Creating PDF Files

This section will provide you with two things:

  1. Pre-determined Job Options for Acrobat Distiller that will, once installed on your system, automatically create high-quality PDF files that will satisfy both the Submission and Production processes, and
  2. Step-by-Step instructions for creating PDF files

1. Job Options for Acrobat Distiller (Do this first)

These options have been created to help authors create high-quality PDF files that will retain all the necessary quality for print, yet be small enough to upload quickly to the submission system. Follow the appropriate link for instructions on downloading and saving these Job Options to your system.

  • Job Options for PC
  • Job Options for Mac

2. Creating PDFs Optimized for APS Publications

Not all Authors will have access to computer graphics applications that are capable of producing high-resolution TIFF or EPS files. Authors in this predicament who have access to the full version of Adobe Acrobat will be able to produce high-resolution PDF files using Acrobat Distiller.

PDFs should be created directly from the originating application. That means the application that was used to create your figure. There are a couple of ways to make PDF files when you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat. Follow this link for simple instruction on how to create PDF files.

  • Create Optimized PDFs (PC)
  • Create Optimized PDFs (Mac)

TIPS

  • Whenever possible, create PDF files from original documents open in their original application.
  • Most applications authors use to create or assemble figures create figures in a vector-based environment. It is from this environment that most successful PDF are created. Why? Because all text and vector graphic elements can be edited and sized to fit the printed page without effecting quality.
  • Original images pasted or dragged into other applications before creating a PDF may lose their quality. Often, pasting figures into another applications results in a low-resolution raster image that will not provide good reproductions. It is always better to Insert>Picture>From File. This process retains the vector-qualities of the original figure.

  • Click Thumbnail to see a visual comparison of the results of each procedure using the same EPS file and PowerPoint.



Resources

Adobe v9 Job Options

Adobe job options file for optimized APS settings.

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