Sending PDFs to printers

[andyruney]

I recently sent a job to a printer, and they said that if I was to going to send a pdf saved in indesign, they would rather me print to a pdf instead using of the pdf export feature, because they found it works better. I ended up packaging and sending the indesign file instead, because I couldn't get a print quality pdf from the "print to pdf" feature. Is there a way to get print quality pdf's from the "print to pdf" option? also, why would a "print to" pdf work better than a pdf exported from indesign?

[PersonasBinar]

Any postscript file "ripped" using Distiller to the PDF-X1A standard is a better file than an export from any native application. Always has been thusly, always will be. This way you can assured that the RIP they use will be able to handle your file, as opposed to choking on some application generated weirdness in the PDF code. (usually regarding layers, transparencies and/or fonts).

In some versions there is also a wee bit of weirdness in Indesigns' Export to pdf, especially regarding drop shadows. Adobe Library 6.66, need I say more? lol