Micro-manage your PPD files for accurate printing (QuarkXPress)

Although it’s possible to print using a generic PPD (PostScript Printer Description), you should get into the practice of selecting the correct PPD to ensure accurate printing. If you don't see the PPD file for your output device listed in the Printer Description pop-up menu on the Setup tab in the Print dialog box, you may just need to activate it in the PPD Manager dialog box (Utilities > PPD Manager). If you don't see it listed there, you'll probably need to acquire it.

To acquire a PPD:

1. Go to the printer manufacturer's website.
2. Download the file.
3. Place it in the correct folder (System Folder\Extensions\Printer Descriptions on the Mac or Windows\System in Windows).

Additionally, it's important to actively manage the PPD files installed on your computer. Do this by occasionally updating the list in the PPD Manager dialog box. Scroll through the list and, if there are a lot of PPD files listed that you rarely use, deselect them. This will enable QuarkXPress to launch that much faster. And if you know you'll never use certain PPD files in the list, remove them from your computer to free up memory for more important things.