Hey guys.

Thanks again for the feedback. I'm going to start using PDF standard formats to send to printers and asking if they accept these files. Has anyone had troubles embedding fonts with PDF/X-1a before? Are the files reliable?

@John.Clifford: Hey John. I was following a tutorial from indesignsecrets that used a transparency flattener to outline fonts, not to tint a spot color.

Eugene Tyson: Here is a fresh upload done with yousendit:

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=bFFNTkZrQXAwZ2xFQlE9PQ

collywolly: Thank you for taking the time to analyse the file, I appreciate your feedback. Would I have to place the 'tint/opacity' box at the back? I remember trying this and the fonts didn't outline. How should the transparency flattener be created then?

For my adobe PDF presets, I have been using my own settings because I wasn't sure what PDF standard's i.e. PDF/X-1a are. I will definitely read about these settings. It just occured to me: what is the purpose of the transparency flattener trick if the PDF/X-1a setting embeds the fonts? Is the flattener suppose to overcome something else?

Eugene Tyson: Here is a fresh upload done with yousendit:

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=bFFNTkZrQXAwZ2xFQlE9PQ

collywolly: Thank you for taking the time to analyse the file, I appreciate your feedback. Would I have to place the 'tint/opacity' box at the back? I remember trying this and the fonts didn't outline. How should the transparency flattener be created then?

For my adobe PDF presets, I have been using my own settings because I wasn't sure what PDF standard's i.e. PDF/X-1a are. I will definitely read about these settings. It just occured to me: what is the purpose of the transparency flattener trick if the PDF/X-1a setting embeds the fonts? Is the flattener suppose to overcome something else?

Hey guys.

Thanks for the responses.

I'm still learning about preparing artwork for press, so I'm just as confused as you are. Above is an example of the file that I recreated: 

https://www.filefactory.com/fil…..r_file.pdf

The PDF file is compatible with Acrobat 4.0. It uses a transparency flattener with raster/vector balance of 100, line art text resolution of 2400ppi, gradient mesh and mesh resolution of 200ppi, and with 'convert all text to outline' and 'convert all strokes to outlines' ticked.

I have a gut feeling that Eugene Tyson might be right about the printer not turning on overprint on the RIP.

Hi Bob.

Thank you for your reply.

What other info would you like to know? I can't think of anything else except what the printer told me and how I normally setup artwork. I've flattened the PDF and outlined the fonts based on this tutorial: https://creativepro.com/con…..ht-way.php

I'm not in a position where I can post the work online because the job is confidential. What workflow would you recommend instead?

Hi Firedog.

That is an excellent idea! I will try that out for my next inhouse print job. Thanks for the reply. =)

Hi Colin.

Thanks for your reply and workaround. =)

You've lost me when you said the merged PDF needs to be split into individual files in bridge. How do you achieve this in bridge? Other than that, I sort of know what you are trying to do.

I would love to hear your step-by-step method, even if it is two pages long. Thanks.