How do I save a image into a press quality PDF?

How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Printable Version

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How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Komodo - 08-23-2018

I just finished making a book cover and saved the image as png.
The image is flattened and it has 300.000 pixels. These are the specifications asked for by CreateSpace.

They also ask that the image should be saved as a “press quality PDF.” I tried saving as pdf, it gives me a file that can be read by a pdf reader but when I tried to test print the file it comes out the size of a pencil eraser.

Is this what I’m supposed to get or am I doing something wrong?

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Zorba - 08-23-2018

Might be worth clarifying the dimensions and what you mean by 300.000 pixels - CreateSpace specify 300dpi (300 pixels per inch) so do you have that pixel density with an image of a suitable size?

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - rich2005 - 08-23-2018

Are you sure you understand that printers requirements?

https://www.createspace.com/Products/Book/CoverPDF.jsp

...quote..Images may be CMYK or RGB color. All images should be sized at 100%, flattened to one layer and placed in your document at a minimum resolution of 300 DPI..

An image (for one face) might be 5" x 8" which @ 300 ppi (aka dpi) is 1500 x 2400 pixels

Then there are 2 faces + the spine + trim and bleed allowances. What are the dimensions in pixels of your image.

Truthfully Gimp is not the best tool for creating PDF's to send to a printer.
Use Scribus https://www.scribus.net/
Make your graphic with Gimp but if possible add any text in Scribus It remains a vector and will be crisper.

Reminder about opening PDF in Gimp. The default resolution in the open dialogue is 100 ppi If your PDF is 300 ppi change the resolution to 300 otherwise it will look small

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Komodo - 08-23-2018

I apologize for being lazy in my question. I asked many places and got nowhere until now. Thank you very much for showing interest in my problem.

These are the steps I took.

I create the front, back and spine images separately, each one 300 dpi as directed by CreateSpace.

Then I downloaded the CreateSpace book cover template for my book, 6 x 9, cream, 314 pages.

I then created my full book cover with the three original images. I then merged down the layers and flatten the image, again as directed.

Finally I saved the image with the pdf extension. This is the only file type they accept for a completed cover. I attached a document with a screenshot of the upload requirements below.

I also added in the attached document the final image properties as well.

As I looked over the properties, I just now noticed that the print size says, “0.5138 x 0.3642 inches.” That might be my problem.

I don’t see my uploaded document; I guess I’m not doing it right. So here are the image properties before I exported the image to pdf.

Size in pixels: 3915 x 2775 pixels
Print size: 0.5138 x 0.3642 inches
Resolution: 300 x 300 pixels/mm
Color space: RGB color
Precision: 8-bit gamma integer
File Size: 15.6 MB
File Type: GIMP XCF image
Size in memory: 101.3 MB
Undo steps: None
Redo steps: None
Number of pixels: 10864125
Number of layers: 1
Number of channels: 0
Number of paths: 0

GIMP built-in sRGB
sRGB

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Blighty - 08-23-2018

(08-23-2018, 07:36 PM)Komodo Wrote: Resolution: 300 x 300 pixels/mm

That must be 300 pixels/inch

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - rich2005 - 08-23-2018

Edit Just re-read Blighty post, that would do it times 25.4 out Wink

I do not know how you have the correct size in pixels and that resolution but get that print size.

Can you go into Image -> Print Size and check that it looks something like this, give or take a little.

[Image: zW45X10.jpg]

Since the printer accepts RGB images a PDF from Gimp should be ok, but still advise using Scribus. It is made for DTP and has various options for PDF creation.

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Komodo - 08-23-2018

I tried to change the print size as you both suggested. What it does is bring back the resolution to 11.811 x 11.811. So I change the resolution to 300 and the width and height goes back to 0.514 x 0.364.

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Blighty - 08-24-2018

(08-23-2018, 09:58 PM)Komodo Wrote: I tried to change the print size as you both suggested. What it does is bring back the resolution to 11.811 x 11.811. So I change the resolution to 300 and the width and height goes back to 0.514 x 0.364.

11.811 pixels/mm is exactly the same as 300 pixels/inch. No difference, either will do. What you must not have is 300 pixels/mm.

RE: How do I save a image into a press quality PDF? - Komodo - 08-24-2018

(08-23-2018, 07:53 PM)Blighty Wrote:
(08-23-2018, 07:36 PM)Komodo Wrote: Resolution: 300 x 300 pixels/mm

That must be 300 pixels/inch

Now I see what you are saying, inches not millimeters.

Thanks

(08-24-2018, 06:07 AM)Blighty Wrote:
(08-23-2018, 09:58 PM)Komodo Wrote: I tried to change the print size as you both suggested. What it does is bring back the resolution to 11.811 x 11.811. So I change the resolution to 300 and the width and height goes back to 0.514 x 0.364.

11.811 pixels/mm is exactly the same as 300 pixels/inch. No difference, either will do. What you must not have is 300 pixels/mm.

Thank you so much, the problem is solved.

Thank you all for helping me fix my problem. You are all clearly experts.