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Using the InDesign forensic tools
In addition to its new Live Preflight function, InDesign offers a number of methods for examin-
ing documents and content for problems. Use these methods to catch extraneous spot colors,
non-printing objects, and transparency issues.
Preflighting the document
The Preflight function has been greatly expanded in InDesign CS4. You can create and share
customized preflight profiles, and even embed a profile in a document. Preflight is now also a
dynamic process, providing constant feedback in the status bar concerning the document's cur-
rent state according to the preflight profile in use — hence, the term Live Preflight. Consequently,
problems can be spotted immediately, rather than waiting for preflight to be performed just
before a job is submitted.
To view preflight results, click on the triangle at the right side of the preflight module in the
status bar (at the lower left corner of the document window), and choose Preflight Panel from the
pop-up menu that appears, double-click the error status text in the status bar, or choose Window
> Output > Preflight Panel. Any errors are displayed; click on each entry to see a description of
the flagged problem, as well as a proposed fix for the problem. You can also double-click on the
item in the Preflight panel list to go to the problem object in the document.
To create a custom preflight profile, choose Window > Output > Preflight Panel. The Preflight
panel is displayed; choose Define Profiles from the panel menu.
Preflight Profile Options
You can set up very granular controls as part of a custom preflight profile. To activate a control,
click the checkbox by the control (such as Links or Color), then click the disclosure triangle next
to the control name to change settings. The controls include:
Preflight Status Report
The document status bar at the lower left of the InDesign
document window displays a constantly-updated
indicator of current Preflight status . A green light
indicates that document content meets the current
preflight profile's specifications . A red light and number
of errors indicates that the current preflight profile has
found problems in the document . Click the triangle to
the right of the status report (or double-click the status
report text in the status bar) to open the Preflight panel
for more information .
Preflight Profiles
Live Preflight is much more
extensive in InDesign CS4 .
Define profiles that fit your
workflow and print conditions
by setting options for each
aspect of the document . Note
that you can export and import
custom preflight profiles, and
can even embed a profile in a
document . Consider creating
multiple Preflight profiles for
your most common printing
conditions so you can easily load
the appropriate profile and check
documents for different output
workflows .
Preflight Reporting
Based on your custom preflight profile,
InDesign displays an error message for
each violation of the profile . The problem is
described, and a possible fix is proposed . You
can save the preflight error report as a text file
or PDF . By default, live preflighting is turned
on, and uses a basic working preflight profile
(note checkbox); this option gives you an
alert in the status bar showing the number of
current preflight problems (or a green light if
there are no problems) .
Adobe Creative Suite 4 Printing Guide
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