Updated my Affinity Publisher to 1.8 and been trying out the new import InDesign IDML files into AP.
It actually does a good job but you still have to do some cleaning up which is expected.

I am working on a article to post on my Linkedin page and hope to post it in next couple of days.
If anyone is interested, I can post a link to the article here if you wish when I post it on Linkedin.

Since I eventually soon be unemployed, I have been spending some time on YouTube getting myself up to speed on some things.
Hoping that I could find a job that I can work from home. Creating interactive pdf forms, photo editing, graphic design, etc.

Recently I posted a short article on Linkedin, not much but maybe it give me some exposure.
Done a few articles before but plan on doing more in hopes it catches someone's eye.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/losing-your-job-hello-youtube-joe-frazee?articleId=6623025509032833025#comments-6623025509032833025&trk=public_profile_article_view

BTW, here a link to where I am at on Linkedin. Did not use it much in the past but now is best time to start spending more time there.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joefrazeeohio?trk=author_mini-profile_title

Since I am moving away from Adobe...at home.

I have replaced Lightroom with ON1 Photo Raw.
Replaced Photoshop with Affinity Photo.
Replaced Illustrator with Affinity Designer.
And replaced InDesign with Affinity Publisher.

Now I am looking at a Acrobat replacement.
Have old Acrobat 9 Pro but I am on the latest Mac OS.
So any recommendations for a Acrobat alternative?

Well, there goes anyone out the door!
Third kid we had in last four years to walk out.
Management still tries to hire these kids that want to be web designers and graphic designs that don't know shit about printing.

Kid: What's bleed?
Me: Seriously?!

At least they can't fire my ass if I get up and dance naked on my desk. LOL
As of now, almost 99% of printing is done in our department
I've said we need a "digital press person" not some damn graphic designer.
So I'm guaranteed a paycheck for a little bit longer since I'm alone.
Boss tries to help. The key word is "try."

Quote from: Joe on July 25, 2019, 11:00:42 AM
New file won't go through Prinergy.

1) If the older Advanced Preflight is used it doesn't make it through the Normalizer.

2) if the newer Preflight + is used it makes it to the trapper where it fails with an 'Access Denied' error.

3) if I turn off trapping it processes through just fine.

Syphon....would you mind if I send the file to Kodak to see if they can find out what is causing it? I assume it is because of a font as we get that a lot in Prinergy these days plus if I outline all fonts it processes through everything including trapping just fine.

Sure can!
Really appreciate it.

Quote from: seratne on July 25, 2019, 10:28:23 AM
Running Apogee 9 here. Both files render and trap without any warnings. And both render the same way. Page 2 is k only on both files.

XMF also gave no issues at all.

Glad to hear that! 

Quote from: EmptyWords on July 25, 2019, 10:12:37 AM
Ok you got me sooo curious about this, even stopped doing production files to see if the pdf(s) would run through our workflow, we are still using an old system(s) - Esko/Artwork Odystar v4.1.1 & Nexus v10.1 build 78, the initial pdf files crash our Odystar repeatedly, that had me stumped till I figured out where it was faltering.

When I opened the pdfs in Acrobat and did a save as and ran those files, the system chewed them them out pretty quick, the trapper had no problems w/ the file, Nexus had no problems after the save as too. The only other issue I ran into was on page 2 w/ the grey pic, it was tagged as US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 w/ data only in the black channel, our workflow converted it to 4/c, I will have to look into that, maybe cause the tagging, it went ahead and mapped the image to all four channels.

But... this is a pretty good exercise in possible issues to look for when/if we get any Affinity jobs/pdf files in here, which I am pretty sure will happen sooner or later, hell we get some clients sending in stuff done in Canva and for us those always give us problems, it's just a matter of time before those jobs/pdf files start showing up here.

Looking forward to more people (hopefully) getting in on the conversation and maybe testing the pdfs out on other workflows and any issues that arise and things to be aware of.

OMG, I hate getting files from Canva!
Always giving me headaches.

I do hope more will jump in on this.
Like it or not, I really believe Affinity Publisher will be big maybe not as big as Adobe.

Quote from: Joe on July 25, 2019, 08:42:11 AM

Quote from: Syphon on July 25, 2019, 07:05:36 AM
I tried through our Prienergy and it fails.
Gives a "Color conversion is required to defione the output colorants for file."

I'm thinking a color setting in the creation of the pdf needs changed when making the pdf in Affinity Publisher.
It does have multiply settings I can play with including color profiles.
Could try other pdf presets included like PDX/4 to see if that works.

I did try putting the pdf into a InDesign document and it went without any problems.
Tried printing to digital, no problems. Good thing since any more 99% of our print is done digitally these days.
These I have been "mister hot pants sexy copier boy" standing over these copiers most of the days.

-Syphon

Yeah I would try an PDX/4 if that is an option. The PDF also had ICC profiles and I'm not  a fan of getting those as Prinergy is set to discard them anyway.

Had to stop by the apartment and while there made a quick pdfs from Affinity Publisher.
Here is the link:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/12mxTl39-IIUht0GlQt7Y9fOG1fzvvzu3/view?usp=sharing

And here is snapshot of the profiles in the AF pdf export window.
-Syphon

I tried through our Prienergy and it fails.
Gives a "Color conversion is required to defione the output colorants for file."

I'm thinking a color setting in the creation of the pdf needs changed when making the pdf in Affinity Publisher.
It does have multiply settings I can play with including color profiles.
Could try other pdf presets included like PDX/4 to see if that works.

I did try putting the pdf into a InDesign document and it went without any problems.
Tried printing to digital, no problems. Good thing since any more 99% of our print is done digitally these days.
These I have been "mister hot pants sexy copier boy" standing over these copiers most of the days.

-Syphon

Quote from: Joe on July 24, 2019, 08:06:34 PM
Well that didn't go so well. Could not get any of the pages to go through the Prinergy trapper until I outlined all fonts in the document.

Attached are the PDF properties shown by Acrobat DC.

PDF Producer: PDFlib+PDI 9.1.2p1-i (OS X/macOS)

Was that PDF a straight export out of AP?

Yep. File > Export > choose PDF (for print).
I will give it a try on our Prinergy later today.

Here you go Joe!

Here is a pdf for print made with Affinity Publisher.
Four pages.
1. Cover of our newsletter which we print on press.
2. Cover of client program which prints black and white on digital.
3. Mix of vector log with drop shadow done in AF, client eps logo, a pdf ad, and photo with white text.
4, Two more pdf ads from a client magazine (prints on press).

Link;
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BnNetH0CZWiJ2AgFP4h8wgxtIOge43uo

-Syphon

Well I bought Affinity Publisher for my iMac at home. And I have to say I really like it.
It does most of what InDesign does minus a few things like data merge, scripts, and packaging files. These missing features are in the works and will come in a update.
Also, I love how fast it is! And I like the simple interface too.
And I love the StudioLink feature. That's pretty cool.
The free stock images from Pixabay, Pexels and Unsplash is really nice. Better than Adobe Stock where you have to buy images.

I read briefly that possibly they are working on the ability to open InDesign IDML files.
I doubt it but I have found a run around to getting InDesign files into Affinity Publisher.
First you need to make a pdf (press quality) with bleeds if there are any, and no crop marks.
Make sure you have the fonts loaded first. Then open the pdf with Affinity Publisher.

I found that everything opens up almost perfectly. Even line endings so far seem okay.
As for photos, they are of course embedded but you can link them to original file.
If you don't choose the text flow option, it is easy to relink the text boxes with the frame text tool.
Click on first text frame (little triangle in lower right corner of the frame) and then click on the text frame you want to like to.

BUT, Affinity Publisher is not perfect. As i mention, there is no packaging feature or data merge feature.
But those features will be added in future update.
But I did run into a problem (sort of).
When I open the document (pdf), if there are any pdfs in the document, the pdfs become editable as if you open them into Adobe Illustrator.
The problem is that if you do not have the fonts, you are screwed. The Font Manager will show a whole list of missing fonts!
After playing with it, I found the solution. You have to go into the Document Setup and change Image Placement Policy to Linked Preferred.
Then you have to replace the pdf ad with the pdf file (that is if you have it).
Hopefully they will offer that option before you open the pdf with Affinity Publisher in future update.

Also, interesting fact is that the Affinity applications are all the same under the hood.
Only difference is the extensions which tell which application the file was created in.
That explains why in StudioLink, you can edit photos and vectors right inside Publisher without leaving the app.

Bottom line in my opinion, if Serif can bring packaging and data merge features to Publisher, they have a very good chance to give Adobe a run for its money.
And if there are working on making it possible to open IDML files in Publisher, I know plenty of clients who would switch.

BTW, I been using Affinity Photo for two months, haven't missed Photoshop one bit.
Photoshop is so slow compared to Affinity Photo. Might be saying goodbye to Photoshop.
And I replaced Lightroom with ON1 Photo Raw. Haven't missed Lightroom either!

Quote from: Joe on June 11, 2019, 10:40:02 AM
Oh and good to hear from you Syphon.

I think it is what I would need at home.
For some of our customers, it might be better.
The less they can do, the less shit I need to clean up.

Thanks Joe!
Glad you guys are still around.

These days I been busy running digital presses and trying to teach kids how to do their job.
Hard to do when they are going to school to be web designers.

Finally!
Affinity Publisher is about to be released on June 19 or 20, 2019.
I got an invitation email to download it on the 19th. Can't wait!
Still not sure of the name yet.
But if it can do the majority of what ID can do, I guess I can get use to the name.

Maybe I can now delete that old copy of InDesign on my Mac at home.

WOW!
Thanks guys for all the great ideas!

-Joe