PDF Export

Export PDFs of single artboards or whole documents in one click, with your PDF presets, without your document being renamed. The PDF is named for you from the document name, the artboard, the colour mode, the preset, the date and more, and saved where you want it.

See it in the shop · Version 2.3.7 · Needs PowerScripts 3.8.38 or later

Open the PowerScripts panel (Window > Extensions > PowerScripts) and choose PDF Export from the Tools scripts. The script has three tabs: Options, Conf Strip and Settings.

1. Choose a PDF Preset.
2. Under Artboard Range, choose what to export, for example Active Artboard.
3. Under Save To, choose a Location, for example Working Folder (next to your Illustrator file).
4. Press Export PDF ….

• PDF Preset: the Illustrator PDF preset to use. Make your own presets for print and proofs in Edit > Adobe PDF Presets….
• Run spell checking before creating PDF: better safe than sorry.
• Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities: untick for smaller PDFs.
• Secure with password: protect the PDF with the password on the Settings tab. PDF passwords aren't completely secure (there are tools to remove them), so treat this as a deterrent, for example on low-resolution proofs.
• Open PDF after export, Open Folder after export.
• Copy filenames to Clipboard after export: ready to paste into an email or job sheet.

• Export: the Active Artboard, a Custom Range (for example 2-4), All Artboards, or Artboards with Selected Artwork.
• Export as separate files: one PDF per artboard.

Add a printer's confidence strip to the PDF (see Confidence Strip): the Strip, its Position (Left or Right), and Add Spot Color Swatches. Artwork Scale only changes the size of the marks, not the PDF. Set the strip's size on the Conf Strip tab.

• Location: the Last Exported to Folder, the Documents Folder, a Fixed Location (Folder), the Working Folder (where your document is), or a Sub-Folder of it (Sub Folder, made if it doesn't exist).

For automated workflows: Run Extendscript Code to change the folder and file name with your own code, and Test it.

• Your code is wrapped in a function, so finish with a return:
  • a list of finds and replaces for the filename template, for example [{find: “ABC”, replace: “123”}] (or [] for none),
  • false to cancel without an error,
  • or some text to show as an error.
• You can use path (the destination folder), filename (the filename template), index (the artboard number) and range (for example 2-4).
• getData(name) gets any value from the filename table below, for example getData('doc.filename'). setPath(path) changes the folder, setFilename(filename) replaces the filename template.

Example: save into a folder named after the job number in the file name (“Customer F123246 Test File.ai”):

// get the document's file name
var docName = getData('doc.filename');
 
// find the job number (an F followed by digits)
var matches = docName.match(/F(\d+)/);
if (matches) {
  setPath('X:/' + matches[1] + '/');
  return [];
}
 
return 'Can not find a valid job number in the filename';

• Prompt for filename: show the save box with the name filled in. Untick to save straight away.
• Allow sub folders to be created: a / in the template makes a folder.
• Insert: add a code to the template. Reset goes back to the default. Examples gives ready-made templates, such as:
  • {doc.filename} - {artboard.name}.pdf
  • {doc.filename} - {artboard.name} - {doc.colorSpace} - [{pdf.preset}] - {artboard.number} of {artboard.count}.pdf
  • {doc.filename} - PROOF Ver{?Proof Version}.pdf (asks for the version number)
  • Archive of {doc.filename} - [{weekday} {day}-{month}-{year}].pdf

• Save the last … exported items: keep a list of the PDFs you've exported. Double click one to open it.
• Copy Filenames, Copy Full Filenames (with the folder), Select All, Select None, Clear.

• Export PDF …: does it.

• Min Artboard Size for Confidance Strips: only add strips to artboards at least this big.
• Strip Width, Strip Padding: the size of the strip and its gap from the artwork.

• Secure PDF Password: the password for Secure with password.

• Save a preset for each kind of PDF you make (see Using Presets), for example “Proof, low res, secured” and “Print, PDF/X-4, separate files”.
• Put {doc.colorSpace} in proof names: an RGB file going to a CMYK press stands out straight away.
• Run an export from a key with Hotkeys and Quick Keys.

• 2.3.7
  • Fixed: the JavaScript filename code is used for the exported files, not only by Test.
  • Fixed: “Artboards with Selected Artwork” also finds artwork that starts off the artboard.
  • Improved: general bug fixes, reliability and speed.
• 2.3.6: Updated for PowerScripts 3.8.32.
• 2.3.5: Updated for the new version of PowerScripts.
• Older changes: PowerScripts Release Notes