pixelated image imports

[THEelephant]

Hello everyone - new here. I'm fairly new to pagemaker and am using 7. When I use the place command to bring an image into pagemaker it is EXTREEMLY pixalated. Doesn't matter if it's gif or jpg. I can save it at 200% and bring it in still the same. It looks fine in the viewer - can import into word, publisher and other programs without a problem. Any ideas?

 

[Eggles]

First thing - you shouldn't really be using JPGs or GIFs in a Pagemaker document. These image formats are designed for the web, not printed publications. Stick to TIFs and EPSs.

Secondly, Pagemaker's default image preview is for a low-resolution version, to save on screen redrawing time when you scroll, zoom or change pages. You can set it to a high-rez preview under Preferences.

Finally, what is the resolution of the images you are bringing in? For printing on a desktop printer (inkjet or laser) they should be in the order of 150-200 dpi. For commercial printing, they need to be 300 dpi. However, neither of these will affect how they look on screen.

 

[THEelephant]

Thanks Eggles - Just the answers I was looking for. It was recommended to me I save my line illustrtions at 1000 dpi but then set the PDF they want for printing at 300 dpi. What good is it including 1000 dpi images ina 300 dpi file?

 

[THEelephant]

I exported this images in tiff 8 from fireworks and still got a 3.5MB file that was just as pix as before.

 

[Eggles]

>>my line illustrations at 1000 dpi<<

Now line drawings are a different matter. As they are usually just 1-bit images (i.e. pure black and white only) to get crisp images they DO need to be a very high resolution. In fact, they can be thought of in the same way as text. However, because they don't have any colour information, their file size can be quite small, even at very high resolutions. But resolution isn't really the issue here.

What you need to do with these line drawings is to save them in EPS format out of whatever vector program you create them in (Fireworks, was it?). The EPS format retains all vector qualities of the file. The EPS files can be placed in Pagemaker BUT bear in mind that what you see on screen are not the actual EPS images - they cannot be viewed as such - but the 'preview' image you can create when you save the EPS file. On a PC, this is usually a TIF, although you can choose what sort of preview you save. For example, in Illustrator, the preview can be 'none', black&white TIF or colour (8-bit) colour TIF. If you have the same choices in Fireworks, I would choose the B&W TIF to save in file size.

So be aware that the EPS may not look good on screen as you are only seeing the preview. There may even appear to be a white bounding box if placed against a coloured background (which can be made to 'disappear' if the image is rotated by 0.01 degrees). You must have a postscript printer for the EPS to print correctly. If you don't have a postscript printer, only the preview will be printed.

>>set the PDF they want for printing at 300 dpi<<

If you are then making a PDF from the PM file with the placed EPS images, make sure that when you choose the Distiller job options, you choose the 'Press' setting. This will preserve all raster images (not EPS files) at 300 dpi. The EPS files will look fine as they don't have a 'resolution'.

However, bear in mind that when viewing the PDF on screen, the graphics that were EPS may look rather pixelated, but will print beautifully - even on a non-postscript printer!!. I don't know what version of Acrobat you have, but in older versions, the default display setting was to NOT smooth line art (how stupid is that?). You can change this under Edit>Preferences>Display in V5 but I think they changed the default in V6.

If you need more info on making the PDF, or anything else, just ask.

 

[THEelephant]

Thanks for taking the time for that long post - it straightened me out for the time being. One thing while Im here. The help file says to ctrl+Alt+P to insert page numbers LM and RM - facing page layout, but all it does is bring up PowerPoint. How can I get around this?

 

[Eggles]

>>The help file says to ctrl+Alt+P to insert page numbers LM and RM - facing page layout, but all it does is bring up PowerPoint. How can I get around this?<<

Well this is a new one on me!!

Are you saying that while on a master page layout in Pagemaker, if you enter Ctrl+Alt+P it doesn't add the auto page numner (LM and RM) but instead launches Powerpoint??

 

[BionicJohn]

> all it does is bring up PowerPoint

Aargh! Microsoft!

> How can I get around this?

Select your text tool, and place it where you want the page nmber to be - either on a master page or any other page.

The hold down the Alt key and, with Num Lock on, type 0024 (zero zero two four) on the number pad.

(This is usually written as Alt+0024)



Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, THEelephant,

If Ctrl+Alt+P loads up MSPub, you will first need to find the shortcut to MSPub, either in the Start Menu or on the Desktop. Use your secondary mouse button to open the Properties of the shortcut, and then in the &quot;Shortcut Key&quot; field, delete Ctrl+Alt+P and enter None. Click OK.


Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[THEelephant]

Thanks for the tips BigJohn. You might be surprised to find that none was alredy in the shortcut key field. On all the Microsoft products, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excell etc, and they still come up when ctrl+Alt+? is entered. Ghost in the machine?

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, THEelephant,

> Ghost in the machine?

I can't think of anywhere else to look.



Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[THEelephant]

When I use the horizontal rule tool, suddenly a box has appeared around it that adjusts the space between the rule and surrrounding objects. I must have hit the wrong button to get it here as Iit has REALLY beome agravating. Could someone please tell me how to get this turned off. Thanks.

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, THEelephant

> the horizontal rule tool,

Which is that? The line above/below inParagraph Specifications, or the line tool in the floating toolbox?

Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[THEelephant]

In the tool box, third tool down on the left, is a line tool. It only rules horizontally as far as I can tell so I called it the horizontal rule tool. It has a adjustable box arond it as though it were a photo you were about to wrape text around, and the box functions the same way. How do I get rid of it, meaning the box. It just showed up.

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, THEelephant,

> It only rules horizontally as far as I can tell

It's called the constrainted line tool, and draws vertical and horizontal lines only, and if you hold down the Shift Key will draw lines at 45°.

What I suggest you do is, with no item selected, select the master pointer tool. Then click Element -> Fill & Stroke to see what your default settings are.

Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[THEelephant]

I really dont see anything there that would affect it, but here are the settings:
Fill: NONE
Color: NONE
Tine: NONE
Overprint: Unchecked

Stroke: 1 pt
Color: black
Tint: 100%
Overprint: Unchecked
Transparent Bg: Checked
Reverse: Unchecked

Am I wsting my time learning Pagemaker as they are discontinueing it? Since I'm at the beginning anyway, should I turn to InDesign 2?

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, THEelephant,

> here are the settings:

They're fine. You should have no problem.

> should I turn to InDesign 2?

Check it out.

http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/pm_ind.html

If you're familiar with PageMaker and Illustrator, you'll have no problem with InDesign.

Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[THEelephant]

Hey John - The settings may be fine but the box around the rule is still there. If you have a page of text, place a photo over it and then choose the center choice ofr wrap around a box will appear around it. You can pull the box in or out and the text will change the distance from the edge of the photo. The rule has the same type of box and is wreeking havoic with my text at top and bottom of page. I can continue to adjust by hand, but this is taking forever. Any idea on how to get rid of this thing?

 

[BionicJohn]

Hi, THEelephant,

Ah! You're talking about text-wrap.

To turn off text-wrap, load up PM but do not open any document.
Click Element -> Text-wrap.
Under Wrap Option, select the icon on the top left which is No Wrap.
Click OK.

Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[THEelephant]

That did it - thanks a lot.