Create PostScript and EPS files
As an alternative to printing a document to a printer, you can save a PostScript-language description of the document as a .PS file for printing on remote printers—for example, by a prepress service provider. A service provider can send a .PS file directly to the imagesetter. The size of a PostScript file is usually larger than the original InDesign document, because the graphics and fonts are embedded.
You can also export a document page or spread to an EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) file and place it in other applications.
Choose the right method for creating a PostScript file
You can save your InDesign document or book in any of three types of PostScript files: device-independent, device-dependent, or device- and driver-dependent.
The following tables list recommended printer drivers and output methods for achieving the best results with post-processing applications and InDesign. If your document will be processed by an OPI server, or by an imposition, trapping, or other prepress application before it is printed by a RIP, choose PostScript® File in the Printer menu in the InDesign Print dialog box. That way, InDesign has complete control over the DSC output. For desktop printing, use any supported PostScript printer driver.
The tables use asterisks to indicate the relative suitability of each method for prepress work:
The PostScript file is fully DSC-compliant, and very suitable for use with a wide variety of post-processing applications, RIPs, and workflows. This method is the best all-round choice for applications that rely on DSC.
The PostScript file is largely DSC-compliant, and generally suitable for use with a wide variety of post-processing applications, RIPs, and workflows. Some compatibility issues may exist for certain types of applications that rely heavily on DSC.
Printer selection: PostScript® File
A printer driver isn’t used when the printer selection is “PostScript® File.”
Printer selection: <installed printer>
Built‑in PS Driver for Mac OS X
The PPD used by the selected printer appears in the PPD text box at the top of the Print dialog box.
About device- and driver-dependent PostScript files
Select a printer and a supported driver in the Printer menu. A device- and driver-dependent PostScript file has the following characteristics:
It is driver-dependent. The PostScript file will contain code generated by InDesign and by the driver. The InDesign code is primarily responsible for the page content, including font downloading, and for setting basic device information, such as media size, resolution, and screening. The driver is primarily responsible for setting special driver features, such as watermarks, and for enabling or controlling special device features. Since InDesign doesn’t have complete control over creating the PostScript file, the level of DSC compliance isn’t quite as high as it is with driver‑independent PostScript files. The level of DSC compliance, and therefore the PostScript file’s suitability for prepress tasks, depends on the printer driver used.
It is device-dependent. It contains code for enabling and controlling specific device features, making it less compatible with devices other than the target device.
It can be composite or separated (all of the color output methods that InDesign supports are available).
It can be trapped by InDesign (either by using Application Built-In or Adobe In-RIP Trapping).
It can be printed directly to the device, or to file.
A device- and driver-dependent PostScript file is ideally suited for proofing (by the designer) to desktop PostScript printers. It can also be used by service providers who don’t plan to do any prepress tasks to the job outside of InDesign or the RIP system. In other words, if trapping is done, it happens in InDesign or at the RIP.
Create a device-independent PostScript file
Select PostScript File in the Printer menu, and select Device Independent in the PPD menu. A device-independent PostScript file has the following characteristics:
It is 100% DSC-compliant, making it ideal for such post-processing tasks as trapping and imposition.
All device and driver dependencies are removed, so that the file will print to almost any output device. However, special printer features found in PPD files, such as image exposure, available media sizes, and optimized screen frequencies, aren’t available in device-independent output.
The color output is always composite CMYK, but it also includes spot colors. As a result, it has to be separated in post-processing software, or at the RIP using in-RIP separations.
It cannot be trapped by InDesign; trapping must occur at the RIP, or in post-processing software.
It can only be printed to file (not directly to a device or application) from InDesign.
A device-independent PostScript file is ideal for composite prepress workflows, where the file will be trapped and separated later in the production process, such as during imposition, trapping, or at the RIP (if the output device supports in-RIP separations).