Creating PICT Location Plan

Follow the steps below to create PICT location plans.

This will greatly increase the display performance of complex location plans in InDesign.

Adobe Illustrator

Step 1 Open current PDF/AI location plan in Illustrator.

Step 2 Create a white box with no border to the exact size of the media.

Confirm dimensions using Transform Tool

The box is important because it creates a consistent registration point (0,0) This is what stops your location plan from moving around when you update them.

Step 3 Export the PICT file. File: Export: Format: Macintosh PICT (pct)

Adobe InDesign

Step 4 Open InDesign file

Step 5 Place PICT file File: Place…

(There are no options for placing a PICT file)

Place at (0,0)on PICT Layer

Step 6 Place PDF file File: Place…

(Make sure Show Import Options is checked)

Options Choose: Crop to: Media

Place at (0,0) on the PDF Layer

Choosing Media is important because it creates a consistent registration point(0,0) This is what stops your location plan from moving around when you update them.

Result

The PICT location plan and the PDF location plan are perfectly registered. You can work on the document with the PICT layer turned on. Then when you want to print or create a PDF of the document you can turn off the PICT layer and turn on the PDF layer. This will greatly increase the display performance in InDesign allowing you to get even more out of SignAgent Pro.