The file was supplied as a PDF and it was 5.44" x 7.62" with no bleeds, and the client wanted it 8.5" x 11" with bleeds. I was able to enlarge it and fix the page geometry and add a bleed through PDF fixups (it was all vector art, solid color blocks and text - nothing raster) and stretch out certain pages with the edit PDF tool, but the masks were throwing me; you can't adjust the mask without PitStop in Acrobat.

I originally realized that I could cut and paste the color blocks and then send-to-back, but that would have required me doing that a few hundred times, as would have editing the item in Illustrator, so I was looking for a quick fix. I know I could have made a few Parent pages in InDesign and then done a multipage import of the PDF, but again, there were several hundred pages with different colors (left and right) that would have had to have been matched up (and some of them had a white knockout in different places to create pseudo tabs).

Eventually I realized the fix I employed, and it worked. I used the compare tool in Acrobat to check the text and make sure nothing moved or got mislayered. It checked out good, so I'm done.

I am getting quotes for PitStop, but even with I might have still had issues because I'm not sure you can automate mask removal on multiple pages.

PDF Toolbox may help in this instance.

You can send it to me and I'd be happy to try it for you.


Rodi

I can't imagine doing prepress without Pitstop these days. I'm sure you have to figure out all kinds of ways to do what needs to be done. 

Glad you got it sorted. 

Quote from: Joe on May 14, 2024, 11:18:29 AMSounds dangerous. Check everything carefully.

duh!

It checked out just fine.

Quote from: DigiCorn on May 14, 2024, 10:48:44 AMApparently, and this is weird, the pages were mystically linked together in sections somehow. I used the, "Edit PDF," tool, selected the masked area and right-clicked. Then I selected, "Remove Artifact," and the mask was removed... but it did it on all like pages, so I only had to edit about a half dozen pages to fix the whole document. Weird, right?

Sounds dangerous. Check everything carefully.

Quote from: Joe on May 14, 2024, 10:22:09 AMDo a trial.

IT has everything locked down. I can barely download anything, and can't install anything without their permission. I can't even add a script to InDesign/Acrobat.

Apparently, and this is weird, the pages were mystically linked together in sections somehow. I used the, "Edit PDF," tool, selected the masked area and right-clicked. Then I selected, "Remove Artifact," and the mask was removed... but it did it on all like pages, so I only had to edit about a half dozen pages to fix the whole document. Weird, right?

Quote from: DigiCorn on May 14, 2024, 09:47:11 AMAs of now, we do not have PitStop.

Do a trial.

Run w/o bleeds and under-trim it?

Quote from: Joe on May 14, 2024, 09:33:59 AMYes...with Pitstop. But you want to just change the size of the mask instead of deleting it. Deleting the mask can cause other issues.

Also with Pitstop there are "add bleed" optiosn that will extend the mask if the bleed content is there. If it isn't there it will flip and mirror what is there to fill the void. Takes some practice using it though.

As of now, we do not have PitStop.