Graphic Elements in Frame 9 Template

[Combs, Richard]

Pete Roebber wrote:
 
> I am attempting to implement my company's new design for manuals in a
> Frame template and am running into a problem. The new design calls for a
> graphical element running across the bottom of every page. Another
> graphical element appears on every chapter title page. A third graphical
> element appears at the top of every left-hand page and a fourth graphical
> element appears at the top of every right-hand page. So every page has at
> least two graphical elements, not counting any graphics that might appear
> in the text.
> 
> I have imported the graphical elements by reference into the master page
> for each page type. The graphical elements are Adobe Illustrator graphics.

You're not using OLE (File > Import > Object), are you? Use File > Import > File. What format are the graphics? IIRC, FM 9 supports native Illustrator (.ai) file import. What file size are they?
 
> Although the pages look like they are supposed to, it takes ~6x as long to
> print a manual to PDF using this template and the PDF file size is ~3x
> larger than it was using the old template that had only one small
> graphical element on each chapter title page. Is there a better way to
> implement this design, or do I have to reconcile myself to >1 hour print
> times and mach larger PDFs?

I'd look at two things. First, if the AI files are really big, see if they can be "optimized" to cut down the file size, or try exporting to other formats. Second, look at your Distiller joboptions settings. Depending on the intended destination of the PDF (on-screen vs. office printer vs. high-quality press), you may be able to use a different joboptions file or tweak the compression/downsampling settings. 

Oh, and one other thing. When you say ">1 hour print times," are you talking about the time to create the PDF or the time to print the PDF on an office printer? If the latter, check how much memory the printer has and/or try different printers. 

If the former -- wow. You _are_ using the Adobe PDF printer instance, right?  

HTH!

Richard G. Combs
Senior Technical Writer
Polycom, Inc.
richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
303-223-5111
------
rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
303-903-6372
------