ATTN Eric Gill

howldog wrote in
news::

Hey,

I’ve gotta send a hi rez pdf of an ad i did in Quark, to a magazine.

Coo’. Do it all the time.

Didnt you once tell me, set the resolution output of Distiller, to 2400, for that situation?

Yep. Though the setting is usually not needed (or used) it’s a safety net in case you miss checking things like "Full Resolution Tiff Output".

BTW – if you are transmitting the file, you can use the mildest JPEG compression to save time (Automatic Zip/JPEG Low). If your images are at the needed resolution, this won’t make a real difference on the output end.

Yell if you need some more direction on settings.

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:46:09 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Didnt you once tell me, set the resolution output of Distiller, to 2400, for that situation?

Yep. Though the setting is usually not needed (or used) it’s a safety net in case you miss checking things like "Full Resolution Tiff Output".

um, i get that in my postscript print driver, however, i dont use that when in rip pdfs…… just go to utilities in Quark and select "export to pdf". However in the ensuing "preferences" box, i can choose print drivers, and the default is Distiller 3.0 (yeah we;’re waaaaaay behind the times here)… I could select my postscript printer if i wanted to.

I have in fact, printed a Quark job to file via the postscript print dirver, selected full resolution tiff output, and then opened the .ps file with distiller, to rip a pdf….. seems to be the same…. am i missing something?

BTW – if you are transmitting the file, you can use the mildest JPEG compression to save time (Automatic Zip/JPEG Low). If your images are at the needed resolution, this won’t make a real difference on the output end.
Yell if you need some more direction on settings.

howldog wrote in
news::

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:46:09 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Didnt you once tell me, set the resolution output of Distiller, to 2400, for that situation?

Yep. Though the setting is usually not needed (or used) it’s a safety net in case you miss checking things like "Full Resolution Tiff Output".

um, i get that in my postscript print driver, however, i dont use that when in rip pdfs…… just go to utilities in Quark and select "export to pdf". However in the ensuing "preferences" box, i can choose print drivers, and the default is Distiller 3.0

Ouch. Very buggy version. Good luck.

(yeah we;’re
waaaaaay behind the times here)… I could select my postscript printer if i wanted to.

It’s a good idea. In your print setup, your driver is a high-end PS device, but the PPD is Distiller.

I have in fact, printed a Quark job to file via the postscript print dirver, selected full resolution tiff output, and then opened the .ps file with distiller, to rip a pdf….. seems to be the same…. am i missing something?

Not really, that’s the way to operate. However, "Export to PDF" is just automating the process. It prints a PS file to disk, passes it to Distiller with the options you selected, then deletes the .ps file after distilling. Very handy.

This is why you need to set your print options up correctly. I had a magazine go to press with "Full Resolution Tiff Output" *not* clicked. Everything in Tiff format came out about 100 dpi.

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 22:57:06 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

It’s a good idea. In your print setup, your driver is a high-end PS device, but the PPD is Distiller.

um, well if i use the automated export to pdf thing, how do i know which PS device is printing the PS file to disk? If I only have one high-end PS driver, doesnt it have to be that one? Or is it using some built in, automated driver i’m unaware of?

I have in fact, printed a Quark job to file via the postscript print dirver, selected full resolution tiff output, and then opened the .ps file with distiller, to rip a pdf….. seems to be the same…. am i missing something?

Not really, that’s the way to operate. However, "Export to PDF" is just automating the process. It prints a PS file to disk, passes it to Distiller with the options you selected, then deletes the .ps file after distilling. Very handy.

i see. well, i could just do it manually then, to make sure i dont run into any problems. Quark, select high end postscript print dirver, Full resolution tiff files, print to file, then open up the PS file in Distiller….

is that what you’d recommend? Its only a one page document.

howldog wrote in
news::

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 22:57:06 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

It’s a good idea. In your print setup, your driver is a high-end PS device, but the PPD is Distiller.

um, well if i use the automated export to pdf thing, how do i know which PS device is printing the PS file to disk?

Print->Printer dropdown.

You also need to set the correct printer description (Distiller) in the "Setup" tab in the same menu.

<snip>

I have in fact, printed a Quark job to file via the postscript print dirver, selected full resolution tiff output, and then opened the .ps file with distiller, to rip a pdf….. seems to be the same…. am i missing something?

Not really, that’s the way to operate. However, "Export to PDF" is just automating the process. It prints a PS file to disk, passes it to Distiller with the options you selected, then deletes the .ps file

after

distilling. Very handy.

i see. well, i could just do it manually then, to make sure i dont run into any problems. Quark, select high end postscript print dirver, Full resolution tiff files, print to file, then open up the PS file in Distiller….

is that what you’d recommend? Its only a one page document.

No, no no. I’m saying that "Export to PDF" does exactly that without you having to go through all the steps. Just set the options correctly.

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 14:59:25 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Print->Printer dropdown.

ok, you mean in Quark? I got two correct possibles…. my high end postscript rip driver, and, Distiller Asst.

theres also Acrobat PDF writer, but i always have problems with that.

I’m assuming i select the high end postscript printer here, and then set up the options for it properly.

You also need to set the correct printer description (Distiller) in the "Setup" tab in the same menu.

ok, this gets confusing……. in the set up tab, i have the following options…. Acrobat Distiller, default postscript driver, and the high end postscript rip driver.

appreciate your help on this. its kinda confusing but i hope once i figure it out, it will help me a lot in the future, especially being on PC Quark and having to send files to Mac only print vendors….

<snip>

I have in fact, printed a Quark job to file via the postscript print dirver, selected full resolution tiff output, and then opened the .ps file with distiller, to rip a pdf….. seems to be the same…. am i missing something?

Not really, that’s the way to operate. However, "Export to PDF" is just automating the process. It prints a PS file to disk, passes it to Distiller with the options you selected, then deletes the .ps file

after

distilling. Very handy.

i see. well, i could just do it manually then, to make sure i dont run into any problems. Quark, select high end postscript print dirver, Full resolution tiff files, print to file, then open up the PS file in Distiller….

is that what you’d recommend? Its only a one page document.

No, no no. I’m saying that "Export to PDF" does exactly that without you having to go through all the steps. Just set the options correctly.

howldog wrote in
news::

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 14:59:25 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Print->Printer dropdown.

ok, you mean in Quark?

Yep.

I got two correct possibles…. my high end
postscript rip driver,

That’s the one.

and, Distiller Asst.

theres also Acrobat PDF writer, but i always have problems with that.

Everyone does. Don’t use it.

I’m assuming i select the high end postscript printer here, and then set up the options for it properly.

You also need to set the correct printer description (Distiller) in the "Setup" tab in the same menu.

ok, this gets confusing……. in the set up tab, i have the following options…. Acrobat Distiller, default postscript driver, and the high end postscript rip driver.

Distiller.

I shoulda done this earlier:

http://www.nightskycreative.com/pdf/about.htm

appreciate your help on this. its kinda confusing but i hope once i figure it out, it will help me a lot in the future, especially being on PC Quark and having to send files to Mac only print vendors….

That’s where I’m at, and Acrobat has helped immensely.

It’s even worse for PC InDesign. Many printers wet themselves at the mere mention. I just send them Acrobat stuff. Any mention of "native files" and I’ll go elsewhere.

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 17:01:10 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Print->Printer dropdown.

ok, you mean in Quark?

Yep.

I got two correct possibles…. my high end
postscript rip driver,

That’s the one.

and, Distiller Asst.

theres also Acrobat PDF writer, but i always have problems with that.

Everyone does. Don’t use it.

I’m assuming i select the high end postscript printer here, and then set up the options for it properly.

You also need to set the correct printer description (Distiller) in the "Setup" tab in the same menu.

ok, this gets confusing……. in the set up tab, i have the following options…. Acrobat Distiller, default postscript driver, and the high end postscript rip driver.

Distiller.

I shoulda done this earlier:

http://www.nightskycreative.com/pdf/about.htm

very good. very helpful. thank you.

so, then, does it matter what resolution the Distiller job option is set to? 2400? or, using this scenario, does it not matter?

this is weird, perhaps i am missing something, however, if i do not downsample the images via Distiller options, i wind up with a file over 12 mb. (Coupla hi rez photos involved)

If i downsample, auto-zip-lo, 72dpi, i get a file size of 144k.

is this normal? Yer saying I can send the 144k one to the printer and get god results? how can that be? Is it just the preview that gets "downsampled"?

appreciate your help on this. its kinda confusing but i hope once i figure it out, it will help me a lot in the future, especially being on PC Quark and having to send files to Mac only print vendors….

That’s where I’m at, and Acrobat has helped immensely.

It’s even worse for PC InDesign. Many printers wet themselves at the mere mention. I just send them Acrobat stuff. Any mention of "native files" and I’ll go elsewhere.

right, i’m getting tired of having to send ads made in Illustrator, tons of text, then outline it all for them.

howldog wrote in
news::

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 17:01:10 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Print->Printer dropdown.

ok, you mean in Quark?

Yep.

I got two correct possibles…. my high end
postscript rip driver,

That’s the one.

and, Distiller Asst.

theres also Acrobat PDF writer, but i always have problems with that.

Everyone does. Don’t use it.

I’m assuming i select the high end postscript printer here, and then set up the options for it properly.

You also need to set the correct printer description (Distiller) in the "Setup" tab in the same menu.

ok, this gets confusing……. in the set up tab, i have the following options…. Acrobat Distiller, default postscript driver, and the high end postscript rip driver.

Distiller.

I shoulda done this earlier:

http://www.nightskycreative.com/pdf/about.htm

very good. very helpful. thank you.

You bet.

so, then, does it matter what resolution the Distiller job option is set to? 2400? or, using this scenario, does it not matter?

This really only matters (I think) if you accidentally miss the "Full Rez Tiff" option. This way it will not downsample as it prints.

this is weird, perhaps i am missing something, however, if i do not downsample the images via Distiller options, i wind up with a file over 12 mb. (Coupla hi rez photos involved)

Okay. Are these pictures shrunk in Quark?

If i downsample,

I wouldn’t, but read on.

auto-zip-lo,

That’s compression.

72dpi, i get a file size of 144k.

is this normal?

No. Notice the "keep resolution" setting at the above link.

Yer saying I can send the 144k one to the printer and
get god results?

Good Lord, no.

Downsampling only works well for offset print if you have graphics that have been shrunk in Quark and you don’t bother to re-size them yourself in Photoshop before distilling.

For example, a picture that is the correct resolution to start with shrunk to 50% in Quark is four times larger than it needs to be. If you select Resolution->Downsample to:->300 dpi, Acrobat will re-size the picture to what it needs to be.

I usually do this by hand in Photoshop, as a downsampled pic often needs more sharpening and slight color correction. As a side benefit, a Quark document with all of it’s pictures at 100% is going to be smaller and will print faster.

<snip>

appreciate your help on this. its kinda confusing but i hope once i figure it out, it will help me a lot in the future, especially being on PC Quark and having to send files to Mac only print vendors….

That’s where I’m at, and Acrobat has helped immensely.

It’s even worse for PC InDesign. Many printers wet themselves at the mere mention. I just send them Acrobat stuff. Any mention of "native files" and I’ll go elsewhere.

right, i’m getting tired of having to send ads made in Illustrator, tons of text, then outline it all for them.

Not to mention potential translation and prepress problems.

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 19:03:44 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

so, then, does it matter what resolution the Distiller job option is set to? 2400? or, using this scenario, does it not matter?

This really only matters (I think) if you accidentally miss the "Full Rez Tiff" option. This way it will not downsample as it prints.

OK thanks

more questions below but i think i’m beginning to get the hang of this.

this is weird, perhaps i am missing something, however, if i do not downsample the images via Distiller options, i wind up with a file over 12 mb. (Coupla hi rez photos involved)

Okay. Are these pictures shrunk in Quark?

yes they are.

If i downsample,

I wouldn’t, but read on.

auto-zip-lo,

That’s compression.

if think i got it…. select lo compression, but on the next pull-down, either select, Keep resolution, if files are placed at 100%, or if files are shrunk in Quark, select Downsample to 300dpi. Is this right? Makes sense….

I didnt see that pull-down menu item before.

howldog wrote in
news::

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 19:03:44 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

so, then, does it matter what resolution the Distiller job option is set to? 2400? or, using this scenario, does it not matter?

This really only matters (I think) if you accidentally miss the "Full Rez Tiff" option. This way it will not downsample as it prints.

OK thanks

more questions below but i think i’m beginning to get the hang of this.

Cool. Takes repetition, like most things.

<snip>

If i downsample,

I wouldn’t, but read on.

auto-zip-lo,

That’s compression.

if think i got it…. select lo compression, but on the next pull-down, either select, Keep resolution, if files are placed at 100%, or if files are shrunk in Quark, select Downsample to 300dpi. Is this right?

Yep.

300 is a good compromise. Really, it should be 2x the linescreen rate, but that assumes you know what they’re printing at.

Want to send me the pdf file to glance at? I’ll forward you an email address that isn’t infested with spam if so.

Makes sense….

I didnt see that pull-down menu item before.

Layout lives and dies by missed options and strategies and workarounds. Check comp.publish prepress for my latest learning experience in Acrobat.

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 20:08:43 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

if think i got it…. select lo compression, but on the next pull-down, either select, Keep resolution, if files are placed at 100%, or if files are shrunk in Quark, select Downsample to 300dpi. Is this right?

Yep.

300 is a good compromise. Really, it should be 2x the linescreen rate, but that assumes you know what they’re printing at.

OK, I’m good. I re-ripped the same file, downsample to 300dpi and it came in much smaller, then i even printed that and it looked marvelous. So you have been very helpful, your advice has saved the day. thanks a lot.

in article , howldog at
wrote on 11/7/03 11:25 AM:

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 19:03:44 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

so, then, does it matter what resolution the Distiller job option is set to? 2400? or, using this scenario, does it not matter?

This really only matters (I think) if you accidentally miss the "Full Rez Tiff" option. This way it will not downsample as it prints.

OK thanks

more questions below but i think i’m beginning to get the hang of this.

this is weird, perhaps i am missing something, however, if i do not downsample the images via Distiller options, i wind up with a file over 12 mb. (Coupla hi rez photos involved)

Okay. Are these pictures shrunk in Quark?

yes they are.

If i downsample,

I wouldn’t, but read on.

auto-zip-lo,

That’s compression.

if think i got it…. select lo compression, but on the next pull-down, either select, Keep resolution, if files are placed at 100%, or if files are shrunk in Quark, select Downsample to 300dpi. Is this right? Makes sense….

I didnt see that pull-down menu item before.

—
If sending to prepress for print …
–
don’t compress or sample anything.
Turn it all off.

If you are doing something else
compress and sample all you want.

MSD

in article , howldog at
wrote on 11/7/03 10:27 AM:

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 17:01:10 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Print->Printer dropdown.

ok, you mean in Quark?

Yep.

I got two correct possibles…. my high end
postscript rip driver,

That’s the one.

and, Distiller Asst.

theres also Acrobat PDF writer, but i always have problems with that.

Everyone does. Don’t use it.

I’m assuming i select the high end postscript printer here, and then set up the options for it properly.

You also need to set the correct printer description (Distiller) in the "Setup" tab in the same menu.

ok, this gets confusing……. in the set up tab, i have the following options…. Acrobat Distiller, default postscript driver, and the high end postscript rip driver.

Distiller.

I shoulda done this earlier:

http://www.nightskycreative.com/pdf/about.htm

very good. very helpful. thank you.

so, then, does it matter what resolution the Distiller job option is set to? 2400? or, using this scenario, does it not matter?
this is weird, perhaps i am missing something, however, if i do not downsample the images via Distiller options, i wind up with a file over 12 mb. (Coupla hi rez photos involved)

If i downsample, auto-zip-lo, 72dpi, i get a file size of 144k.
is this normal? Yer saying I can send the 144k one to the printer and get god results? how can that be? Is it just the preview that gets "downsampled"?

appreciate your help on this. its kinda confusing but i hope once i figure it out, it will help me a lot in the future, especially being on PC Quark and having to send files to Mac only print vendors….

That’s where I’m at, and Acrobat has helped immensely.

It’s even worse for PC InDesign. Many printers wet themselves at the mere mention. I just send them Acrobat stuff. Any mention of "native files" and I’ll go elsewhere.

right, i’m getting tired of having to send ads made in Illustrator, tons of text, then outline it all for them.

—-
Why is everyone converting everything to curves

JUST SUPPLY THE DAMN FONT.

MSD

300 is a good compromise. Really, it should be 2x the linescreen rate, but that assumes you know what they’re printing at.

—
You know
the way people are creating entire pages as raster images … 300 dpi sucks
–
You really like type at 300dpi?
–
If someone "gives a shit"
they should design at the resolution of the imagesetter.

MSD

WharfRat wrote in
news:BBD1820F.E7E1%:

300 is a good compromise. Really, it should be 2x the linescreen rate, but that assumes you know what they’re printing at.

—
You know
the way people are creating entire pages as raster images …

We’re not talking about creating entire pages as raster images.

<snip>

WharfRat wrote in
news:BBD18158.E7E0%:

in article , howldog at
wrote on 11/7/03 10:27 AM:

On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 17:01:10 GMT, Eric Gill
wrote:

Print->Printer dropdown.

ok, you mean in Quark?

Yep.

I got two correct possibles…. my high end
postscript rip driver,

That’s the one.

and, Distiller Asst.

theres also Acrobat PDF writer, but i always have problems with that.

Everyone does. Don’t use it.

I’m assuming i select the high end postscript printer here, and then set up the options for it properly.

You also need to set the correct printer description (Distiller) in the "Setup" tab in the same menu.

ok, this gets confusing……. in the set up tab, i have the following options…. Acrobat Distiller, default postscript driver, and the high end postscript rip driver.

Distiller.

I shoulda done this earlier:

http://www.nightskycreative.com/pdf/about.htm

very good. very helpful. thank you.

so, then, does it matter what resolution the Distiller job option is set to? 2400? or, using this scenario, does it not matter?
this is weird, perhaps i am missing something, however, if i do not downsample the images via Distiller options, i wind up with a file over 12 mb. (Coupla hi rez photos involved)

If i downsample, auto-zip-lo, 72dpi, i get a file size of 144k.
is this normal? Yer saying I can send the 144k one to the printer and get god results? how can that be? Is it just the preview that gets "downsampled"?

appreciate your help on this. its kinda confusing but i hope once i figure it out, it will help me a lot in the future, especially being on PC Quark and having to send files to Mac only print vendors….

That’s where I’m at, and Acrobat has helped immensely.

It’s even worse for PC InDesign. Many printers wet themselves at the mere mention. I just send them Acrobat stuff. Any mention of "native files" and I’ll go elsewhere.

right, i’m getting tired of having to send ads made in Illustrator, tons of text, then outline it all for them.

—-
Why is everyone converting everything to curves

JUST SUPPLY THE DAMN FONT.

Been in the (un)Happy Juice this fine evening?

Been in the (un)Happy Juice this fine evening?

—
I am about to.

On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 01:05:28 GMT, WharfRat
wrote:

—-
Why is everyone converting everything to curves

JUST SUPPLY THE DAMN FONT.

right. Do your work in live type, on a PC, and send the PC fonts to a Mac imagesetter. Good luck. Get back to us withyour experiences. To make it even MORE fun, dont use Illustrator, use Quark.

On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 03:13:46 GMT, WharfRat
wrote:

Been in the (un)Happy Juice this fine evening?

—
I am about to.

You sound like you need it. I dont know what your problem is, but, Gill is 500 times more helpful, and more pleasant to "talk" to, than you are.

in article , howldog at
wrote on 11/10/03 7:17 AM:

On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 01:05:28 GMT, WharfRat
wrote:

—-
Why is everyone converting everything to curves

JUST SUPPLY THE DAMN FONT.

right. Do your work in live type, on a PC, and send the PC fonts to a Mac imagesetter. Good luck. Get back to us withyour experiences. To make it even MORE fun, dont use Illustrator, use Quark.

—
The Rip doesn’t care if the fonts are Mac or PC
if the fonts are flowed by OPI
you can use either for either file platform.

MSD