For Print: Exporting PDF/X-1 Looks Bad

[HiddenPlane]

I'm trying to produce a pdf for POD. When I output in PDF/X-4, it looks great, but the printer rejects it. They want PDF/X-3 or X-1 ideally. However, when I output in one of those, the images with fine edges look bad. You can see from the example attached. Does anyone know how to work around this and preserve image integrity with the old PDF standards?

Thanks!

[Nermander]

I am not sure, but I think transparency (the shadow looks as if it may be using transparency) may be an issue in PDF/X-1 (because it is based on an older PDF version).

[utnik]

as nermander said, it is a transparency issue. if the shadow is created with scribus, you can't export it as .pdf/x-1 or x-3 (based on .pdf 1.3).
either you generate the shadow in an image program or you have to generate a higher .pdf file (at least 1.4) and flatten it with another tool.

utnik

[HiddenPlane]

The images were generated with GIMP, but yes it's transparency. What tools can successfully flatten it?

Thanks!

[utnik]

if the images stay on a monochrome background you could flatten the transparency with gimp. just put the desired background on a layer below the shadow and reduce the layers before exporting the image. (if the background is not white, you need to set the same 'rendering intent' for 'images' and 'solid colors' in 'document setup'
→ 'color management'...)
or you might flatten the .pdf file after the export. i think ghostscript could do it. but i never use it as a standalone application...

utnik

[HiddenPlane]

Thanks, Utnik, but the background is not monochrome. It's uneven parchment style. You can see it slightly in the screenshot at the top. I must maintain the transparency somehow.

I'll look at ghostscript. Does anyone know any other flattening tools?

Thanks!