Q:
Do you have any advice on importing/copying equations created in an
office program like MS Word or WordPerfect into PageMaker or Quark
XPress?
A:
As long as the document is printed to a laser printer,
the equations should be fine. If, however, you are going to submit
the files for offset printing the files may cause output problems.
There are a number of workarounds, but each requires extensive effort:
1. Copy the equation out of PageMaker and paste it into a drawing
program such as Adobe Illustrator. Check the colors, stroke weights
and other characteristics of the file. Save the files as an .EPS and
properly place the .EPS into the PageMaker layout.
If this does not work try...
2. Print the PageMaker document to a PostScript file. Distill
the PostScript file into PDF using Distiller's default Press settings
(Acrobat 4.0 or higher). Carefully examine the PDF file paying particular
attention to the equations and any other improperly placed graphic.
If the PDF file looks clean, you may be able to use it for
print publishing output.
ePUB would be happy to examine the
PDF to make sure it can be used.
If this doesn't work try...
3. Using the PDF from #2 above, open each individual page of
the PDF file in Illustrator 9.0 and delete all of the text except
the equation. Make sure the Equation file contains proper colors,
stroke weights and other characteristics of the file. Save the files
as an .EPS and properly place the .EPS into the PageMaker layout.
If this doesn't work try...
4. Output camera copy and let the vendor shoot the copy.
Q:
I came across the Web Graphics article at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/procurement/ditsg/emag/webgraphics.htm
when I was looking for a solution
to fuzzy looking graphics. Your article was excellent but it was the
advice I dreaded! Let me explain.
I am writing a book just now and
am printing it on a humble Epson color 680 printer. The quality is
fantastic using high quality inkjet paper and printing in color vector
Windows MetaFile graphics. I have a huge problem and I'd be grateful
if you could supply some advice to my problem. I have learned that
trying to print .JPGs or .BMPs is pointless, they will always appear
fuzzy. What I want to do is screen capture parts of the screen using
Paint Shop Pro's capture utility and be able to print them at home
so they appear crisp and not fuzzy.
I'd be extremely grateful if you could
offer a solution!
A:
We are glad you enjoyed the article and we will attempt
to help you with your problem. Screen captures are, by nature, a low-resolution
business. Your screen runs around a native resolution of 72 dpi to
96 dpi. True, your desktop size is set somewhere around 1024
by 768 pixels or better, but the dot per inch measure of your monitor
is still 72 to 96 dpi. Therefore, a screen capture is similar to a
web graphic in reproduction quality. The difference between screen
captures and web graphics is that we have seen better results from
screenshots printed on a offset printing press. The reason is that
the capture is made at the screen size you are running, for exaple
1024 x 768 pixels. You can then downsize the image in a program like
Photoshop with the "resampling" option off and get resolution
better than 72 dpi (as size decreases the pixels per inch increase).
Your situation of outputting
your document to a local ink jet printer does not change how you will
create or use a screenshot! Your screen is your screen and since all
screens yield 96 dpi or lower captures, there is no solution for getting
a high-res capture at larger than your screen size. You will simply
have to create one like you always have with Paint Shop Pro or with
the Print Screen key on your keyboard. Your final print will then
only look as good as your output device, in this case your Epson.
