Advanced options specify which Document Structuring Conventions (DSC) comments to keep in a PDF and how to set other options that affect the conversion from PostScript. In a PostScript file, DSC comments contain information about the file (such as the originating application, the creation date, and the page orientation) and provide structure for page descriptions in the file (such as beginning and ending statements for a prologue section). DSC comments can be useful when your document is going to print or press.
For more information, see the documents on the Adobe PDF Technology Center at www.adobe.com/go/learn_acr_pdftechnology_en (PDF, English only).
The ASCII Format option has been removed from Distiller, but is still available as a Distiller parameter.
Allow PostScript File To Override Adobe PDF Settings Uses settings stored in a PostScript file rather than the current PDF settings file. For more information about customizing PDF settings, see the SDK information on the Acrobat and PDFL Developer Guides at www.adobe.com/go/learn_acr_pdftechnology_en (PDF, English only).
Allow PostScript XObjects PostScript XObjects store fragments of PostScript code to be used when a PDF is printed on a PostScript printer. Use only in controlled workflows where there is no other option. Available when the Standard or Smallest File Size is selected from the Default Settings menu.
Convert Gradients To Smooth Shades Converts blends to smooth shades for Acrobat 4.0 and later, improving quality and reducing file size of PDFs. Distiller converts gradients from Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe FreeHand®, CorelDraw, QuarkXPress, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Convert Smooth Lines To Curves Reduces the amount of control points used to build curves in CAD drawings, which results in smaller PDFs and faster onscreen rendering.
Preserve Level 2 Copypage Semantics Uses the copypage operator defined in PostScript Level 2 rather than in Language Level 3 PostScript. If you have a PostScript file and select this option, a copypage operator copies the page. If this option is not selected, the equivalent of a showpage operation is executed, except that the graphics state is not reinitialized.
Preserve Overprint Settings Retains any overprint settings in files being converted to PDF. Overprint settings create color by printing one ink on top of another ink.
Overprinting Default Is Nonzero Overprinting Prevents overprinted objects with zero CMYK values from knocking out CMYK objects beneath them.
Save Adobe PDF Settings Inside PDF File Embeds the settings file (.joboptions) used to create the PDF as an attachment. (To view the settings file, choose View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes > Attachments in Acrobat.)
Save Original JPEG Image In PDF If Possible Processes compressed JPEG images (images that are already compressed using DCT encoding) without recompressing them. When deselected, performance improves because only decompression, not recompression, occurs.
Save Portable Job Ticket Inside PDF File Preserves a PostScript job ticket in a PDF. Job tickets describe the PostScript file and can be used later in a workflow or for printing the PDF.
Use Prologue.ps and Epilogue.ps Sends a prologue and epilogue file with each job. These files can be used to add custom PostScript code you want to run at the beginning or end of every PostScript job being converted.
Sample Prologue.ps and Epilogue.ps files are located in Windows 11 (64-bit), Windows 10 version 1810 or later (32-bit and 64-bit), Windows 8, 8.1 (32-bit and 64-bit)†, Windows 7 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit), or Windows Server - 2008 R2 (64 bit), 2012 (64 bit), 2012 R2 (64 bit)†, 2016 (64 bit), or 2019 (64 bit)
/Users/[Username]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe PDF/Distiller/Data or (Mac OS)/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe PDF/Distiller/Data.
In Windows Explorer (Windows 7 and later), the Application Data folder is typically hidden; to make it visible, choose View> Show, and select Hidden Items. Or, you can type the path into the Address text box.
In Acrobat Standard, Distiller processes prologue and epilogue files only if both files are present and located properly. The two files must be used together.
In Acrobat Pro, Distiller processes prologue and epilogue files only if both files are present and located properly. The two files must be used together. If the prologue and epilogue files are at the same level as the In and Out folders of a watched folder, they are used instead of the ones in the Distiller folder.
Process DSC Comments Maintains DSC information from a PostScript file.
Log DSC Warnings Displays warning messages about problematic DSC comments during processing and adds them to a log file.
Preserve EPS Information From DSC Retains information for an EPS file, such as the originating application and creation date.
Preserve OPI Comments Retains information needed to replace a For Placement Only (FPO) image or comment with the high-resolution image located on servers that support Open Prepress Interface (OPI) versions 1.3 and 2.0. For more information, see the OPI 2.0 specification at https://www.pdfa.org/norm-refs/5660_OPI_2_0.pdf (PDF, English only).
Preserve Document Information From DSC Retains document properties, such as the title, creation date, and time, in the PDF.
Resize Page And Center Artwork For EPS Files Centers an EPS image and resizes the page to fit closely around the image. If deselected, the page is sized and centered based on the upper left corner of the upper left object and lower right corner of the lower right object on the page. This option applies only to jobs that consist of a single EPS file.
By using Standards options, you can check document content in the PostScript file to make sure it meets standard PDF/X1-a, PDF/X-3, or PDF/A criteria before creating the PDF. For PDF/X-compliant files, you can also require that the PostScript file meet additional criteria by selecting options in the Standards panel. The availability of options depends on the standard you select. You can also create a PDF/X file from a compliant PDF by using the Preflight feature in Acrobat.
PDF/X-compliant Complies with the PDF/X standard for high-resolution print production.
PDFMaker, the conversion method used to convert Microsoft Word and other application files to PDF, does not create PDF/X-compliant files.
PDF/A-compliant Complies with the PDF/A standard for archival documents.
If you set up a watched folder for creating PDF/A-compliant files in Acrobat Pro, do not add security to the folder. The PDF/A standard does not allow encryption.
Compliance Standard Produces a report that indicates whether the file complies with the standard you select, and if not, what problems were encountered. The .log file appears at the bottom of the dialog box.
PDFs that complied with both PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-3 standards in Acrobat 6.0 default to PDF/X-1a in Acrobat XI.
When Not Compliant Specifies whether to create the PDF if the PostScript file does not comply with the requirements of the standard.
Continue Creates a PDF even if the PostScript file does not meet the requirements of the standard, and notes these problems in the report.
Cancel Job Creates a PDF only if the PostScript file meets the requirements of the standard, and is otherwise valid.
Report As Error (Acrobat Pro) Flags the PostScript file as noncompliant if one of the reporting options is selected and a trim box or art box is missing from any page.
Set TrimBox To MediaBox With Offsets (Acrobat Pro) Computes values for the trim box based on the offsets for the media box of respective pages if neither the trim box nor art box is specified. The trim box is always as small as or smaller than the enclosing media box.
Set BleedBox To MediaBox (Acrobat Pro) Uses the media box values for the bleed box if the bleed box is not specified.
Set BleedBox To TrimBox With Offsets (Acrobat Pro) Computes values for the bleed box based on the offsets for the trim box of respective pages if the bleed box is not specified. The bleed box is always as large as or larger than the enclosed trim box. This option uses the units specified on the General panel of the Adobe PDF Settings dialog box.
Output Intent Profile Name (Acrobat Pro) Indicates the characterized printing condition for which the document has been prepared and is required for PDF/X compliance. If a document doesn’t specify an output intent profile name, Distiller uses the selected value from this menu. If your workflow requires the document to provide the output intent, choose None.
Output Condition Identifier (Acrobat Pro) Indicates the reference name that is specified by the registry of the output intent profile name. For more information, click the question mark next to the option.
Output Condition (Acrobat Pro) Describes the intended printing condition. This entry can be useful for the intended receiver of the PDF. For more information, click the question mark next to the option.
Registry Name (URL) (Acrobat Pro) Indicates the web address for finding more information about the output intent profile. The URL is automatically entered for ICC registry names. The registry name is optional, but recommended. For more information, click the question mark next to the option.
Trapped (Acrobat Pro) Indicates the state of trapping in the document. PDF/X compliance requires a value of True or False. If the document does not specify the trapped state, the value provided here is used. If your workflow requires that the document provide the trapped state, choose Leave Undefined.