Applescripts for InDesign:
• InDesign Libraries Application Script
• ExportPDFs.app – & – ExportPDFs-InApp.scpt
• InDesign End Of Ad – Issue Detector with Export PDF Script
Illustrator Scripts
• Illustrator Scripts
Other Extras:
• Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts
• Thin white lines appearing on my PDF, why?
• Freebies
Click Here to learn more about saving, installing, and using scripts with InDesign.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
ExportPDFs.app – & – ExportPDFs-InApp.scpt (MAC only)
Click Here or click the image below to download a zip file that contains the droplet application, “ExportPDFs.app” and the standalone script, “ExportPDFs-InApp.scpt”
Click Here or click the icon above to download the ExportPDFsUserGuide.pdf.
Click Here to open the user guide in your web browser.
IMPORTANT:
The user guide explains the many quality checks and export features built into “ExportPDFs.app” and the standalone script called “ExportPDFs-InApp.scpt“.
Helpful Links:
Click Here for instructions on how to install an InDesign script.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
InDesign End Of Ad – Issue Detector – with Export PDF Functionality (MAC only)
Click Here or click the icon above to download the zip file that contains the EndOfAdIssueDetector-WithExportPDF.scpt
Click Here for instructions on how to install an InDesign script.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
What does the End of Ad – Issue Detector script do?
This is a very helpful script that will check for common issues in the InDesign document. If these issues exist, the script will display a dialog warning and give the user the option to fix the issue.
The End of Ad – Issue Detector script will automatically convert all RGB and SPOT color swatches to Process CMYK.
Learn more about the issues of using Spot Colors in 4-Color printing – Click Here
Other issues are not fixed automatically. Instead, the End of Ad – Issue Detector Script will provide a pop-up “Warning Prompt” for the user to fix the issue.
After each issue is fixed, the End of Ad – Issue Detector Script should be run again to locate any other issues that may exist.
Listed below are the pop-up “Warnings & Prompts” that may occur when performing the End of Ad – Issue Detector script. Click on a link to be taken to that section for more details:
- Warning – Modified or Missing Links
- Warning – Overset Text Frames
- Warning – Low Resolution Images
- Warning – Placed RGB images
- Warning – Black object set to 100% Black
- Warning – Objects found on the Pasteboard
- Export PDF Functionality
Warning – Modified or Missing Links
This warning message occurs when the script locates one or more modified or missing linked images.
This issue can be fixed by selecting the modified/missing links in the Links panel, updating modified links and/or relinking missing links.
In the example below, “Show Frame Edges” is turned on to reveal tiny icons in the document that coincide with the “missing” and “modified” link warnings displayed in the “Links” panel.
Careful! After resolving the link issues, be sure to review your ad to make sure the placed images did not shift position after being updated.
Warning – Overset Text Frames
This warning message occurs when the script has located a text frame that is overset.
This issue can be fixed by enlarging the text frame, reducing the size of the text in the text frame, or removing text from the text frame. In this example, the overset text frame was enlarged slightly to reveal the overset text.
Warning – Low Resolution Images
This warning message occurs when the script detects one of more low resolution images.
The ad above contains two low resolution images.
IMPORTANT: It is not recommended you click the “Stop And Fix” button for the first time you execute the End-Of-Ad script. Let it continue to check for other problematic images as well.
First low resolution image detected. Press the button, “OK, leave as-is”…
Second low resolution image detected…
Warning – Placed RGB images
Valpak guidelines require that all image, artwork and text colors must be CMYK. This warning message occurs when the script has located any RGB images used in the document.
To fix this issue, RGB images should be converted to CMYK in Photoshop, and then re-linked in the InDesign document.
Warning – Black object set to 100% Black
These warning message occur when the script has located objects set with a 100% BLACK fill, or filled with “REGISTRATION” color, or if both instances exist on your layout.
Below are two examples of what black overprinting can do to an object on an ad.
IMPORTANT: The script does NOT check for 100% black text, because setting small text to 100% BLACK is preferred. The script is only checking for other objects as seen in the example below.
This message is intended to be a reminder for the user to check black object(s) and determine if the black object stacking order overlaps with other objects. If it does, this may create overprint issues, and the color should be changed to 99% black or a rich black to ensure that the object will knock-out. The End of Ad – Issue Detector Script will fix this for you if you click on the “Yes – Let Script Fix Blacks” button in the warning pop-up window.
In this example, the rounded-corner rectangle shape was using a 100% black fill color and there were objects behind the object that would have presented an overprint issue if the black is left at 100%. When the “Yes – Let Script Fix Blacks” button in the pop-up warning window was selected, the End of Ad – Issue Detector Script fixes this by converting the 100% black to 99% black to ensure that the black object will knock-out when printed.
The result of pressing “Yes – Let Script Fix Blacks” –
Notice that the script automatically set the fill color to 99% BLACK, which will force a knockout and print correctly.
Warning – Objects found on the pasteboard
This warning message occurs when the script has located objects on the pasteboard.
This issue is easily fixed by examining the pasteboard for any unused objects, text boxes or images that exist and then removing them. In this example, there is an unused image on the pasteboard. Removing the image fixes the issue.
If you bypassed some issues such as RGB images, and left any “Blacks” issues go unfixed, then you will be presented with a “Finished” dialog that will disappear after 2 seconds.
At this point you must go back and fix all of the issues within your layout.
Export PDF Functionality:
If the script makes it all the way through with no issues, or the only issue was related to “100% BLACK” or “REGISTRATION” fill colors that you let the script fix, then you will presented with a dialog that will allow you to export a PDF of your document.
If you press the “Yes” button you will be presented with this main dialog screen.
You have a choice of creating a secured Proof PDF, a PDF appropriate for use in the Blue Envelope, or both at once. You also have the choice to create separate folders for each document exported and to automatically open your PDF(s) for inspection after being created. The first time you use the tool it will be set to default settings. If you choose different settings, your choices will be remembered the next time you use the tool.
If you choose to create a Proof PDF or both types at once — in this example we chose “Both” — you will be presented with a second dialog screen in which you may set a password to secure your Proof PDFs against editing by outside parties, and also what DPI to use for images embedded in the Proof PDF.
As with the main settings, the tool will remember the password and DPI setting you choose the next time you use this script.
WARNING! …
The DPI setting you choose will affect the size and appearance of your Proof PDF. A lower DPI will create a smaller file. A higher DPI will improve the appearance of images on screen and on paper, should you choose to print it for review.
Once you have chosen your settings, the tool will begin processing your document.
Be patient! It will take a little while for the tool to generate the PDF.
On rare Occasions, you might have already exported a PDF using the script and you have it open in Acrobat. If you were to execute the “EndOfAdIssueDetector-WithExportPDF.scpt” once again for the same ad you will receive this warning explaining that the PDF is open.
If all went well, you will receive notice that your PDFs are ready.
If you chose “Open PDFs after creating” on the main screen, the PDFs will now open in your preferred application for opening PDFs.
Your PDFs are located in a folder on your Desktop named “PDF-Exports.”
If you chose “Save PDFs in separate folders” on the main screen, both Proof and Blue Envelope PDFs for your document are in a folder with the same name as the document.
WARNING! …
If a Proof or Blue Envelope PDF for your document already exists in this location, it will be replaced if you export PDFs for the same document again.
Note: If you have questions about any of these scripts, feel free to contact me directly:
email: jeff_reumann@valpak.com
phone: 727-399-3000 ext 3713
NOTE, you must install all the scripts listed below in the proper location on your Mac.
Click Here to learn more about saving, installing, and using scripts with InDesign.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
This script provides functionality that is significantly lacking in InDesign’s default corner effects command. This script allows you to apply a corner effect to one, two, or all corners of an InDesign frame.
NOTE: If you are using InDesign CS5 and later you should take a look at the “Live Corners” video: Click Here
Click Here to learn more about saving, installing, and using scripts with InDesign.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
If you are a fan of Adobe Illustrator then you may be wondering why InDesign doesn’t contain “add anchor points?” This script does exactly what you would expect, it adds anchor points directly between any two anchor points within a selected frame, oval, or polygon.
Click Here to learn more about saving, installing, and using scripts with InDesign.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
Make Grid provides a very fast way to divide a frame into numerous equal sections. It even allows you to provide some gutter width between the resulting rectangles.
Click Here to learn more about saving, installing, and using scripts with InDesign.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
If you are a fan of using guides, then you will absolutely love this script.
Click Here to learn more about saving, installing, and using scripts with InDesign.
Click Here to learn more about creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign.
These scripts automatically typeset each of our five standard Valpak offer disclaimers. These 5 scripts may not be very useful if you do not find yourself typing one of the 5 disclaimers very often.
Creating a Keyboard Shortcut in InDesign
The steps listed below explain the process to create a Keyboard shortcut for the End of Ad – Issue Detector script.
1. Start by selecting the Keyboard Shortcuts option in the Edit menu pull-down in InDesign.
2. Then click on the “New Set” button:
3. Enter a name for your custom Keyboard Shortcut set:
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4. Then select the “Scripts” option in the Product Area pull-down menu.
5. Select the End of Ad – Issue Detector script in the Commands section (this example shows the InDesign CS4 version).
6. Enter the keyboard shortcut keys you want to use for this script function in the “New Shortcut” area (Make sure the keyboard keys you select do not conflict with existing keyboard commands).
7. Click “Assign“.
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8. When finished assigning the Shortcut keys, Click on the “Save” button, and then click “OK” to finish the process.
The new Keyboard Shortcuts are now available for use in any InDesign document.
