Spot Colors such as White, Varnish, Primer, or Permeo.

Use Case: When the Safety Check is enabled, the rendered result is compared to the original to detect any visual changes. If a visual change is detected, no correction is applied. Please note that this visual comparison may increase processing time.

Figure 4: The activated Fixup Remove objects that are not visible

Category: Object, Image, Page Box

Description: This Fixup crops image content of the selected image type based on a defined safety margin, in order to reduce the file's memory usage.

Use Case: By removing non-visible image data, the storage requirements of the print file are reduced. This also enables faster processing in subsequent corrections and during rendering, ensuring more efficient performance in the Workflow.

Figure 5: The activated Fixup Remove overlapping images

Category: Object, Page Box

Description: This Fixup trims overlapping vector paths and closes open paths to eliminate unnecessary vectors outside the selected area, such as the Page Box, Clipping Paths, and Form XObjects.

Use Case: Use this Fixup to remove non-visible vectors, which helps reduce the file size and enables faster processing in downstream Fixups and during rendering. Add this Fixup to every Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template to ensure faster processing in the Workflow. It is especially recommended when working with upstream workflows, such as ESKO Automation Engine, that generates step-and-repeat impositions. Additionally, enable the option Form XObject (BBox) for this template.

Figure 6: The activated Fixup Remove overlapping vector paths

Category: Object, Color, Page Box

Description: This Fixup removes all Spot Colors, including the objects assigned with those Spot Colors, that are located entirely outside the selected Page Box.

Use Case: Spot Color entries are removed from the PDF file if the associated objects are located completely outside the selected Page Box. This reduces the effort required for visual inspection of the print data, as users no longer need to search for invisible objects containing Spot Colors.

Figure 7: The activated Fixup Remove Spot Colors outside Page Box