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Trap thresholds
Step Specifies the color change threshold at which the trapping engine creates a trap. Some jobs need only the most
extreme color changes trapped, while others require traps for more subtle color changes. The Step value indicates the
degree to which components (such as CMYK values) of abutting colors must vary before trapping occurs.
To change how much the component inks in abutting colors can vary before causing those colors to trap, increase or
decrease the value for Step in the New Trap Preset or Modify Trap Preset Options dialog box. The default is 10%. For
best results, use a value from 8% to 20%. Lower percentages increase sensitivity to color differences and result in more
traps.
Black Color Indicates the minimum amount of black ink required before the Black trap width setting is applied. The
default value is 100%. For best results, use a value no lower than 70%.
Black Density Indicates the neutral density value at or above which InDesign considers an ink to be black. For example,
if you want a dark spot ink to use the Black trap width setting, enter the neutral density value here. This value is typically
set near the default of 1.6.
Sliding Trap Determines when the trapping engine starts to straddle the centerline of the color boundary. The value
refers to the proportion of the lighter color’s neutral density value to a darker, abutting color’s neutral density value. For
example, setting the Sliding Trap value to 70% moves the point at which the trap begins to straddle the centerline to
where the lighter color exceeds 70% of the darker color in neutral density (lighter color’s neutral density divided by
darker color’s neutral density > 0.70). Colors of identical neutral density will always have their traps exactly straddle the
centerline, unless the Sliding Trap is set to 100%.
Trap Color Reduction Indicates the degree to which components from abutting colors are used to reduce the trap color.
This setting is useful for preventing certain abutting colors (such as pastels) from making an unsightly trap that is
darker than either color. Specifying a Trap Color Reduction lower than 100% begins to lighten the color of the trap; a
Trap Color Reduction value of 0% makes a trap with a neutral density equal to the neutral density of the darker color.

Trapping imported graphics

You can create a trap preset to control traps within images, and to control traps between bitmap images (such as
photographs and those saved in raster PDF files) and vector objects (such as those from a drawing program and vector
PDF files). Each trapping engine handles imported graphics differently. It’s important to be aware of these differences
when setting trapping options.
Trap Placement Provides options for determining where the trap falls when you trap vector objects (including objects
drawn in InDesign) to bitmap images. All options except Neutral Density create a visually consistent edge. Center
creates a trap that straddles the edge between objects and images. Choke causes objects to overlap the abutting image.
Neutral Density applies the same trapping rules as used elsewhere in the document. Trapping an object to a photograph
with the Neutral Density setting can result in noticeably uneven edges as the trap moves from one side of the edge to
another. Spread causes the bitmap image to overlap the abutting object.
Trap Objects To Images Ensures that vector objects (such as frames used as keylines) trap to images, using the Trap
Placement settings. If vector objects don’t overlap images in a trapping page range, consider turning this option off to
speed trapping of that page range.
Trap Images To Images Turns on trapping along the boundary of overlapping or abutting bitmap images. This feature
is on by default.
Trap Images Internally Turns on trapping among colors within each individual bitmap image (not just where they
touch vector artwork and text). Use this option only for page ranges containing simple, high-contrast images, such as
screen shots or cartoons. Leave it unselected for continuous-tone and other complicated images, as it will create bad
traps. Trapping is faster when this option is unselected.

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Trap 1-Bit Images Ensures that 1-bit images trap to abutting objects. This option doesn’t use the Image Trap Placement
settings, because 1-bit images use only one color. In most cases, leave this option selected. In some cases, such as with
1-bit images where pixels are widely spaced, selecting this option may darken the image and slow the trapping.

About trapping black

When creating or editing presets, the value you type for Black Color determines what is considered solid black and rich
black. A rich black is any black color that uses a support screen—additional percentages of one or more process inks to
strengthen the black.
The Black Color setting is useful when you must compensate for extreme dot gain (as when using low-grade paper
stock). These situations cause black percentages lower than 100% to print as solid areas. By screening back blacks or
rich blacks (using tints of solid black) and decreasing the Black Color setting from its default of 100%, you can
compensate for dot gain and ensure that the trapping engine will apply the proper trap width and placement to black
objects.
When a color reaches the Black Color value, the Black trap width value is applied to all abutting colors, and keepaway
traps are applied to rich black areas using the Black trap width value.
If support screens extend all the way to the edge of a black area, any misregistration causes the edges of support screens
to become visible, creating an unwanted halo or distorting the edges of objects. The trapping engine uses a keepaway,
or a holdback, for rich blacks to keep support screens a specified distance away from edges of reversed-out or light
elements in the foreground, so that the light elements retain their sharpness. You control the distance of support screens
from the edges of black areas by specifying the Black trap width value.
Note: If the element you’re trapping is a thin element, such as a black keyline around graphics, the trapping engine overrides
the Black trap width setting and limits the trap to half the width of the thin element.

Adjusting ink neutral density values

By adjusting the ink neutral density (ND) values that the selected trapping engine uses, you can determine the precise
placement of traps. The default ND values for process inks are based on the neutral density readings of process ink
swatches that conform to industry standards in different parts of the world. The language version determines which
standard it conforms to. For example, the ND values for the U.S. English and Canadian versions conform to the
Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) solid ink density values published by the Graphic Arts Technical
Foundation of North America. You can adjust process ink neutral densities to match printing industry standards in
other parts of the world.
The trapping engine derives the ND values for a spot color from its CMYK equivalent. For most spot colors, the ND
values of their CMYK equivalents are accurate enough for proper trap creation. Spot inks that aren’t easily simulated
using process inks, such as metallic inks and varnishes, may need their ND values adjusted so that the trapping engine
can trap them correctly. By typing new values, you can ensure that an ink that is observably darker or lighter is
recognized that way by the trapping engine; the appropriate trap placement is then applied automatically.
You can get the appropriate neutral density value for a given ink by asking your commercial printer. The most accurate
method of determining an ink’s ND value is by measuring a swatch of the ink with a commercial densitometer. Read
the “V” or visual density of the ink (don’t use process filters). If the value differs from the default setting, type the new
value in the ND text box.
Note: Changing the neutral density for a spot color affects only how that color will trap. It doesn’t change the appearance
of that color in your document.

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Follow these guidelines when adjusting ND values:

Metallic and opaque inks Metallic inks are usually darker than their CMYK equivalents, while opaque inks obscure
any ink beneath them. In general, you should set the ND values for both metallic and opaque spot colors much higher
than their default values to ensure that these spot colors won’t spread.

Note: Setting an ink to Opaque or Opaque Ignore in the Type menu of the Ink Manager prevents an opaque ink from
spreading into other colors, unless another opaque ink has a higher ND value.
Pastel inks These inks are normally lighter than their process equivalents. You may want to set the ND value for these
inks lower than their default values to ensure that they spread into adjacent darker colors.
Other spot inks Some spot colors, such as turquoise or neon orange, are significantly darker or lighter than their
CMYK equivalents. You can determine whether this is the case by comparing printed swatches of the actual spot inks
to printed swatches of their CMYK equivalents. You can adjust the spot ink’s ND value higher or lower as necessary.

Customize trapping for specialty inks

Using certain inks involves special trapping considerations. For example, if you are using a varnish on your document,
you don’t want the varnish to affect trapping. However, if you’re overprinting certain areas with a completely opaque
ink, you don’t need to create traps for items underneath. Ink options are available for these situations. It’s usually best
not to change the default settings, unless your prepress service provider recommends changing them.
Note: The speciality inks and varnishes used in the document may have been created by mixing two spot inks or by mixing
a spot ink with one or more process inks.
1 Open the Ink Manager and select an ink that requires special treatment.
2 For Type, choose one of the following options, and then click OK:
Normal Use for traditional process inks and most spot inks.

Transparent Use for clear inks to ensure that underlying items trap. Use this option for varnishes and dieline inks.

Opaque Use for heavy, nontransparent inks to prevent trapping of underlying colors but allow for trapping along
the ink’s edges. Use this option for metallic inks.
Opaque Ignore Use for heavy, nontransparent inks to prevent trapping of underlying colors and to prevent trapping
along the ink’s edges. Use this option for those inks, such as metallic and varnishes, that have undesirable
interactions with other inks.

Adjust the trapping sequence

The trapping sequence (also called the trapping order) matches the order in which inks are printed at the press, but it
doesn’t match the order in which separations are produced at the output device.
The trapping sequence is particularly important when you’re printing with multiple opaque colors, such as metallic
inks. Opaque inks with lower sequence numbers are spread under opaque inks with higher sequence numbers. This
process prevents the last applied ink from being spread, and it still creates good traps.
Note: Don’t alter the default trapping sequence without first consulting with your prepress service provider.
1 Open the Ink Manager. The current trapping sequence is displayed in the Sequence column of the inks list.
2 Select an ink, type a new value for Trapping Sequence, and then press Tab. The sequence number of the selected ink
changes, and the other sequence numbers change accordingly.
3 Repeat the previous step for as many inks as necessary, and then click OK.

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Chapter 16: Preflight (Acrobat Pro DC)

PDF/X-, PDF/A-, and PDF/E-compliant files (Acrobat Pro

DC)

More Help topics

Analyzing documents with the Preflight tool (Acrobat Pro DC)

Convert PDFs to PDF/X, PDF/A, or PDF/E

You can validate PDF content against PDF/X, PDF/A, PDF/VT or PDF/E criteria. You can also save a copy of the PDF
as PDF/X, PDF/A, or PDF/E, provided it complies with the specified requirements. For example, under certain
circumstances, an ICC profile that describes the destination device is required for PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, and PDF/X-4
compliance. If your document doesn’t have an embedded ICC output profile, you can embed one before saving.
You can convert a PDF to a standards-compliant PDF using the Standards wizard. This wizard explains the intents of
specific formats as it guides you through the process. If you are familiar with the standards, you can use a built-in
profile, or a profile created via the wizard, to convert a PDF.
Note: You can also create PDF/X-, and PDF/A-compliant files using Acrobat Distiller.

Convert to PDF/X, PDF/A, or PDF/E using a profile

1 Choose Tools > Print Production.
The Print Production toolset is displayed in the right hand pane.
2 Click Preflight.
The Preflight dialog box is displayed.
3 In the Preflight dialog box, click Profiles.
4 Expand a compliance profile and select the profile you want. For example, under PDF/A Compliance, select Convert
To PDF/A-1b.
5 Click Analyze And Fix.
6 Click Save to convert the file based on the selected profile.

Convert to PDF/X, PDF/A, or PDF/E using a wizard

1 Choose Tools > Print Production.
The Print Production toolset is displayed in the right hand pane.
2 Click Preflight.
The Preflight dialog box is displayed.

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3 In the Preflight dialog box, click Standards.

4 Select Save As PDF/X, Save As PDF/A, or Save As PDF/E, and then click Continue.
5 Select the desired version and click Continue.
6 Select a conversion profile and one of the available viewing or printing condition.
7 Do any of the following:
• To apply corrections during the conversion, choose the Apply Corrections check box.
• Click the question mark icon to see a list of the fixups that are applied.
• To save the profile, click Save As Profile.
• To convert the PDF based on the selected profile and settings, click Save As.
If the conversion succeeds, a green check mark appears in the Preflight dialog box. If the conversion fails, a red X
appears in the Preflight dialog box.

Verify a PDF against PDF/X, PDF/A, PDF/VT, or PDF/E criteria

PDF/X, PDF/A, PDF/VT, and PDF/E files can be created in various ways, such as by using Acrobat Distiller or the File
> Save As Other command. If you open a PDF that conforms to one of these standards, you can view the standards
information in the Navigation pane. (Choose View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes, and then click the
Standards .) The Standards menu and panel are available only if the PDF conforms to a standard. The Standards
panel is present in all versions (DC, Std, and even Reader). However, Verify Conformation functionality is only present
in Acrobat DC.
The Conformance information indicates the standard used to create the file, the ISO name, and whether the file has
been verified as PDF/X-, PDF/A-, PDF/VT-, PDF/UA-, or PDF/E-compliant. The Output Intent information indicates
the color settings associated with the file. To verify the standards conformance for the file, click Verify Conformance.

Remove PDF/X, PDF/A, or PDF/E information

You can remove all PDF/X-, PDF/A-, or PDF/E-specific information, such as the output condition or the GTS_PDFX
version key. This action is useful if a file has been modified, if you want to start over, or if an ICC profile increases the
file size too much.
1 Choose Tools > Print Production.
The Print Production toolset is displayed in the right hand pane.
2 Click Preflight.
The Preflight dialog box is displayed.

3 In the Preflight dialog box, click Profiles.

4 Expand a compliance profile and select the Remove <compliance_name> Information option. For example, under
PDF/A Compliance, select Remove PDF/A Information.
5 Click Analyze And Fix.
6 Select a location to save the file and click Save.
If the operation is successful, a green check mark appears in the Results tab of the Preflight dialog box. If the operation
fails, a red X appears in the Results tab of the Preflight dialog box.

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More Help topics

Adobe PDF settings
About PDF/X, PDF/E, and PDF/A standards

Preflight profiles (Acrobat Pro DC)

More Help topics

Analyzing documents with the Preflight tool (Acrobat Pro DC)

About preflight profiles

The success of a preflight inspection depends on how well you define the criteria for the inspection. The inspection
criteria are packaged in a file called a preflight profile. A preflight profile includes one or more checks, fixups, or both
checks and fixups. Each check includes one or more property statements that validate the PDF content. Preflight shows
an error only if all the property statements in the check are in error. In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, you can
specify which values to use and how to handle mismatches. For example, you can choose a profile that simply reports
mismatches, or one that automatically fixes a mismatch according to its specified parameters. A profile with a fixup has
the filled-in gray wrench icon next to it.
Adobe Acrobat includes several predefined preflight profiles, organized into groups, such as Digital Printing, PDF
Analysis, Prepress, and PDF/A, PDF/E, or PDF/X Compliance. You can use the predefined profiles as is or modify them
to create custom profiles. The checks that make up the profiles (called rules in previous versions of Acrobat) are
organized by categories, such as Document, Pages, Images, and so on. Each check in a category governs a particular
document property.
To help you determine what document properties the preflight profile analyzes, you can review information about each
selected check in the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box. This information describes what criteria the check uses to
analyze, and possibly fix, a document property.

View profiles
1 Do one of the following:
• If the Preflight dialog box is not open, choose Tools > Print Production > Preflight.
• If another panel is displayed in the Preflight dialog box, click the Profiles tab.
2 Expand the profile groups as desired.
The list includes all predefined profiles, and any custom profiles you’ve created.

Set up favorite profiles

1 Do one of the following:
• If the Preflight dialog box is not open, choose Tools > Print Production > Preflight.
• If another panel is displayed in the Preflight dialog box, click the Profiles tab.
2 Expand the groups as desired.
3 Select a profile, click the flag next to the name, and then choose Favorite.

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Preflight Edit Profile dialog box overview

The Preflight Edit Profile dialog box lists all available profiles and shows which document properties are being
analyzed. From this dialog box you can unlock and lock a profile, create a new group for organizing profiles, and specify
inspection criteria. You can access additional options and information by expanding the profile.
To open the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, expand a profile group in the Preflight dialog box, select a profile, and
click Edit (or choose Edit Preflight Profiles from the Options menu).

A Profile B Predefined set of checks C More options D Profile groups

Add and remove profiles

You can create your own custom preflight profiles. Before you create a new profile from scratch, review existing profiles
for ones that achieve results similar to those you want. If possible, duplicate an existing profile and modify only the
relevant portion.
A preflight profile must contain at least one check or fix and one property that validate the PDF content. When you
build a check from scratch, you can use existing properties or create new properties as you go. For best results when
creating and modifying profiles, add only as many checks as you need to validate the PDF content, and keep the checks
and properties simple and straightforward. For example, you can use a PDF/X profile to check for certain criteria, and
then add checks for non-PDF/X criteria, such as image resolution.

Create a profile
1 In the Profiles panel of the Preflight dialog box, click the Select Profiles button .
2 Choose Options > Create New Preflight Profile.
3 Type a name and purpose for the new profile and specify other options as desired.
By default, newly created profiles appear under the Custom Profiles group, unless you assigned them to a different
group.
4 Expand the profile in the column on the left.

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5 Modify checks (as provided).

6 Add additional checks and fixups.

Duplicate a profile
1 In the Profiles panel of the Preflight dialog box, click the Select Profiles button .
2 Select an existing profile, and choose Options > Duplicate Preflight Profile.
The duplicate profile is added to the same group as the original profile.

Create a profile group

1 In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, choose New Group from the Group menu.
2 Type a name for the group and click OK.
Note: If you select a group of profiles, all profiles are moved to the new group.

Remove a profile
In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, select the profile and click Delete .

Import or export preflight profiles

Preflight profiles can be shared with other users. For example, print service providers can provide them to their
customers to ensure that jobs pass an inspection defined by those profiles before the jobs are handed off. Users in a
workgroup can create their own profiles as a way to check a document before uploading to the web or printing to a
special printer, or to check in-house production.
To exchange a profile, you package it for import and export. The package includes all checks and properties for the
selected profile.

Import a preflight profile

1 Do one of the following:
• In the Preflight dialog box, choose Import Preflight Profile from the Options menu.
• In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, click the Import icon .
2 Locate the preflight package file (.kfp extension), and click Open. The profile appears in the Profiles list in the
Imported Profiles group.
3 (Optional) If the profile is locked, choose Unlocked from the pop-up menu in the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box.
You can edit a profile after it is unlocked.
4 (Optional) If prompted, enter the password.
You can also import a preflight profile by dragging the file to the Acrobat DC window or Acrobat DC application icon.

Export a preflight profile

1 If needed, rename the profile (in the Edit Profile dialog box) before starting the export process.
2 To lock the profile before you export it, choose Locked from the pop-up menu in the Preflight Edit Profile dialog
box. You can also select Password Protected and enter a password.
3 Do one of the following:
• In the Preflight dialog box, choose Export Preflight Profile from the Options menu.

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• In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, click the Export icon .
4 Specify a location for the package, and click Save. Don’t rename the file.

Lock, unlock, and password-protect profiles

You can prevent unauthorized changes to preflight profiles by locking profiles and giving them passwords. This may be
useful if preflight profiles are shared among several users. You can lock or password-protect preflight profiles when you
first create them or any time you save the preflight profiles. By default, all predefined preflight profiles are locked.

Lock a profile
1 In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, select a profile.
2 Choose Locked from the pop-up menu at the upper left of the dialog box.
The options become unavailable.

Password protect a profile

1 In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, select a profile.
2 Choose Password Protected from the pop-up menu at the upper left of the dialog box.
3 Type and reenter the password, and click OK. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters, numerals, or punctuation
marks.
The options become unavailable.

Unlock or unprotect a profile

1 In the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box, select a profile.
2 Choose Unlocked from the pop-up menu at the upper left of the dialog box.
3 If prompted, enter the correct password, and click OK.

Change profile settings

You can change the settings of a single profile.

Change general profile settings

1 Open the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box.
2 Expand the profile group and select a profile.
3 If the profile is locked, choose Unlocked from the pop-up menu.

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4 Change any of the following settings:

• Enter a new name for the profile, and describe it in the Purpose box.
• To apply password protection to the profile, selectPassword Protected from the pop-up menu. When prompted,
type and reenter the password, and click OK. Otherwise, choose Unlocked.
• Enter your name and email address.
• Assign the profile to a group. Select an existing group from the menu, or select New Group, type a name, and
click OK. Groups are sorted alphabetically.
5 When you finish editing a password-protected profile, select Locked from the pop-up menu. You may also want to
password-protect it again.
6 Click OK, or click Save to save your changes without closing the dialog box.

Modify existing check and alert settings

1 Open the Preflight Edit Profile dialog box.
2 Expand the profile group and select a profile.
3 If the profile is locked, choose Unlocked from the pop-up menu.
4 Expand the profile to view the groups of properties available for the profile.
5 Select a property group.
6 Set options to specify the criteria for the inspection. Options vary according to the selected category of properties
under the profile. You can select or deselect criteria, edit values, or activate a property.
7 Select an alert option from the pop-up menu to specify how to handle mismatches during the inspection.
8 Click OK, or click Save to save your changes without closing the dialog box.

Preflight alert options

For each check in a profile, you specify how to handle mismatches during the inspection. You can select from the menu
next to each alert icon. The icon for the alert appears next to the check in the Preflight dialog box.
Error

Generates an error message for this check (or any checks in this category). Choose this option for mismatches that you
must correct before proceeding to the next stage in the workflow.
Warning

Generates a warning message for this check (or any checks in this category). Choose this option for mismatches that
you want to know about and may need to correct before final output.
Info

Generates a simple note for this check (or any checks in this category). Choose this option for mismatches that you want
to know about but do not need to correct before final output.
Inactive

Never generates an alert message for this check (or any checks in this category). Choose this option for mismatches that
will not affect the output quality of the PDF document. You must change the state from Inactive to any other state to
make the text boxes available.

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