EPS printing issues 1

[CentroidCNC]

Anytime I add a EPS document created in Photoshop into Pagemaker the document refuses to print. It will always start to spool, but error without any real detail as to why that happened. If I remove the EPS file, or replaced the image with the same thing but a differnt file format (JPG, PSD, GIF....) then it will print fine.

Using WinXP Home, Photoshop 6, Pagemaker 7, Xerox Tektronix 860

Thanks
Stuart

 

[Eggles]

Presumably that printer is a postscript printer? and you have the correct printer drivers?

You shouldn't really be saving the Photoshop file as an EPS anyway UNLESS it is a duotone. EPS files should only be used for vector graphics (e.g. from Illustrator) and raster graphics should be saved as TIFs. There is no advantage to saving a normal CMYK graphic out of PS as an EPS. And since you are having problems printing it, just use TIFs instead (and please, not web graphic formats such as JPGs and GIFs).

 

[CentroidCNC]

I'm trying to use EPS so that I can have transparent backgrounds for my files.

I'm not a publishing person by trade....I kinda fell into this job. And of the 20k+ pictures at my disposial post are high quality JPGs....so I'm slowly trying to deal with that fact as I just started here.

 

[Eggles]

You can have transparent backgrounds in TIFs the same way you can in EPSs - by creating clipping paths between the object and background with the Pen Tool. Takes a bit of practice, but it is worth it for the clean smooth edges you get. Here's a tutorial:

http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/extra/blrbps_4abfly.htm.

There are also four other methods described for removing backgrounds in Photoshop at that link.

If your source files are JPGs and you intend doing any editing of them, save them as a Photoshop file FIRST. Everytime you edit and save a JPG, you lose lose pixels (forever) and the quality degrades. This doesn't happen with either PSDs or TIFs.

 

[CentroidCNC]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[CentroidCNC]

Ok so I've gone and tried the steps outlined in the information above.....I've got my document (TIFF file) with a transparent background in Photoshop 6 but once placed in PM7 seems to forget the fact that its got a transparent background.

any suggestions?

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, CentroidCNC

> once placed in PM7 seems to forget the fact that its got a transparent background.

On screen or when printed?

Iechyd da! John
15:35 02/09/2003 BST

 

[Eggles]

Ok - you used the Pen Tool to make a path and named it (even if you used the default name)? Then you need to highlight the path you have made on the Paths palette and using the small right arrow at the top which opens a dropdown menu, click on the 'Make Clipping Path'. Then save the file as a TIF and use File>Place to get it into PM. (It's easy to forget that last step of making a CP once you have made your path). You should now have a transparent background on your graphic outside the CP.

 

[CentroidCNC]

What I'm doing is using the pen tool to make a complete ring around the shape I want. I then make it a selection and chose new layer via copy. the background is then deleted and I've got a new layer with a transparent background.

not sure how the making the path a clipping path works into that, mostly as its always grayed out...

I save that doc as a TIFF and place it into PM7 where it (on screen) seems to have lost the transparent background. Should I forget the fact that it _looks_ to be lost and just beleive that when printed it will be how I want?

 

[Eggles]

>>I then make it a selection and chose new layer via copy<<

No, no.

I am using V5.5 at home right now, so you may find slight differences if you are using a different version.

Make sure the Paths palette is open and then make your path. You will see your path in miniature on the Paths palette. Double click on the highlighted path in the palette and it will open a dialog box to Save Path. Go with the default (Path 1) if you like.

While still having the newlty named path highlighted on the palette, go to the small right arrow at the top and choose 'Clipping Path'. A new dialog box will come up with a dropdown list for Path Name. Choose Path 1 from the list (or whatever you called your path) then OK. Then save the file as a TIF and place it in PM.

If you want to change your path at any stage, just make sure you have the path highlighted in the Paths palette, readjust the points and curves, then double click to bring up the path name and click OK (or you can rename if you like). Just make sure when you choose to make the CP that you choose the correct path name. Resave as a TIF and away you go.

 

[Eggles]

>>I then make it a selection and chose new layer via copy<<

No, no.

I am using V5.5 at home right now, so you may find slight differences if you are using a different version.

Make sure the Paths palette is open and then make your path. You will see your path in miniature on the Paths palette. Double click on the highlighted path in the palette and it will open a dialog box to 'Save Path'. Go with the default (Path 1) if you like or give it your own name choice.

While still having the newly named path highlighted on the palette, go to the small right arrow at the top and choose 'Clipping Path'. A new dialog box will come up with a dropdown list for 'Path Name'. Choose 'Path 1' from the list (or whatever you called your path) then OK. Then save the file as a TIF and place it in PM.

If you want to change your path at any stage, just make sure you have the path highlighted in the Paths palette, readjust the points and curves, then double click to bring up the path name and click OK (or you can rename if you like). Just make sure when you choose to make the CP that you choose the correct path name. Resave as a TIF and away you go.

 

[Eggles]

Aaarrgghh - didn't mean to post twice.

Forgot to say - you don't actually have to delete the background from the subject, but if you want to....

Have the Paths palette open and highlight the path. Drag the path layer to the icon at the bottom of the palette to 'Load Path as a Selection' (dotted ring). You will see the 'marching ants' around the path. Invert the selection (Select>Inverse) then hit delete. The background outside the path will disappear. Deselect. I always re-highlight the path and use the arrow to choose Clipping Path again (just to be sure). Then save.

 

[CentroidCNC]

I figured I did something incorrect....thanks that worked perfect.

 

[Eggles]

Great!