PDF headaches

[Jenny Greenleaf]

Thanks, Dov,

Let me clarify:

I have an EPS file that has content without a background. It's an  
irregularly shaped object (a monitor). When I place the EPS image on a  
background (png), it appears as desired when I do Save As PDF.

If I PDF the same file by printing to the PDF printer, the irregularly  
shaped object is appears in a white rectangle, spoiling the effect.

I was quite happy with Save As PDF, even though people say they have  
trouble with it. If I could figure out why it suddenly started turning  
my cross-references into gibberish, I would stick with it.

I realize there should be no difference between the two methods.  
However, I have run these PDFs over and over again on the same files.  
I have used the same set of job options both with the Print to PDF and  
the Save As PDF. I was systematic and recorded the results in a  
notebook. I am not making this up!

I understand that you don't find the word "transparent" to be precise.  
I don't know what other word to use.

Jenny




On Jul 7, 2009, at 2:09 PM, Dov Isaacs wrote:

> Jenny,
>
> PostScript does NOT in any way support transparency. It is not part of
> the PostScript imaging model. EPS is PostScript. There is no  
> "transparency"
> in EPS because there is no transparency in PostScript.
>
> Perhaps you are referring to content without a background? That is not
> transparency. Or perhaps you are referring to an image with a clipping
> path such that some arbitrary shape of an image is on top of a clear
> background? Again, that is not transparency.
>
> I am not trying to quibble here, but make sure that we are all using  
> the
> same terminology. Conventional graphic arts terminology for  
> "transparent"
> is to describe all non-opaque objects (which quite frankly, should  
> really
> have been described as "translucent" - but I'm a dumb engineer, not an
> English major and those who came up with the term "transparent" to  
> describe
> non-opaque objects were probably not English majors either!).
>
> In terms of clipping paths or clear backgrounds behind either text  
> or vector
> objects, there should be no difference whatsoever between creating  
> PDF via
> "save as" or via printing to the "Adobe PDF" PostScript printer  
> driver instance
> since in both cases, the EPS content is sent through into the output  
> PostScript
> stream unmodified.
>
> 	- Dov
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Jenny Greenleaf [mailto:jgreenleaf at mac.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 2:00 PM
>> To: Dov Isaacs
>> Subject: Re: PDF headaches
>>
>> FrameMaker 9.0 will handle a graphic in EPS that has a transparent
>> background. Really!
>>
>> Jenny
>>
>>
>> On Jul 7, 2009, at 1:57 PM, Dov Isaacs wrote:
>>
>>> What do YOU mean by transparency? If you are talking about support
>>> for non-opaque
>>> objects, then with FrameMaker you are plain out of luck.
>>> FrameMaker's imaging model,
>>> unlike that of InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, does not
>>> support anything other
>>> than opaque objects. Or do you mean something totally different?!?
>>>
>>> 	- Dov
>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
>>>> ] On Behalf Of
>>>> Jenny Greenleaf
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 1:54 PM
>>>> To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
>>>> Subject: PDF headaches
>>>>
>>>> FrameMaker 9.0 (all patches installed)
>>>> Running in a Windows XP VM on a recent MacBook Pro (4 GB)
>>>> Adobe Acrobat Pro Extended 9
>>>> No additional external Frame tools or plugins
>>>>
>>>> I am having trouble PDF'ing my book and hope you can help. I am not
>>>> an
>>>> expert in either of these tools.
>>>>
>>>> When I print to the Adobe PDF printer, I do not get the
>>>> transparency I
>>>> need for the cover graphic.
>>>> When I use Save As PDF, I get the transparency, but the first  
>>>> cross-
>>>> reference in the mini-TOC at the beginning of each chapter is
>>>> gibberish (random characters).
>>>>
>>>> I have tried both of these with Standard options and High-Quality
>>>> print options, as well as a set of options that embeds the  
>>>> corporate
>>>> font.
>>>>
>>>> If I have to, I can PDF the cover separately, but I would rather  
>>>> not.
>>>>
>>>> Any clues? Thanks in advance.
>>>>
>>>> Jenny
>>>> Greenleaf Agency, LLC
>>>> Portland, OR
>
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