If I am designing an office newsletter in pages and the printer is requesting it in in design.. (I have cs3) is there a way to export file formats... would it help to have a pdf file?

You'll need to ask the printer, but most printers can handle a PDF (esp. if they take InDesign). Otherwise you'll have to re-layout the document in InDesign if that's all they'll take.

would exporting a pages document as a pdf.. then opening the pdf in inDesign work?

You could either:

1) Export the Pages file as a PDF and then place the PDF pages in InDesign. At that point, I'm not sure why they would need an InDesign file as they wouldn't be able to edit it, but whatever.

2) you could export the pages file as a Word doc and then place it into InDesign. You'd probably have to do some reworking once you got it into ID, but at least then it would be editable.

Depending on how your printer is going to print it, they probably want an ID file that is editable so that they can fix things if they need to like your images if they aren't CMYK, etc.

If you did the export to PDF and had your printer look it over it might suffice (depending on the printer and content). In my opinion, it would probably be EASIER and SAFER to re-design the newsletter in InDesign, especially if this will be an ongoing newsletter that you'll need to edit easily. Jack's recommendation of contacting the printer is key - and, normally I try to do it as early as possible in the process (even before starting a project). Printers do not like to work with certain files.

At this stage if you don't want to re-design it in InDesign, I can only offer one somewhat viable solution.

1. Export your Pages newsletter document to PDF (ideally as separate pages, if it's a multiple page newsletter).
2. Launch Photoshop. Open each PDF to rasterize it (normally, CMYK at 300 ppi). Save each file, so that it can be placed into InDesign.
3. Launch InDesign. Create new doc, and place the saved Photoshop files on the appropriate pages.

*Note that if you needed to edit anything, you'd have to go back to Pages and start the process over.

quote:

Originally posted by dale:
would exporting a pages document as a pdf.. then opening the pdf in inDesign work?

Nope. InDesign CS3 will not allow you to open a PDF - you can only place it.

As Mike said, you can't do that. You have to remember that a PDF is considered an END product - not an editable document, like a Word or Pages file. A PDF is the end result, and if you want to change that (more than very slightly) then you need to go back to the source document.

Thanks. that was very helpful.. I will place my file into InDesign since that is what the printer desires. (I wish I was more familiar with InDesign!) I was unable to place the pages document directly into InDesign without first exporting it as a word document

I'm not too sure you'll be happy with the output that way. You're much better off re-doing it in InDesign or using a printer that will take a PDF.

quote:

Originally posted by dale:
Thanks. that was very helpful.. I will place my file into InDesign since that is what the printer desires. (I wish I was more familiar with InDesign!) I was unable to place the pages document directly into InDesign without first exporting it as a word document

Just because the printer desires InDesign files does not mean that if we do a work-around to get the elements into InDesign, and save it a an InDesign file that it would be unproblematic.

Perhaps, you may have misunderstood my previous post about placing Photoshop files into InDesign. It was only mentioned as a potentially, somewhat viable last resort. Quite honestly, the newsletter shouldn't have been designed in Pages initially. Pages is not a professional design program that printers will accept (much like Word). Though the Photoshop files would be rasterized, and in the right color mode and resolution, there are many other variables involved went placing them into InDesign. My suggestion was not meant to be a fail-safe solution - but, only a last minute solution if you were in a time crunch. And, then with the printer's approval of what you supplied them.

Preparing files for Print is NOT forgiving - and, it's critical that print files are prepared correctly. If they aren't, it costs someone money, because usually the printer will not absorb the cost of problems (but charge more to fix them).

Ideally, if the printer wants InDesign files, or PDFs that are generated from within InDesign, then that's what you really should supply - not only for the printer's requirements and specs, but for for future edits that you may have to make. Plus, while in InDesign, you can also PreFlight the file to make sure that all is ready for print

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Gawet,

After speaking to the printer, I'm understanding that he can work with the pdf files easily. I'm trying to rework some of our previous office newsletters, changing some old info for some new content. I have CS3 with acrobat professional and InDesign. The printer sent me the files from the previous newsletter which came as .qxp Quark files. If I dont have Quark express on my computer is there a way to view these files? They also sent pdf files.. I have never used anything but acrobat reader, does acrobat professional allow me to do anything more with the pdf files? My goal is to make my edits (in a page layout program to be decided).. and send to the printer as pdf.

Thanks again for all the input!

There seems to be a lot of motion here, necessary and unnecessary.

1. If you have InDesign CS3 create a new template for the newsletter/
content and export this out to PDF when finished.
Template = timesaver.

2. Stop trying to do major re-edits to the content of the PDF.
Yes you can do this with Acrobat Professional, but it's easier to re-do
the content in the the creation program. Acrobat will do minimal
text edits gracefully, not big ones.

3. Stay away from the Quark files.
Depending on the version, InDesign may be able to open them.
If InDesign can't, you can't do anything with then unless you have
the Quark program. If InDesign can open it, InDesign with reflow the
text differently, as the two programs have different text engines and
some features that are not transferrable. Best to avoid those issues and do
yourself the favor of creating the InDesign template to begin with.

4. Your printer seems to be murking up the waters instead of making them
clearer by even giving you those Quark files. Have a more in-depth conversation
with your printer, while some do, most printers want PDF files not InDesign files.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CHunter,

I have a feeling its me murking up the water with my ignorance about page layouts.. and not our printer...

If it is best to re-do the content in the creation program... I suppose my real question is.. Can I take the pdf from the previous issue and set up a template using Pages as my layout program? I think I would have a much easier time doing page layout as a novice in Pages than Indesign. Is it feasible to think I can take the previous pdf and create a Pages page layout that I can export out as a pdf for my printer?

(sorry if these are stupid questions!)

I don't work in Pages so I can give no answer regarding it.
The printer may be requesting InDesign as the creation
program because of it's features, industry standing or familiarity.
You really can't beat it, but yes, I understand your dilemma.

Use the PDF as a visual only.
Recreate the layout in a layout program.
There is a PDF to InDesign Plugin, but the price may be prohibitive.
PDF2ID

A PDF is an 'end' result file created from other applications.
How it looks is how it is used.
There is rarely deconstructing it for use elsewhere.
Let go of the notion of using it for other than a visual helper.

If you have InDesign CS3, then you should have a whole set of InDesign newletter
and other templates already available to you. Here:
Library/Application Support/Adobe/Templates/InDesign/3.0....

To throw in my two cents, I did the newsletter for the Farmington Elks for almost 2 decades. If you have InDesign, take a little time to learn the basics. It is much, much easier than working with Pages. While I use Pages for all of my business correspondence, I use InDesign for even basic one-page flyers. You have much better control over each placed object and text block.

As Chita said, create a template with all of the things that don't change from month to month. Then, it's just a matter of dropping in the new material each month. The print shop I worked with (Greenman's on 8 Mile west of Middlebelt) is a Mac-based outfit, although last I check they still had a single Windows machine. All of my files were produced with InDesign, then exported to PDF. I uploaded the PDFs to their server for printing.

The other thing to learn about is using Styles. Text styles will make life easier in the long run.

I'll try to answer your questions one at a time, maybe with more questions than answers.

"After speaking to the printer, I'm understanding that he can work with the pdf files easily." Will the PDFs that you generate from Pages suffice for them (have you supplied them a PDF to view) - or, does the printer prefer that the PDFs are generated from within InDesign in conjunction with the PDF conversion using Acrobat Professional? Do they have an Acrobat "jobsettings" file that they can supply you to do the conversion to meet their specifications?

If I dont have Quark express on my computer is there a way to view these files? Depending on the version of the Xpress file, you may or may not be able to convert and open it in ID CS3 (which would not only allow you to view it, but because it would open in ID you'd be able to edit it). There are third party converters from Quark to ID, but they aren't free - and, there are variables involved. Sometimes the conversions aren't perfect, as Quark and ID are structured differently.

They also sent pdf files.. I have never used anything but acrobat reader, does acrobat professional allow me to do anything more with the pdf files? Acrobat Professional will allow you to do minor edits - but that's it. Don't expect or plan on it being a total solution.

My goal is to make my edits (in a page layout program to be decided).. and send to the printer as pdf. Since you already have ID CS3, I'd recommend using that. It's much better in my opinion than Xpress, and tightly integrated with Acrobat Professional. Though it will take some up-front time to re-design the Pages newsletter in InDesign, it will leverage itself. More predictable, more control, more features, less aggravation (now and in the future, assuming that you'll be doing future issues of the newsletter).

This is a side thought for Dale, and anyone else considering or dealing with similar situations. The Adobe Suites of software can't be beat. Its tight integration across programs is unmatched - whether for print or web. Currently, I have the CS3 Design Premium Suite (I wish I could go to CS4). Consider integrating elements and files from Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver and Flash. They work together, as they were designed to do. And, almost seamlessly. Sure, there's a huge learning curve with some of it - but, the effort and money spent will be well worth the investment if you are doing professional work for print and web.

One other thought — Terry has a bunch of Creative Suites podcasts (nearly 300, last I looked) available that cover the apps of CS2, CS3 and CS4. They are a great learning source, and if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, he just released a very nice app that goes along with those podcasts. Learn from the best!

thanks again .. great information!!

WoW! This entire discussion has taken us through school. All the answers were "bottom line". They should save this one in the archives. This is coming from one who spent 25 years in the industry.