how to make scaleable logos/images for pdf 1

[kingkhang]

can anybody tell me how i can make an image scale in size in a pdf? currently, i have some gifs and jpegs in a document, but they look rather ugly if the pdf is viewed at 100%.

 

[blueark]

Ideally, use vector graphic formats whenever possible (logos and clipart are usually good candidates for this). Programs like Illustrator or Freehand are good for producing this kind of artwork.

If you need to use raster formats (eg. photographs or screen grabs), then make sure the resolution is sufficently high. Taking images off websites, for example, probably won't yield good results.

Also look at Distiller's options. If you use JPEG compression, try different compression settings to get a balance between file size and image quality. If file size isn't an issue, try a 'lossless' compression algorithm, such as LZW, or turn off compression altogether. You may also be downsampling images too much, so try higher values, or turn it off.

 

[kingkhang]

thanks blueark. i've tried a few things.. made my graphic an eps, left it as an AI file but it doesn't seem to work. here's what i am doing: 1. inserting the graphic into a word file 2. printing to distiller. am i missing something?

 

[blueark]

Word can't really handle EPS files, so either save as PDF from Illustrator directly, or if you have a proper page layout package (ie. not made by Microsoft) then use that.

If you're stuck with Word, export your Illustrator files as WMFs or EMFs. Word should be able to import these without any problems, and at least they will retain some vector information. Finally, it is better to start with a large image in Illustrator and scale it down in Word than starting with a small image and scaling it up.

 

[kingkhang]

thank you so much blueark! i saved my logo as a wmf file and it worked perfectly. you're the best!