[Scribus] xpdf produced by scribus seems not OK

[PLinnell]

On Saturday 15 October 2005 18:34, Kite Lau wrote:
> I created a simple product sheet with scribus 1.3.1 and then
> exported it to a xpdf file. However when I tried to print the xpdf
> to hpo laserjet 3015, the printer reset and nothing was printed
> then. If I exported to 1.5 pdf, everything was great though.

Specs of the printer:

"HP PCL 6, HP PCL 5e, postscript level 2 emulation"

That in itself may be an issue. 
>
> Then I tried to convert the xpdf file to ps file using command
> "convert xxx.pdf xxx.ps" I got the following warning:
>
>
>
>    **** Embedded font uses undefined procedure RD
>    ... (same message, omitted here)
>    **** Embedded font uses undefined procedure RD
>    **** Embedded font uses undefined procedure ND
>
>    **** This file had errors that were repaired or ignored.
>    **** The file was produced by:
>    **** >>>> Libpdf for Scribus 1.3.1 <<<<
>    **** Please notify the author of the software that produced this
>    **** file that it does not conform to Adobe's published PDF
>    **** specification.
>


This is a relatively harmless message caused by Type 1 fonts which are 
less than perfect. 

I've only seen this in a couple of cases. Please do a "collect for 
output" include the fonts and attach that in a bug at: 
http://bugs.scribus.net

I believe we can quell this error message with a fairly easy fix. 

That said, there very few command line tools in OSS are capable of 
handling Scribus PDF, EPS or PS properly. Many of them have not been 
updated since before PS3 was released. Most assume RGB colors, where 
Scribus faithfully creates CMYK PS3 when printing or exporting EPS. 

If you do need to convert PDF from Scribus, the best way is to 
directly access some of the more advanced switches in Ghostscript. 

See use.html in the Ghostscript docs.

>The above converted ps file looked OK within GV after my PC loaded
> it with high CPU load, but did not print correctly with some
> strange digits and characters on paper. Something may be wrong.
>
> If you need the file I can provide it for your reference.
>
> Regards,
>
> Kite
>

I am assuming you meant PDF/X-3.

If you did - don't do that. ;)

PDF/X-3 is a special variant of PDF and should *only* be used when a 
commercial printer can use it. 

gv is obsolete - end of story - for use with Scribus. Sorry. 
It is an old unmaintained application for which there are more modern 
substitutes. Fedora-4 finally dropped it from their distro and I hope 
others follow.

See:http://docs.scribus.net/index.php?lang=en&page=pdfexport1 - bottom 
of the page for hints on the best applications for viewing Scribus  
EPS, PS and PDF.

Can you print from Acrobat Reader 5 or 7 ? 

Try exporting a PDF 1.4 (Acrobat 5) file and print that from within 
Acrobat Reader.

Scribus generates PS 3 level postscript and not all printers can 
directly support it  - even some which claim PS3 emulation. You can 
have Acrobat's internal flattener generate PS2 which your printer 
might handle easier. This might be the *only* way to print to your 
printer with transparent objects in a Scribus file.

We test Scribus PDF and PS with specialist pre-press applications 
continuously which check for conformity with PDF specs and commercial 
printing norms. 

In the rare case we find a printing issue, these are high priority 
bugs.

Cheers,

Peter