PDF security

[seligman]

When creating PDF's of your artwork for clients, what type of security and/or document restrictions do you typically use?

I know how to enable most of the security features, but I'm curious what your justifications are for doing what you do. Seems that a lot of things are "hackable" so maybe it's a waste of time for the most part?

[Lukas Engqvist]

Depends on what kind of job it is, and how you make your money.
If a file is allowed to print, then there are dark ways to extract information at print resoloution. Normally copy and modify would be locked if you susspect that the customer will take your design and have it modified and printed by somone else without letting you have your dues.

It is surprising how many medics who want graphics for free, but would send you a bill even if they prescribed a placebo medication, took a wild guess or only came up with that you need to see a specialist. Imagine that, looking at a customers request, then refering him/her to a "specialist" and then billing :) (getting ideas ;))

[eugenetyson]

I would put security on all documents available to download from the Web. Or security on files that I want to send to the printer but don't want them to change in anyway.

Even though they can be hacked, you can cover yourself if someone downloads it, hacks it and changes it.

It does seem a bit pointless, but I have never heard of anyone changing any of my files I've made available for the Web.

[Lukas Engqvist]

There are problems with security on PDF for print. It is not PDF/x compliant for one, and second the locks that dissable changing can lock processing features necessary for a RIP to function properly…
So there is a risk not to lock, but a risk to lock as well. (sorry that's the way it is)

[eugenetyson]

Well, I certainly don't lock all my PDFs going to print and I wouldn't expect a print vendor to alter my PDF without checking with me first anyway. So, in practicality I wouldn't lock a pdf going to print, I'm just saying you can. If a printing company broke the lock and printed it, and it turned out wrong I would have something to say about them doing that. If they need the password or need any alterations they have my contact details.

I know I'm speaking in the 1st person here, but it applies.

Generally I don't know anyone who'd bother cracking a PDF or for that matter bothered changing it somehow.

There might be concern for copyrighted images or copyrighted passages of text that you should lock down. If you don't you could be held responsible for them being used in other publications. If someone where to crack your pdf and steal the images that way, then you can't be held responsible, can you???

There are certainly litigating circumstances for and against.

[seligman]

I would put security on all documents available to download from the Web. Or security on files that I want to send to the printer but don't want them to change in anyway.


What type of security are you talking about?

I'm curious how far you go.

[kialua]

I've had websites art and writing taken by clients new "artists" and re used. I've also had the same thing happen with print files. But even if a person can't grab a picture they can still do a screen capture and crop it down for other web uses.

[eugenetyson]

What type of security are you talking about?

I'm curious how far you go.

Generally I put a security for

For Web
Not allowed to make any changes to the pdf.
Only allowed to print low res versions


For Printers I don't trust
Not allowed to make any changes to the pdf.


For Printers in general
No security

[Lukas Engqvist]

I would also save against copying to clipboard if I'm afraid someone will steal my work.

If you want to give them a hard time put a transparent watermark (<5%) opacity over the image, you can see many istock photo watermarks in work, showing that they haven't paid for them yet ;P

[eugenetyson]

And if i'm really worried about people "stealing" logos or images that are vector, then I would rasterise the pdf using the transparency flattner and make it low res flattening.

Lock down the pdf with security and put it on the web.

I really can't stress enough, that if you have password protected pdfs and someone downloads the pdf and cracks it then they are responsible. If you put a copyrighted image on the web that is hi-res to download for anyone, pdf or otherwise then you are equally responsible in breaching the copyright.

If someone does come back and say, "you've put hi-res images on your site that you bought from us and everyone is downloading them", at least you can reply with "No - I put hi res pdfs up there with Security enabled, anyone who downloaded the pdf and cracked the password is breaching the copyright".

I think that's how it works? is it not?

[Sonny Brookes]

There is not much point using standard Adobe password security when it can be easily broken. Your best bet is to use a watermark on the actual image itself before that is turned into a PDF file. Don't use the watermarks feature in Acrobat since they can be easily removed too. So put a watermark on your image, and then convert it to PDF. When the client pays then they can get the non-watermarked version... This is actually a pretty good secure method since converting image formats can also sometimes remove the watermarks but watermarking the image and then converting to PDF provides another layer of protection.

So don't bother password protecting your PDFs since that is just a complete waste of time. See http://www.a-pdf.com/security/restrictions_remover.htm for why.