Graphic Elements in Frame 9 Template

[Combs, Richard]

Pete Roebber wrote:
 
> > 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?
> 
> I'm using File > Import > File to import .ai files. The graphics files are
> ~1MB each.
> 
> > 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.
> 
> Is 1MB really big? I've also tried JPG, with file sizes around 200K. Didn't
> seem to make a big difference, though I didn't try doing a whole manual
> that way.

Well, it strikes me as big for vector drawings, but I'm not very knowledgeable about AI files. Are there gradient fills, or something similar? 

I'd strongly advise against JPG, which should be reserved for continuous-tone images, i.e., photographs. But you might do a timed test comparing AI files with, say, PNG. Presumably, you're only talking about changing three or so master pages, so comparing two complete versions of the manual shouldn't take any longer than it takes to import page layouts to all the files in a copy of the book.
 
> > 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.
> 
> I always use "Standard." I publish the PDF to the Web so it has to be high
> enough quality in case customers want to print, but still keep the file
> size reasonable.

In Distiller, select Settings > Edit Adobe PDF Settings to look at and tweak the Standard.joboptions file (you can save changes under a different name). Or just for grins, try using the Smallest File Size setting and compare the speed and quality. 
 
> > 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?
> 
> Former. I use, from the book file, File/Save AS PDF, and select "Standard"
> as the quality setting. Wow is right!

Unless you have Sundorne's SetPrint plug-in or you manually change it in Print Setup, FM uses your system's default printer for Save As PDF -- that's the chief cause of the problems people have with Save As PDF. Use only the Adobe PDF printer for PDFs, either by manually changing to it or by using SetPrint to automatically change FM's printer when it starts. 

That's all I've got, so I'm directing the conversation back to the list in case anyone else has something to contribute. "Wisdom of the crowd," you know. :-)


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