Flatten pdf?

Content
1

Hello,

I use BookcoverPro to create book covers for print on demand. Unfortunately they are not accepted unless I “flatten” the pdf (the image of the book cover has to be pdf).

Any ideas without the use of Indesign or Acrobate?

Thanks

2

Do you have any transparent images?
From

http://www.bookcoverpro.com/faq.html

Q. Once you complete the cover, is there a way to save a view of just the front cover?

Yes. Select Menu>Export to E-Book, and you will be able to generate a front cover image as you desire, saved in JPEG or PNG format.

Try saving the file as a JPG (select 300 dpi , or even 600 to be safe, select all highest settings ({never used this software before sorry}, and the re-save it as a PDF)

However, When you export the PDF, surely there is an option to flatten the image. I’m not familiar with layered PDF but I’m pretty sure it can be done.

Can you flatten the entire image in the native program before exporting it?

Get the creative suite mate for print!

Good luck.

3

Thanks a lot!!

I searched the FAQ at BookcoverPro but did not connect this one to my problem. Tried it immediately and this could be the solution. JPG should flatten it.

The support at BookcoverPro is poor, I sent 2 emails already in the last 2 days and still no response. And nothing in the programm and manual about flattening.

Best regards

4

As far as I know, you can already do that when you create the PDF. There are options that let you flatten the image.

5

Just so people know what is happening behind the scenes - flattening a PDF describes the process where a single pieced image is produced. It isn’t unique to Acrobat, photoshop and other formats have the ability to produce flattened artwork.

The PDF format has many creation options and as time has gone by the ability to retain editing capabilities of PDF files has increased. A flat PDF means that there are no overlapping elements in separate layers. The images and overlapping text and squashed together to make a static piece. The advantage of this is that what you see is what you get, there is no room for text moving, fonts switching, links swapping images etc. Older formats of PDF did this as standard (up to about v4 from memory), the more recent formats retain the ability to keep editing layers right up to hitting the press.

JPG is a flattened format. PNG can retain transparency.

Really the only thing that they are looking for in a flattened file is a format that is locked in and nothing will change from your produced book cover to their production of it. Keeps things simple with very little room for error.

Bottom line: using a 100% sized High Quality JPG for print at 300dpi and above is sufficient for most print requirements. If you are able to or worried increase the dpi to 600. (keeping in mind that your source material needs to start life above this resolution)