Some graphic formats are fuzzy when printed...

[ivan8r]

I use PageMaker everyday, and I seem to have consistent problems when I place different types of graphic files into a publication. For example, when I use .jpg, .tif, and .gif in my publications, they look good on the screen, but the graphics are fuzzy when the publication prints. If I place .wmf or .pdf files in my publications, they print very clearly just as they appear on screen.

Is there a setting that I need to adjust to get the other formats to look good when printed? So far I've had to resort to converting those "fuzzy" formats into .pdf, but I'm hoping there's a preference or setting I can adjust so that I don't have to perform an extra step for each picture.

BTW, I'm using PageMaker 7.0 on Win98.

Ivan8r

 

[viol8ion]

ivan

PM display setting can be adjusted to show higher resolution copies of placed images, however this can slow screen refresh, and so is not recommended. The images you see in the PM doc are merely placeholders, and are used for layout, hence image sharpness is not critical. Some images will display better than others depending on format, this is typical of PM.

I would recommend that you only use TIFF or EPS graphics in PM. Even though it can work with other formats, problems can ensue. And if any of the documents makes it to prepress, not only will they laugh all the way to the bank as they charge you to fix problems, the inferior print quality of JPGs and GIFs will be seen. When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[afral]

From an imaging person's point of view .eps' placed in PMx take forever to RIP. I would stay with 300dpi tif's. Let freedom ring!

 

[viol8ion]

afral

The type of graphic depends on the source. Tiff are great for raster based images, but I would NEVER recommend converting a vector image to TIFF just to save someone time on the RIP. The quality would be inferior, or the size of the graphics would be immense to make up for the deficiency. When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[Eggles]

ivan8r

At the risk of asking the obvious - what is the resolution of the JPGs and GIFs you are placing into PM? Often these are very low rez images anyway, as they are designed for web display at 72dpi, so will look very pixelated when printed.

Fuzzy printed graphics are invariably due not so much to the file format, but the resolution. A high rez JPG (such as 200dpi) will print fine, even when printed on an offset press, if the image quality is clear and sharp in the first place.

 

[afral]

vilo8ion

I must explain myself better in this Forum. When I mentioned converting eps files to tif's I was only referring to raster images ONLY! Not converting vector to tif's.

A raster image saved as an eps only makes processing time increase with NO obvious benefit unless there is a path involved then it HAS to be saved as an eps. It increases time which increase the BILL! Customers sometimes save eps files with jpg previews which is not recognized my Postscript Level 3 RIPs either. Let freedom ring!

 

[viol8ion]

afral,

You are 100% right on the money... coverting a raster image to EPS has no benefit. Raster images can be saves in TIFF format with a clipping path, which is relatively simple to do in Photoshop. In my opinion this is preferable.

If one is using vector graphics, such as are made in Illustrator or Corel Draw, then you would save them as EPS and not as TIFF as you would trade off quality. When in doubt, deny all terms and defnitions.

http://www.wuli.com

 

[afral]

A need trick with type along a path in Photoshop. PS can't handle this task. I create a path needed and export to AI. Create the type in AI then save as EPS. In PS I place the AI file and presto the type along the path is a perfect fit! Let freedom ring!