Expert: Glen Demers - 7/31/2008

Question
I've got a full-color postcard I'll be creating in InDesign CS3, which I'll need
to export as a hi-res PDF for printing, and I'm wondering if I can use the
automatic trapping feature to handle trapping--such as colored text and
images against colored background. In other words, I'm assuming (but don't
know for sure) if I was submitting InDesign files I'd be okay--am I right?--
but in exporting to PDF format will the trapping be included? Thanks for
whatever help you can provide!

Answer
Hi Evan,

Trapping is not needed and will probably be ignored if included. The majority of digital front-ends used by commercial printers have their own trapping software used at the rip stage. This allows us to edit traps to our own press needs. A high-res pdf is all you need.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips, including exporting to PDF, please visit our help pages <a href="http://www.bestprintingonline.com/indesign.htm">here</a>