Usage of PDF and SVG files

To use vector graphics in printformer, PDF or SVG files can be placed in the IDML template or uploaded as an image directly in the editor.

Please note the following:

Special features of PDFs

The use of PDFs as media type is not allowed by default and must be enabled in advance if desired. (For individual templates: Edit Template > Editor > Media types; in general: Settings > Media > Media restriction).
If PDFs are used as default assets, the PDFs placed in the IDML file must have at least the same standard (and PDF 1.4 or higher compatibility) as the template background PDF.
By using PDF files including bleed, the bleed is always cut off in the editor (the import options for PDFs in InDesign are not implemented in printformer). To work around this, the attribute use-box can be added to the image block. (A combination of crop marks, page info and bleed may cause errors in cropping; the info area can generally not be included).

If PDF/X standards are to be used for the templates, there are limitations due to compatibility, more info here.

PDF files must be converted (rasterised) as PNG for display in the editor.
(The PDF file is used again for the print PDF).

Special features of SVGs

SVGs are always in the RGB color space, so when creating print data (conversion to CMYK) there will be slight color deviations.
Color-Mapping: for SVG files included in the template or inserted in the editor, the individual color swatches can be selected and recolored.

If a color set is assigned to the template in which no RGB is permitted, the colours from the SVG are automatically converted, which may result in deviations.

When converting the colours from the SVG, the system uses the colors of the color set or the user. If, for example, a colour set with only two colors is assigned to the template, multi-colored SVGs are also converted into only these two colors.
If Add custom colors is activated the User, the colours can be subsequently recoloured (via the color mapping). The more custom colors a user has already created, the more accurate the conversion of the SVG colors will be.

The opacity of SVG files cannot be changed in the editor.
If SVGs are placed as assets in the template, at least PDF 1.4 (X4) compatibility must be used to generate the print data.
When saving SVG files, the following settings should be made: Decimal: 3 (minimum), Deactivate Responsive, CSS Properties: Style Attributes.

Special aspect for black elements: the color #000000 (R: 0/G:0/B:0) is the default in SVG format. Black is therefore not output as a fill color and cannot be changed in the editor. To work around this, the color value of the affected elements must be minimally adjusted, e.g. #000001 (R: 0/G:0/B:1).

Vector graphics in EPS format

EPS files can generally only be placed as assets in templates with a background PDF without an X standard and a compatibility of max. PDF 1.3.
(Since the EPS file format has largely been displaced by the PDF format, EPS files are converted in printformer to a PDF without standard).
We generally recommend not to use EPS files, as the format is considered obsolete and is no longer supported by other applications (e.g. Microsoft Office).

EPS files must be converted (rasterised) as PNG for display in the editor.
(The PDF file is used again for the print PDF).