Evaluating CMYK verses Black only within compiled PDF files

[ChrisiGen3Solutions]

I have a client that will soon start merging PDF files into single files. I need to learn how to determine the number of black only images and cmyk images within each PDF for proper billing and tracking of images. Can I do this with Freeflow? Is there a way to automate that using Acrobat Professional or a plugin?

 

[LeeB]

As far as I know the only way you will be charged for a black click is to have the press in Black Mode.

If you have a PDF with some CMYK pages and some that are Black only the black only sheets will be a color click charge since the press is not in black only mode.

I could be totally wrong on this but this is how it is as far as I understand.

Is that kind of what you are asking?

 

[ChrisiGen3Solutions]

LeeB,
If the press RIP is in Black Only mode, then that forces all pages to print black only and thus the black clicks hit the black only meter. The other advantage of printing in Black Only mode is that the press is not correcting colors and dumping/wasting toner. If the RIP is not in Blank Only mode, then pages with more than black colors hit the color meter and pages within the PDF that are only black hit the black only meter. Here is my actual issue: If our client is submitting 50 to 100 PDF's a day, and each file is billed across multiple departments, then, looking at and recording meter counts between each of these jobs is error prone and not efficient. I'm looking for an electronic file output from the RIP that can be uploaded into Excel or Quickbooks that makes this more accurant and easier. Likewise, If Acrobat or a Plug-in can evaluate a batch of PDF's, that would be workable, too.

 

[lopeza]

Accounting Logs will have the information you are looking for.
Select "Accounting" --->Print --->Job ID (Enter job ID #) --->Press OK. Then you can print "Accounting Sheets". At bottom of accounting sheet you will see "Total Black Only Pages Printed" & "Total Color Pages Printed". Hope this is what you are looking for.

Angel

 

[lopeza]

ChrisiGen3Solutions:

You can also "Export" Accounting Logs from the same location that you are able to "Print" Accounting Logs.

Angel

 

[MarkD]

If any sheet has only black it will be charged as black. If there is 1 pixel that is colour on the sheet it will be charged as colour. The biggest trap people fall into is they forget about registration/crop marks created by the source PDF as these are usually 4 colour black and will be charged as a colour click.

The PSIP software is intelligent enough to increment the correct meter if it sees a black only sheet as opposed to a sheet that has colour in it (even 1 pixel)

--
Mark

 

[lopeza]

MarkD is correct. Some images appear to be black only, until accounting report shows otherwise.
Angel

 

[peels]

I thought it has to be in "black only" mode. and the meter will only count black if that is the case. otherwise it is always billed as a color click?

Ive tried to flip flop that way...when one page is black only, and the next is color. But, I get the warning telling me to "activate black only for black prints" message. So I sort jobs out before running them to avoid the back and forth deal....

 

[MarkD]

You can change the threshold when it warns about black only sheets. It is only a warning message and that is all. It does not put the engine into Black Only mode, but if that sheet has only black (no colour at all) it will increment the Black meter

--
Mark

 

[peels]

thanks, was always semi curious about that.