How to Insert an Existing Die Line into a PDF

[@Shanklin_the_Painter]

This is so clever

[@miketheprintman]

Thank you. It will work with other things as well, say if you need to stamp a PDF with a reference, or something similar. Lots of posibilities.

[@aka.kolton]

What a smart guy to ask such a question!

[@aka.kolton]

I will say, the way that this was accomplished before I knew this was to open this in Illustrator, place the dieline, cut it, and then paste on all artboards. This works until it doesn't. i.e. when the customer's file has missing links and fonts.

[@miketheprintman]

The better way would be use InDesign, place your die line on a master page and then all pages in the document would automatically have it on there. Illustrator is better for one offs, but for multi-page documents, InDesign can't be beat.

[@aka.kolton]

@@miketheprintman This is also a good idea! But, how do you deal with PDFs in InDesign? It feels as if InDesign doesn't even know what a PDF is and treats them like images. Everytime I try and use it for things like variable data business cards I have to recreate the entire file in Indesign since the PDF I'll import can't be modified at all. I guess it's fine if all you're doing is placing a line on a page and exporting again.

[@miketheprintman]

@@aka.kolton When you place a PDF into InDesign it does treat it like an image for the most part. However, sometimes you mix of images, PDFs and text, and that's when InDesign shines. You won't be able to modify the PDF, but it can serve as a background or as part of a different design.

[@nunnki2122]

Great !!

[@miketheprintman]

Thanks as always.

[@blackcatlabels]

Oh, first to view!!!

[@miketheprintman]

You're number 1 always in my book, Amy...unless you were number 2 and then you'll always at least be top 5.

[@kriskyzans1338]

Great videos, can you create one about trapping in Acrobat, please?

[@miketheprintman]

Thank you. I would not recommend doing trap setting in Acrobat, however. If you're working in pre-press it's better to use the trap settings on your RIP software. If you're a graphic designer it's better to let trap be handled by your print service provider anyway. I guess I could do a video on how to apply those settings, but again, I would not recommend doing trap via Acrobat.

[@kriskyzans1338]

@@miketheprintman Thank you for your answer, any video about dealing with trapping would be helpful.

[@miketheprintman]

@@kriskyzans1338 Right on. I'll see what I can do. Might be down the road, but I'll try and work one in. Stay tuned.