PRINTING PRO-PAGE3
17 messages in this thread
Iain,
Call BJ Print & Graphics (0803 666003). These guys really know what they
are doing with the Amiga and ProPage.
Rather than simply throwing the files at them, though, you should discuss
beforehand exactly what you require, exactly how you currently prepare
your docs… and then, exactly how they would like you to do it 🙂
You should keep in mind that at the end of the day output will be to a
PostScript device. PostScript has a limit to the number of paths that can
be in a structured drawing, so autotraced ProDraw clips will always be in
danger of failing to print. It's best to avoid them unless they are fairly
simple bitmaps to start with.
If your "photographs" are scanned bitmaps, keep in mind that the screen
you use (lpi) will affect them. If you don't understand about halftone
screens, ask the bureau to explain. If they don't know or can't be
bothered to explain, find another bureau. You *don't* need one that
accepts ProPage files, simply output to a PostScript file and take it into
the bureau on a PC formatted disk. But remember that you must have your
PostScript setting correct before you save the files. If a bureau wants
your business, it will happily explain to you what are the recommended
settings.
Whatever typefaces you use in your docs must be present in the PostScript
device in order for it to be able to print those typefaces. Many are
built-in, others have to be downloaded. The bureau can do this, if it
happens to have those typefaces (something that should be discussed with
the bureau BEFORE you give them your files), or you can "include
downloadable fonts" in your ProPage PostScript files. For this to work the
"downloadable" file must be present in the CGFonts:PS directory. (It has
the same filename as the CG/bitmap font, but with a ".psfont" extension.)
I know from experience that ProPage can do precisely what you want to do.
Jeff Walker – Just Amiga Monthly.
JEFF,
Thanks for the info on getting PRO-PAGE to print and the info on BJ Print
& Graphics. I will be contacting them soon to find out more and I will let
you know how I get on.
Just one question. What if the file overuns the capacity of the disk? It
would seem then that I should prepare each 2xA4=A3 sheet as one sheet per
disc rather than as one big magazine file. Do you know of a way round
that?
What I will do in the meantime is prepare a single A4 sized sample page
containing a photo, art and various typefaces then download it, as you
suggest, as a PC postscript file. Then see if I can get it printed OK. I
have multidos and the GVP PC emulator.
Thanks once again, I'm quite excited at trying this idea out. I'll keep
you posted on the results via here.
IAIN.
PostScript files being too big to fit on a floppy is an old problem.
There are various ways around it. Send the files via modem by phone.
Save the files to a Syquest removeable hard drive and take that to
the bureau. Buy a writeable CD-ROM drive and take a CD-ROM to the
bureau. (Santa, are you reading this?) If the bureau has an Amiga,
take your hard drive to their Amiga.
Use a utility that can split the files across many floppies; the
bureau then uses another utility to join them all back together.
The latter is the cheapest way, but it does involve a fair amount of
work at both ends. ADPro comes with "Splitz" and "Joinz" utilities in
Amiga, PC and Mac format for just this purpose. I've used this method
on several occasions, and it works. I don't know of a PD/shareware
solution.
It may be that you don't need to prepare 2xA4=A3 spreads. In fact, if
your 2xA4 designs are facing pages, these will have to split at some
time anyway because, except for the centre spread, they do not get
printed on the same piece of paper. It might make more sense to save
each individual A4 page. This, of course, will mean smaller
PostScript files.
Jeff Walker – Just Amiga Monthly.
JEFF,
I'm using the GVP A500+ hard drive which is very good and I could take it
to a bureau if one here in Glasgow had an AMIGA.
But that latter idea using ADPro's `splitz' and `join' utility seems to be
the most practicable. The only AdPro I have is the one that came free with
CU AMIGA recently – a cut down version. But it does look good.
I'll get back to everyone here when I have made your ideas work.
IAIN.
I'm pretty sure that thing on the CU disk wasn't actually ADPro, just
something that resembled ADPro in looks. ADPro = Art Department
Professional, from ASDG.
Jeff Walker – Just Amiga Monthly.
PMFJI, the program given away on the CU disk was The Art Department, the
predecessor to ADPro, with a special deal in the mag to upgrade to ADPro
2.3 for #99 + #1.50 P&P.
Bob Bolton.
Ah, yes, so it was. (Blush.) I was getting it confused with a pile of
rubbish Amiga Computing out on its cover disk. I don't take much notice of
cover disks these days. Full of programs "worth 80 pounds", if you know
what I mean.
Jeff Walker – Just Amiga Monthly.
JEFF,
It's THE ART DEPARTMENT from ASDG "worth 80 pounds".
Very good it is too, the demo pics were the best I have ever seen on my
machine. It really makes me want to get hold of the new machines! I
converted some photos to line art and they came out quite well.
IAIN.
Worth 80 pounds of what???
:>
Elite MicroComputers – Flying high on AutoPilot
DAVE,
Hard to answer whether it is worth 80 pounds or not. Do you mean would I
have bought it in the shops for that price? Probably not, I would have
gone straight for the AD Pro version which is advertised at 137 pounds in
AMIGA SHOPPER.
As it is I have now realised a need for this latter program so it is on my
list, along with ProPage 4 and a new A4000-30. If only … I had a small
win on the pools this weekend.
IAIN.
That one went over your head…I know pounds is a UK form of currency.
But considering Adpro has gotten a good amount of 'put down posts' in the
last week or so, and 'we' use pounds strictly as a measure of weight.
"80 pounds of what??" should bring out a chuckle.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers – Flying high on AutoPilot
Jumping in off-topic:
What is "Just Amiga Monthly" and how can I obtain a copy?
…..Nancy
From Edmonton, AB, Canada
JAM is an Amiga enthusiast magazine that I publish, and have been
publishing for the past three years. All done on the Amiga in glorious
black-and-white, available by mail-order (i.e. subscription) only. Thanks
to postage costs it's a bit expensive to subscribe from outside Europe: 50
pounds for 12 issues air mail, 35 pounds for surface mail (which generally
takes anything from 1-3 months to reach you).
Jeff Walker – Just Amiga Monthly.
JEFF,
How much for a sample copy of JAM?
Please e-mail the address I should send to.
IAIN.
Egads. You people have all the great stuff over there. Wish it were on the
stands here. (I pick up all the British mags I can.)
…..Nancy
From Edmonton, AB, Canada
Ian,
Until you get a hard drive, it will involve a little work to get those
pages compressed on to floppy disks. So, in the meantime, you are probably
doing the next best thing: print out one page at a time to df0: then use
PKAZIP to compress the page and send the archive to df1:. That way, you
can put several compressed pages on a single floppy, and your service
bureau can unzip them on their PC.
MICHAEL,
I have an OLIVETTI QUADERNO with a 20Mb hard drive. I normally leave it at
work and type material there and then bring the discs back home for my
Amiga to read later. I figure that if I connect it to the AMIGA, I should
be able to dump the postscript file to it and then take that in instead to
a printer. That would be OK wouldn't it? It sounds as though it should.
I am going up into the city tomorrow to speak to some of the printer
bureau's about these setting's and anything else I should know.
IAIN.