Prepressforums.com - pacemaker, uh, ragemaker, uh Pagemaker 7pc

pspdfppd · #1 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 07:12 AM

Seems we've had pagemaker 7 installed on our pc for years and just this week someone sent a job in. I've probobly put in about 7 hours on this pig and it's only an 8.5x11 4/4 flyer.

Just wondering if pagemaker is a pile of crap like it seems or is it just my lack of knowledge on the program.

Also, I managed to open up the file in InDesign CS and am wondering if that's a smart thing to do. It made it much easier to make a pdf but there were some font and linking issues. Any feedback would be appreciated.

GinSu · #2 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 07:28 AM

I actually preferred PageMaker 7 over Quark 4 for a number of output related issues (remember jaggies?).

What are you trying to do that isn't working?

pspdfppd · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 07:34 AM

Just about everything seems to go wrong with this job. Things are even missing (plug-ins like collect for service provider and export as pdf) which probobly means it didn't install correctly and I'm SURE that it's not even a legal copy and the guy that installed it was laid off and I'm not finding the cd here anywhere.

Anyway, it's acting just about as evil as any program I've ever had the pleasure of using...

The client is contemplating buying Indesign and that's a good thing before I contemplate suicide over this situation.

GinSu · #4 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 07:51 AM

Does sound like a bad install. I didn't used the export as pdf because the PDF was press quality. Can you get it to "print" an EPS? In the print dialog, go to Options and chose to "write postscript file" and chose the EPS option. Perhaps that will get you an EPS you can work with in Illustrator.

Jalan · #5 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 08:13 AM

Pagemaker 7 isn't that bad of a program when you consider when it was made. It's definitely no InDesign but it sounds like you have a bad install. The primary issues I've had with Pagemaker are how people link their graphics. They usually do copy and paste instead of using the place command.
When we get Pagemaker jobs on our machine we just print to a .ps file and either drag and drop on our hot folders or run it through Acrobat Distiller.
7 hours sounds nuts. If you are still having a problem, post it and I can take a whack at it.

Joe · #6 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007, 08:48 AM

For links that are either embedded or not linked in the links manager you can export the images and they will export at the resolution and color space of the original. For vector art you can select it with the pointer tool and copy, then open a new document in Illy and paste. You'll retain the high res vector art although strokes sometimes get flaky like the size changing to .001 and you can barely see them even when zoomed way in. Just select the strokes and change the size, save as eps and then link to the eps with the links manager.