Specify settings using trap presets

A trap preset is a collection of trap settings you can apply to pages in a PDF. Use the Trap Presets dialog box for entering trap settings and saving a collection of settings as a trap preset. If you don’t apply a trap preset to a trapping page range, that page range will use the [Default] trap preset, a collection of typical trap settings that are applied to all pages of a new document.

Note: In Acrobat, trap presets and their assignments apply to the document only while it is open; trap settings are not saved in the PDF. This behavior is different from InDesign, where trap presets and their assignments are saved with the InDesign document.

Create or modify a trap preset

  1. Choose Advanced > Print Production > Trap Presets.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Select an existing preset as a starting point, and then click Create.

    • Double-click a preset to edit it.

  3. Specify the following options, and then click OK:
    Option Description
    Name

    Type a name for the preset. You cannot change the name of either of the two built-in presets: [No Trap Preset] and [Default].
    Trap Width

    Type values to specify the amount of overlap for inks.

    Trap Appearance

    Specify options for controlling the shape of the traps.

    Images

    Specify settings that determine how to trap imported bitmap images.

    Trap Thresholds

    Type values to specify the conditions under which trapping occurs. Many variables affect the values you’ll need to enter here. For more information, consult with your print service provider, and see the other trapping topics.

Delete a trap preset

  1. In the Trap Presets dialog box, select the preset(s), and then click the Delete button.
  2. Click OK to confirm the deletion.
    Note: You cannot delete either of the two built-in presets: [No Trap Preset] and [Default].

Assign a trap preset to pages

You can assign a trap preset to a document or to a range of pages in a document. Pages with no abutting colors will print faster if you disable trapping on those pages. Trapping doesn’t actually occur until you print the document.

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Trap assignments list presets you have applied to various pages; trap assignments are updated each time you click Assign.


  1. In the Trap Presets dialog box, click Assign.
  2. For Trap Preset, choose the preset you want to apply.
  3. Select the pages you want to apply the trap preset to.
  4. Click Assign, and then click OK.
    Note: If you click OK without clicking Assign, the dialog box closes without making any changes to the trap assignments. Trap assignments previously made using the Assign button are preserved.

Disable trapping on pages

  1. In the Trap Presets dialog box, click Assign.
  2. Select the pages you want to disable trapping on and choose [No Trap Preset] in the Trap Preset menu.
  3. Click Assign, and then click OK.