GM approached me today. Evidently a competitor in a last ditch effort is trying to convince a fairly large company we do work for, that they do better printing via Stochastic. We are cheaper, faster and superior in every way, (And of course I work here .)

The question is, if you run Sublima, or Staccato, I want to know in and outs. Prepress and Press conditions... the works. We don't particularly want to print Stochastic, but I would like some information from people actually using it and the pitfalls.

Thanks in advance.

I put together a little package of stuff ESSENTIAL for Prepress. It's a 12 MB download, but well worth it.

Thank me later.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/upsys3

Limited time only.

Ran into this today.... can't believe I have never noticed it before. Setting up a multi-layer file in PS. Each layer has the identical drop shadow set to multiply 40% opacity, 100% black as the color. It doesn't really matter the color... Importing this file saved as a PSD, into InDesign or Illustrator, the layer effects are not honored. In other words, I am getting a knockout behind the shadow.

I figured a way around it, but WTF? Adobe continues to amaze me daily.

Okay, so I got this guy that comes in once a month, cool dude. He publishes a local magazine that appeals to college kids. Kind of a "what's hip" on the college scene bullshit. Anyhoo, the guy is using a freelancer that is okay, but makes some pretty sloppy mistakes. After a few months, I finally got this nitwit Desinger doing things by the book. The last few issues have been pretty breezy... then the publisher dude calls me.

"Hey man, I was wondering? I just got a new MacBook Pro, with all the bells and whistles. I bought the Adobe Premium Creative Suite 4, and I need you to hook me up."

I ask him does he need me to install software, give him some tips, I'm clueless here man, what do you want from me?

"I need you to completely train me to create my magazine, I mean all of it, Macs, Prepress, all the Adobe shit, ALL OF IT. I trust you and if you will do it, I would be honored. Oh, and I'll pay you."

Normally, I would not do it. I am not one that likes giving away all my secrets and knowledge that took me almost two decades to amass, but, I need the cash, so I'm selling out.

The guy wants to meet twice a week for a few hours. I do freelance and have a pay scale I use, but teaching is something I normally only do in a work environment. I am not concerned if I can do it, I just want to be fair.

What should I charge PER hour? I'm going to do it regardless, but if you had to do it, what would be the very lowest you would go, AND then what's fair?

So 2 prices here, get it?

As always, I am in your debt.

P.S. The guy is legit and NOT a homosexual.

After finally getting it all sorted out with my log-in.. I just finished dowloading a 722.8 MB update for Quark 8. This is an UPDATE FFS! I'll let you know how it goes.

My IT guy is having a real hard time finding a quality replacement Laser Printer for our Publication Branch. Anyone have any suggestions on a good solid model, only prints in BW, moderately inexpensive, fast would be nice... for PC.

Okay, quit all the ragging in all the other threads... THE LINE IS DRAWN HERE! Bring it bitches!

I have been a downloading fool for the past few weeks. Gnubler turned me on to a website with free dowloadable clipart and the likes, but I turned her on to this place...

www.heroturko.com

If you need clipart, or royalty free images, and A LOT more cool shit, get a name and password and let the downloading begin!

I just cleared to 40 GB mark this morning. I don't know how much longer this place could possibly remain open, so GET TO IT!

Okay Desingers... you can thank me now or later, but YOU will thank me! :wink:

So, I am doing some brochures for a local Cable company. I open this InDesign CS3 file and am shocked to find a document containing different page sizes! Now, i've been around the block a few times, and there is only 1 app I know of, (Unless I am forgetting) that let's you do this... the Almighty Freehand! I have a 14 inch x 9 inch cover, with 4 x 9 inch guts pages... IN THE SAME FILE! The document size ONLY shows for the larger page. So I break it apart and get it reading like it should, no biggy. Then I find this... a missing plug-in. This is gonna be fun!

http://www.dtptools.com/product.asp?id=pcid

I just adore shit like this. Thanks!?! :angry:

This makes your Pitstop V8 compatible with Acrobat 9.

http://www.enfocus.com/getdownload.php?id=8248b53d408cf20e85d2354b54c3372b&fu=1

I double-promised a buddy of mine that works on the press I would get this done, so he can start inking... well today! Some of you may remember this from a while back, so thought you might like to see the finished product... this took me off and on over a year. I have kids! And I am slow as molasses! He hasn't seen it yet... I hope he likes it.



Here is a more detailed shot of the final color composite:

Over the weekend I was very happy to discover my 160 gig, Seagate external FW drive was ticking. I know what it means... eminent failure, so I turned it off. I have some stuff on there I would like to attempt to retrieve, but I can't get it to mount. It was spinning.... would mount for a minute, then fail. UGH!?!

Some tips I have heard work: (These are serious)

1. Placing Drive in the freezer
2. Dropping the drive or hitting it with a hammer

Now, I have not tried these great tips, but I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with recovering a bad drive? I will probably have to have it professionally recovered, but I felt it didn't hurt to ask.

I could have swore there was a way to do it in Acrobat, but I can't find anything.... help a brother out!

My Production/General Manager has gotten wind that I am a member of this forum. I was bragging to a buddy about all the helpful information I get out of this place, and he in turn brought it up to the PM. Anyhoo, PM approaches me today, after his business trip to demo a couple DIs and wanted to know if I could post a thread asking about performance and what might be his best option. I am obliging him.

Basically he is looking at two presses/copy machines on steroids: The Xerox IGen 3, and the Kodak NexPress 2100.

Any information you have if you are running one of these beasts would be greatly appreciated. My PM is aware that Sales are full of Sheeeeot, and wants the opinions of the trench workers, smart guy!

http://www.slate.com/id/2191199/?GT1=38001

I saw this this morning. Pretty interesting, nothing out of the norm, but an interesting article.

Every time I get on here, there are more lurkers than members. I see they pour through every thread, looking for that tip or answer to solve all their problems. This thread is dedicated to them, and their quest for knowledge....

These will be quick simple ideas or tips for any application. Just tidbits and advice to the would-be members to be, to maybe make their job a little easier, without having to dig, too much.

Tip #1... InDesign CS1-3: Before exporting that PDF, go to Window/Output/Output Preview. A palette will appear with all the colors being currently used in the document. The first drag-down menu above the separations which says "Off", turn to "Separations", now you can click on or off each color with the check-boxes. This will help you to determine if your file will separate correctly, and any extra colors you may need to eliminate from the swatch palette. It even shows Overprints, so check those whites!

Tip #2... InDesign CS1-3: Now let's take that last tip one step further. Fixing your color palette. Open you Color Palette, Window/Swatches. You will see a menagerie of all the those perty colors you used. To the right of each one is an icon. Those icons indicate what the color model is. If it is CMYK, or RGB, and if it is a spot color or mixes. The first thing to do is go to the side menu, the little black arrow on the upper right or left side. Step 1: Select Add Unnamed Colors. This will pull any and all colors imported or otherwise used in the file. Step 2: Again with the side menu, and select Select All Unused. You will see all the colors that are in the palette but not used in the file highlighted. Step 3: Down in the lower right hand corner or the Swatches Palette, you will see a series of icons. The right most one, the trash can, hit it. Poof! All the bad colors went away. Step 4: Fix your colors. By double-clicking any color, (minus registration, Black and white) you will have the option to change names of colors, change the color model, RGB/CMYK or access InDesign's built in color libraries. Once you have sorted your colors and have them exactly the way you want them, check your Output Preview again, (See above) and double-check yourself. Clean files, make for clean output.

Tip#3... Illustrator Legacy-CS3: Having problems selecting an item because too many other items are stacked on top? Rather than going to keyline and sorting these tedious stacks of a vector mess, use Command-3. or Apple-3, (Mac), Alt-3 (PC) I think or Object/Hide/Selection... Anyway, this handy little feature "hides" whatever you have selected in La La land. Now do your fix, and hit Option-Apple-3 or Object/Show All to show everything you hid back in their original places... untouched!

Tip#4... Photoshop 3-CS3: Ever wonder why you can't select just the pixel data on a unflattened layer? You select the marquee tool, select all, and you get a selection of the whole layer. For you alpha channel users, listen up! After you make the selection of the entire layer, switch to the tool at the very top right, the Movement Tool. Now hit your left or right arrow once, then back again... Congratulations.

It's 10:30 pm and I can't think of anymore right now... head-buzzing... need rest.

I have gone back throught the old threads and have a question. I primarily use PS for color correction. I have heard many of you talk about Aurelon CoCo, Color Mechanic Pro, and others. I, myself have never used them, but by judging from your threads, they are lifesavers. I am all about making my job easier, which would you recommend and why?

Got a problem I have been scratching my head about for awhile now. I got a G5 Dual GHz, running 10.4.11. My problem is, whenever I plug in an external FireWire device in, my OS9 doesn't load, it just hangs up. Now, if I take the same external device, and plug it in via USB2, no problems. I have whacked at this problem for about a year now, and have found nothing conclusive to help alleviate the problem. It's not a biggy, I mean USB2 will work, it's just one of those token things that drives me nuts.

And by the way, I am no novice Mac User, so I have gone through the obvious bull, ie: Permissions, FSCK, Reload System, Different User, safe mode, you get the idea. Plus I have tried different devices and different cables, and... FireWire 400 & 800 is effected.

Yes, I have to use System 9.

Okay, I have been reading a lot on this forum over the last month, and it sounds pretty sure that our careers could be in jeopardy if we don't start adapting to other offshoots of our proud profession.

I have seen many good and capable oldtime strippers and craftsman lose their jobs because they didn't want anything to do with computers. I don't want to end up like these guys.

It seems to me, again through reading threads on this forum and the newspaper, that many of you are to me correct in the assumption that if you don't get into web-based apps, you might find yourself the first on the chopping block, and then find it difficult to find another job after that.

My question to all you dual print/web guys... I know many of you are very capable Prepress Guys/Gals, that is why I trust your judgment as kin in vocation. If a guy were to get into web-based apps, what would be the best way to start, and what apps are going to be worth it to learn? I know enough to be familiar, but not enough to be confident in asking a designer for advice. What should I steer clear of?

On occasion, I have jobs where after I create postscript from any number of applications, usually ID, QXD, FH or even PM, I get errors indicating licensing issues with certain fonts when distilling. These fonts are usually Letraset, or custom TrueType fonts downloaded off the internet. Acrobat will not display the font correctly, so I can't outline it. What I have been doing is to open the font in Fontographer, stripping the copyright info out, regenerating the font and reloading in Suitcase.

Is there a better fix?