In addition to using PDFs for final print and Web output, PDF and Acrobat are excellent proofing tools, as well. PDF documents can be used for composite content proofs, color-separated proofs, color-managed soft proofs, and for printing color-simulation proofs. This issue we cover composite and color-separated proofs, next issue soft and color-simulation proofs. [composite content proofs] 1 EXPORT PAGE LAYOUT TO PDF Composite content proofs are designed to primarily show the content of a document—the layout of text and graphics. Composite proofs are usually viewed at 100% of the final output dimension, but usually use low-resolution images (for small file size to facilitate rapid distribution) and may or may not show accurate color. You’ll typically create a content proof from within your page-layout application such as InDesign. To begin, open your page layout in InDesign, choose File> Export, and select Adobe PDF from the Format drop-down menu in the Export dialog. 2 CHOOSE GENERAL OPTIONS In the General section of the Export Adobe PDF dialog, choose Smallest File Size as a starting point from the Adobe PDF Preset drop-down menu.

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