In Joe's procedure it looks as though they are using the Acrobat software to create the image
file.  They are actually scanning the image into an Acrobat version 4.0 pdf file.  And then
exporting that into a postscript file, and then distilling the postscript file back into a pdf
file using Acrobat's NSF profile to save it with version 3.0 characteristics.  There is
certainly nothing wrong with this - I just want to point out that the critical step for NSF to
be able to read it is from distilling the postscipt file on.  The application used to create the
postscript file is not the critical issue.

Also be advised that from our experience you have to be careful using version 4.0 to insert or
delete pages from your pdf document.  For example, if you create a pdf  file that is 10 pages
long using the NSF Job Options to save the file with version 3.0 characteristics - that will be
acceptable.  If you later decide to delete the last page (using Acrobat 4.0) and then save the
file, it will now be saved with version 4.0 characteristics and FastLane will not accept the
file.  Even though the original file was created with the NSF Job Options, re-saving the file
with version 4.0 will overwrite the 3.0 characteristics.  In these cases, I think that Joe's
procedure may be the way to go.  If you export the file to a postscript file and then re-distill
it using the FastLane Job Option I think that it should work.

Most of the problems with distortion in viewing the fastlane files that we have seen have come
with those .pdf files that were created from TeX files.  In most cases they appear distorted
when viewed, but print ok.  Most of the problems with missing text have occurred with
non-standard fonts (assumedly fonts that have copyright restrictions).

What software was used and how was the .pdf file created in the "problem" file?

____________________________________
Todd Travis
Assistant Coordinator/Research Funds
Division of Research
Clarkson University
V: 315-268-6475, F: 315-268-6515
xxxxxx@clarkson.edu
____________________________________

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