CompuServe Messages

Brad, If pre-press compiles elements of the page for the printer, what information is added by the service bureau that is not provided by Quark Xpress? Is anything other than higher resolution provided by the typesetter (do I call people who run the image setting equipment typesetters?) that is not in the computer generated file of the page which the DTP designer provides? Why do image setter's like Linotronic produce higher resolution than is possible with the laser printers? Is the problem with color standard a problem of translation from the computer to the image setter, or is it a problem with lack of a standard for different brands of image setters? Here's any easy one ( I think): does the typestter run the imagesetter from a screen and keyboard which allows him to preview the layout? The trapping problems with colors wihich overlap: is that caused by the overlays for the four colors not being able to overlay in alignment because they try to occupy the same space? I don't really understand. What is RC paper? Is output to paper only for proofing purposes? In other words, is everything eventually put on film? Is film negative the stage before going to metal ? If so, what is the pupose of film positive? All things being equal on a page, which would output faster 1270 dpi or 2540 dpi? And finally: why not invite more "freelance hacks" to get involved in this type of interchange and then using the results to create a library file to help us all help each other? You all are a substantial source of information and obviously what we called "good folk" when I was a boy growing up in Indiana. Oh, and by the way, I've been known to bitch and moan myself. Quite healthy, if not overindulged in, in my opinion.