Table of Contents

1. Introduction

I have recently supported an eco activist movement group in Sweden called “Återställ våtmarker” [1] (“Rebuild wetlands”) by updating flyers and posters with new events. The problem turned out that the shared versions were based on the open-source LibreOffice/LibreWriter [2] (.odt) format and the proprietary Adobe InDesign [3] (.indd) format. Although I finally bought a monthly InDesign license and updated the LibreOffice documents, I decided to redesign the documents in open-source Scribus [4] (.sla) format. Here, I describe how to re-design posters and flyers, even if the documents are not accessible in their original format with human-readable layout definitions, but only as PDF files.

2. Problem

2.1 Disadvantages of open-source LibreOffice (.odt) format

Does not support CMYK color model (only RGB), which is a standard requirement by professional printshops for reliable color translation from electronic to printed media and makes it harder to replicate the Unified Design requirement (e.g. color definitions) of clients.
Does not support PDF/X versions (only PDF/A), which is a standard requirement by professional printshops for reliable document eXchange
Does not support document sizes larger than 300cm, e.g. for banners

2. 2 Disadvantages of proprietary InDesign 2022 (.indd) format

expensive, e.g. 380SEK/month for subscription
export to XML-based format .idml did corrupt layout when imported to open-source SCRIBUS (v.1.5.8) program, ie not transferable file format
user lock-in with problems to transfer work between activists in a dynamic, non-profit organization

2.3 Printshop requirements

Examples of printshop requirements [5-9, esp. 6]:

File types
Color calibration
Size and scale
Resolution
Bleeds and marks
Die-cuts, printing technisqus (Paper, PVC, cloth,…)

A special note on PDF versions [8, 17], which are required by printshops and can be confusing:

PDF/X1a:2001 (“safest standard”, PDF1.3, only CMYK colors, no transparencies), e.g. requested by wir-machen-druck.de [7].
PDF/X-3:2002 (“most common standard”, PDF1.3, CMYK and RGB colors, no transparencies (reduced)), e.g. requested by flyeralarm.se [5].
PDF/X-4:2010 (“most flexible standard”, PDF1.6, CMYK and RGB colors, transparencies, layers, esp for printing textiles) [9], e.g. requested by onlineprinters.se (exactly PDF/X-4:2008) [18]

2.4 Overview of practical Issues in re-designing media

Identify source and target format (e.g. A5 to A6 format)
Identify the geometry (coordinates) of the used objects in a document (e.g. text boxes, images,…)
Identify color definitions
Identify used fonts, access and install the fonts
Access to high-resolution images, e.g. logos, fotos, etc
Estimate additional typographic features (e.g. line spacing, stretching of letters and spaces, …)
Compromises in layout between original and target requirements of (assumed) printshop
Adjustments to layout because of new information added, eg new address may not fit on line

3. Solution

3.1 Advantages of open-source SCRIBUS (.sla) format

open-source, ie in a dynamic movement design tasks can be moved to other activists without problems regarding access to software
support of CMYK color model
support of a wide range of PDF versions, which allows to meet specific requirements of printshops
Note: PDF versions are qualitatively different, higher version must not be better, depends on purpose and ultimately the printshop

3.2 Overview of practical solutions for re-designing media

Identify source and target format (e.g. A5 to A6 format)
1. Open file in original software (e.g. LibreWriter, InDesign, PDF reader) and select object to read out position and size
2. If only PDF available, open PDF in LibreDraw
Identify the geometry (coordinates) of the used objects in a document (e.g. text boxes, images,…)
1. see issue 1)
Identify color definitions
1. Check unified design guidelines, if available
2. Otherwise, open file in graphics program like GIMP and read color
Identify used fonts, access and install the fonts
1. Open file in original software (e.g. LibreWriter, InDesign, PDF reader) and select object to read out font family, font style, and font size
2. If only PDF available, open PDF file in text editor to identify fonts (cf BaseFont tags)
3. Use Imagemagick [10] tools, and pdffonts myfile.pdf command to extract the used fonts
4. Download and install fonts from repositories [14-16]
Access to high-resolution images, e.g. logos, fotos, etc
1. Check unified design guidelines, if available (AV provided me with relevant design guidelines and ressources, e.g. logos)
2. Open file in original software, and export the relevant object
Estimate additional typographic features (e.g. line spacing, stretching of letters and spaces, …)
1. Guessing and measure by eye …
Compromises in layout between original and target requirements of (assumed) printshop
1. I had to adjust target document formats (e.g. A5) by adding bleeds to meet the requirements by printshop flyeralarm.se
Adjustments to layout because of new information added, eg new address may not fit on line
1. Links were broken or outdated, so I had to find current links, e.g. to Facebook sites, and generate the QR codes

3.3 Useful tools

Linux OS provides a wide range of tools to process PDF and Postscript files and open-source tools for graphics manipulation.
Microsoft Windows allows to install Linux as Windows Subsystem Layer (WSL) via the Microsoft Store to run Linux command line tools [12] in the PowerShell terminal window.
Use ghostscript [11] command line tool to convert between PDF formats [ConvertPDF_A5toA6.sh.zip]
see also technical instructions in Blog “Extinction Rebellion – Protest Banners (English, German, Swedish)” [13] (“Printing Issues and solutions”)

4. Downloads

The documents below have been re-designed based on original documents provided by “Återställ våtmarker” in Scribus (.sla). The event info is based on mobilisation wave 2022/2. The documents assume the technical requirements by printshop Flyeralarm.se, except that is used the “safest” PDF version PDF/X1a:2001 [5]. (Note: Specifications will be updated to onlineprinters.se [18])