Prepressforums.com

Platypibri · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2004, 08:46 PM

Ok, I have been told I no longer have the "luxury" of refusing Publisher Files. "Find a F%@$#*ng way to make it work", quoth the owner, never more. Apparently we are just "throwing money away" when we tell the customer we cant work with this file. So, I need to some how figure out how to use the worst page layout program in the world. Does anyone have any resources?

If the whole job is laid out ok in Publisher, I can send it to the rip and let the press guy deal with how it falls on the plate. But, for example, I had this newsletter and the guy had us do the cover spread, bleeds and all. Then, I get the Publisher file, and I don't know how to make it back up right to my already printed cover. I'm afraid this will becoming up more and more as M$ is just about giving the damn software away. I have 2 PCs in the house that have it installed and I never even knew. Well, 1 now, I just put linux on the note book. Anyway,I promise I will tell you guys everything I learn about outputting these crappy things if you'll do the same. And for starters, printing as postscript and distilling and using PDF writer both were causing unacceptable tracking/kerning issues. I couldn't get this postcard I had today into any useable form. Anyone feel my pain?

hoking · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2004, 10:30 PM

I feel your pain dude. Trying working with microsoft word! =)

Publisher does come with a converting tool that converts the .pub file to a .pmd file. (pagemaker) That should make things better.

Do you not have an imposition software?

matmac · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 04:00 AM

For Ms Publisher files I would normally print the file to postscript. (Install the Adobe Postscript Driver). Distill the Postscript to PDF, then let the rip convert the (or any) RGB colour to CMYK. Converting to pdf lets you see exactly what the final file will look like. Alternatively Pitstop for Acrobat can convert colours.

Watch out for 4col Black - Black that is made from all 3 RGB channels then converts into all 4 CMYK channels. This is a common flaw when converting files from any Ms product.

Bleed can be an issue. Again, this can sometimes be resolved with Pitstop. Resizing (enlarging) the files when imposing can also generate missing bleed.

tuff_gong · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 06:09 AM

The best way to print publisher files is get them the hell out of publisher. Acrobat Pro and Pitstop (or Crackerjack) are, IMO, mandatory when dealing with Pub files.
We see 5-6 of these files a week - frustrating, but hey, it's money.

Platypibri · #5 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoking

Do you not have an imposition software?

I'm sure my boss would pick up whatever we need, but as of now now. We are a small sheet fed shop, and 20 pages is a HUGE document for us, so generally we just get everything in a Quark happy format and imposition there. Publisher is not playing nice. Where does one get the Adobe Postscript driver? I know I have PDFwriter, but it seems like a more of prosumer tool.

Cory · #6 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 07:30 AM

be sure to get the most recent version of publisher (supports composite CMYK output), Acrobat, and Pitstop.

this combo has made pub files faily painless for us.

DCurry · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cory

be sure to get the most recent version of publisher (supports composite CMYK output), Acrobat, and Pitstop.

this combo has made pub files faily painless for us.

I completey agree, Cory. Publisher is now just another page layout app in my shop, no longer something to be feared.

SlaveToTheMan · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 11:13 AM

Ditto. Oh, and if you can manage to stifle your obvious hatred, train those "designers" to use the Pack-n-Go feature also. At the very least, it will collect all of the wonderful images (if they bothred to link instead of embed them) and the fonts too. Aren't those Redmond bastards just too cool??

:wink:

Joe · #9 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 11:14 AM

I agree with everyone else. For Publisher, get Acrobat and Pitstop. You WILL need it at some point. Also the Publisher ---> PDF is the route to go. Also find a good RGB to CMYK profile to use in Pitstop. The default color conversion in Pitstop is horrendous.

hoking · #10 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platypibri

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoking

Do you not have an imposition software?

I'm sure my boss would pick up whatever we need, but as of now now. We are a small sheet fed shop, and 20 pages is a HUGE document for us, so generally we just get everything in a Quark happy format and imposition there. Publisher is not playing nice. Where does one get the Adobe Postscript driver? I know I have PDFwriter, but it seems like a more of prosumer tool.

It should come with Adobe Acrobat.