| Re: i need a printing expert...or poprock
It’s not easy making PDFs for print that are set up for printing in spot colours (specials). The easiest thing you can do for the first piece is remake it in 2PMS rather than sending a full colour file, and send it in the format you made it (Quark, Illustrator, whatever). The only thing is, if the printer specifically asked for it in PDF format, they may charge you extra for ripping it themselves. They shouldn’t, but they might. My question would be that if you’ve specified and are paying for CMYK process, why the fuck are they trying to get you to do it in two specials instead? It’s cheaper, and you’ll get better quality results, but crucially it ain’t what you asked for.
As for the second, ‘process’ means CMYK. You shouldn’t have to separate the artwork yourself, they should be doing that. You don’t have a clue about the trapping, dot gain, etc for their printing presses. It’s the pre-press guys’ job to do all that.
What could happen with both jobs is that the printers/publishers demand PDF files to their precise specs. If they do, ask them to send you their PDF .joboptions file. They can email it to you, and tell you how to install and use it. It will ensure that when you select their settings from a drop-down list in your PDF maker, all their exact settings will be applied for you.
Hope that helps, I’m kinda rushing it here.
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The interval between birth and death is fractal. Any given moment is infinitely deep and rich, and therefore one lifetime is quite enough for me. | 
