[Kelly Johnson]

If the actual print looks ok, then the problem is most likely in your scanning settings.

Check that in the scanner settings you have default settings first. Try a scan. Also, make sure the bulb in the scanner doesn’t flicker and is a full glow. Maybe the scanner has a mechanical problem..

Be sure there are no Sharpening boxes or options clicked. Auto sharpening just isn’t as good as doing what you can in Photoshop if/when needed.

If the paper the print is on is highly textured, that could be affecting something, but it would most likely just show up as textured paper and wouldn’t affect actual color. (Unless you get pyscho and start thinking about refraction of scanning light off of the various peaks/valleys of highly textured paper!!)

Try to set everything to basic: RGB, 8 bit, 300 dpi, no color nor sharpening compensation. Since you’re going to video, it may work better to scan at a high res and then interpolate in Photoshop down to 72 rather than scanning at 72, but..you could try scanning around %150 at 72 and then scale down.

[Kelly Johnson]

Well, it can be really useful for clients. But, the book itself, is it just a formula with cmyk equivalents or is it one which has the real pantone swatch on the left and the cmyk swatch/formula on the right? Those are great because you see exactly how it ‘should look’ and how it will look.

Other thing to consider though the age of the used guide. Was it kept out of light? Indoors? Those books fade after a few years, especially if they were kept spread open on a light table somewhere in the corner or so.

Also depends on the complexity of the job. Nowadays, even at an offset litho printer printing 4C is as cheap as going 2 color. Depending on who you use, how ‘lazy’ they are, what they may have source out..etc printing a PMS spec’d job as process may actually be cheaper.

I’ve run across that many times. So, in that case I could show the cmyk equivalent of a pms color and let them see the difference.

But, if you’re printing true duotones or have to use a client’s pms color, then a formula guide is only a second choice to an actual swatch book.

[Kelly Johnson]

What framerate are you exporting to? Default in Flash is 12, but nowadays, the minimum for descent movement should be at least 16 fps.

Also, in terms of resolution, nothing ever needs to be more than 72 dpi at 100% if the end purpose is onscreen stuff.

[Kelly Johnson]

No. For weekend warriors and people who only use their machines to write, it probably works fine.

Suitcase is much more robust and opens more font types than FontBook.

Many people have problems with Suitcase because they don’t read the manual on both Fonts in general in OSX as well as the manual for Suitcase. I’ve used Suitcase for years on both Classic systems and now in OSX system machines.

Knowing where to keep fonts, why one should or shoudn’t manage system fonts and such is really the only reason anyone ever has real problems with Suitcase. They don’t set it up right.

But, even Suitcase doesn’t open all font types. However, for TrueType and Postscript 1/2/3 it works like a charm.

Font book can’t handle detailed renderings of multiple fonts previewing at once.

For $90…get Suitcase. (as far as between these two).

That’s my 3 cents.

[Kelly Johnson]

Illustrator, Freehand or even Corel Draw are all vector-based programs that allow one to create postscript illustrations.

You still have to have the ability to draw whether using one of the above based with a Wacom tablet or the various tools available in the programs.

However, if you’re using predrawn images (like logos or other artwork) then you’ll get the smoothest lines by ensuring there are fewer points to describe perfect or half perfect curves/arches/circles.

Also, for output you need an imagesetter (or printer) that has postscript capabilities. A beautiful and smooth image from Illustrator printed out on a cheap ink-jet isn’t going to look as nice as one printed out on a laser printer.

[Kelly Johnson]

In your screen shot of the photoshop, you have a comma (,) not a decimal… though your file isn’t really 123,093 pixels wide, that could be messing something up.

At 131 x 130 mm, in 8 bit cmyk your photoshop file should be 9.06 megs.

I just made a photoshop file and an InDesign file with the bleed of 5mm and it all worked out fine.

Maybe the non US version of Photoshop accepts commas, or that’s common in that version, but if you enter 131 in mm (not 131,0 or 131.0) and do the same for InDesign it should work.

Also, be sure you didn’t accidentally chose centimeters in of the files at some point or that your units in Photoshop are showing one or the other versus what the actual file was created at.

[Kelly Johnson]

Well, make sure the size in Photoshop is by inches/ or centimeters so that you’re not going by pixels.

You’re inches in InDesign should match. Also, make sure when you bring it into InDesign that percentage placed is 100%: click on the frame with the PS file, get the direct selection tool (the hollow tool) and then click on the frame. Check the % up in the control palette.

Items placed inside a graphic frame will take on previous percentages/scaling if there was an item before.

Just make sure you’re using the same units in both files so that you know for sure sizes are all the same.

[Kelly Johnson]

Check your settings in the various PDF dialog boxes. Are you using Print or lower res Screen/ebook settings?

If you have the actual eps file on your hard drive somewhere, it should link up and look good.

Make sure that the eps file itself doesn’t have some placed item that isn’t linking up.

You can “Preflight” under the File command and see if any flags happen.

If you have all the required artwork there’s either something up in the eps file itself or some setting in your defaults that has lower resolutions spec’d.

[Kelly Johnson]

I don’t think there is. At least in InDesign CS. Don’t forget InDesign is still more about layout primarily. However, there may be a plug-in.

You can place PSD files, but the editing actually occurs in Photoshop.

[Kelly Johnson]

Vectorize isn’t really a proper term. Converting to paths or outlines is what happens when converting from the postscript format of a postscript font. However, type is vector in its native postscript format whether converted to outlines or still used as a ‘font.’

Now, if when she selects her copy and then SHIFT-Command-O’s the type, it should turn into outlines which are calculated from the font postscript/metric files.

If she doesn’t has the printer font file (yes, even in OSX there are two formats, they’re just usually combined into one file type…which can get corrupted the same) a font with similar metrics can be substituted although it escapes me how at the moment.

Make sure in her Preferences/File Handling and Clipboard/ AICB and Preserve Paths is checked.

And also that there isn’t any space character just before the first letter or, that it’s the same font face as the actual copy.

If all that doesn’t work, scrap the Illustrator preferences and restart Illustrator.