# WHAT ARE PRESETS:
Are exactly that, pre-set settings compiled into one file that you can load into your application. These settings are used when preparing your files for print, they will help eliminate incorrect flattening and PDF settings. We have made our custom presets available to you to download and use via our website.

# WHY USE THEM?:
Because of the complexity of options available when flattening and saving a file as a PDF etc, it is easy to save the file with the incorrect settings. Having the correct settings when flattening and saving your file is vital, if the settings are incorrect it can cause you job to print in a different form than it appears on screen.
By using presets when flattening and saving your file you will eliminate most of the common mistakes made when preparing files.

# HOW TO DOWNLOAD PRINT DOMAIN PRESETS:
Simply go to our presets page by clicking here and then find the preset that suits both your machine type (PC or Mac) and your software and version (e.g. Illustrator CS) and right click the link (PC) or control + click (Mac) to download it to a location on your hard drive.
NOTE: Photoshop CS 1 users left click the link to view instructions as Photoshop CS 1 does not support presets.
We recommend that you save them in your applications folder under which ever program that you are using. For example if you are using Adobe Illustrator CS then you would download the file and place it in the following folder: Hard Drive/programs(applications for mac)/Adobe/Illustrator CS.

# WHICH PRESET TO USE:
It is important that you download the correct presets for both your computer type (PC or Mac) and for your software version as each has been created specifically. Photoshop CS 1 doesn't support preset, so f you left click on that version you will get instructions on how to prepare and save your file using our settings instead of a file.
NOTE: Illustrator and Indesign require 2 presets. Ensure that you download both.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR VERSION:
If you are unsure which version you have you can check by:
1) Opening/starting your application
2) Click on the application name in the top menu bar e.g. Illustrator > About Illustrator
3) A window will pop up containing a version number as well as the applications name e.g. Adobe Illustrator CS
NOTE: (CS stands for Creative Suite and is the same as CS1)

# ABOUT ADOBE ACROBAT DISTILLER & PREFLIGHT SETTINGS:
We have also made our Distiller settings available for those trade customers who have a full version of Acrobat. We have also included a preflight profile "List all potential problems" which when used in conjunction with our distiller setting should produce accurate preflight results.
For more information on how to load the Print Domain Distiller and preflight settings Click here.
For more information on how to use our "List all potential problems" preflight setting see our Preflight tutorial.

# HOW TO LOAD THE PRESETS:
IMPORTANT: Illustrator and Indesign need two presets ensure you download both.
After you have downloaded and saved the preset or presets (depending on application) to your hard drive use the following for instruction according to software and version.

ILLUSTRATOR CS 1,2 & 3:
1) Click Edit > Transparency Flattener Presets
2) Click Import and navigate to the file you saved to your hard drive (note you will only be able to select the correct file the other will be greyed out) Click on the file and then click Open.
3) You will see the new preset in the list on the left hand side, Click OK to close the window.

4) Next Click Edit > PDF Presets
5) Click Import and navigate to the file you saved to your hard drive (note you will only be able to select the correct file the other will be greyed out) Click on the file and then click Open.
6) You will see the new preset in the list on the left hand side, Click OK to close the window.

You now have both presets see the Preparing Illustrator files tutorial for instructions on how to use your new presets.

INDESIGN CS 1,2 & 3:
1) Click Edit > Transparency Flattener Presets
2) Click Load and navigate to the file you saved to your hard drive (note you will only be able to select the correct file the other will be greyed out) Click on the file and then click Open.
3) You will see the new preset in the list on the left hand side, Click OK to close the window.

4) Next Click File > PDF Export Presets
5) Click Define
6) Click Load and navigate to the file you saved to your hard drive (note you will only be able to select the correct file the other will be greyed out) Click on the file and then click Open.
7) You will see the new preset in the list on the left hand side, Click OK to close the window.

You now have both presets see the Preparing Indesign files tutorial for instructions on how to use your new presets.

PHOTOSHOP CS 1:
Photoshop CS 1 doesn't support presets so Click here to view our tutorial on how to prepare and save a Photoshop file for print.

PHOTOSHOP CS 2 & 3:
1) Click File > Adobe PDF Presets
2) Click Define
3) Click Load and navigate to the file you saved to your hard drive (note you will only be able to select the correct file the other will be greyed out) Click on the file and then click Open.
4) You will see the new preset in the list on the left hand side)
Click OK

You now have both presets see the Preparing Photoshop files tutorial for instructions on how to use your new presets.