So whaddya' think?

I've seen a lot of griping, mostly because it's not any more configurable or upgradeable than the newer iMacs. Looks like Apple's going towards a totally disposable computer line. Anything you want to change or add must be taken care of by Thunderbolt.

Actually, I guess it's just going the modular route, although anybody with specialized cards or HDs will have to buy TB enclosures. Cables are our future. Also there's some flack about not being able to run some Adobe video apps because they won't run with the Mac Pro's video cards.

From a press release today: Adobe has decided to focus its resources on Creative Cloud and will not continue development on its Creative Suite software, reports The Next Web. While Creative Suite 6 will continue to be supported in regards to bug fixes, there will be no further updates and no Creative Suite 7.

Here we go....

By the way, didn't see anything about it on Adobe's newsroom page.

There was a rumor going around yesterday that Adobe was giving away downloads of CS2. One site I know of posted links to the download. It didn't work. Later on, a new story came out that what had happened was that Adobe had taken the limitations off the downloads for CS2 for anybody who already has a license.

Of course, I tried it. Thing is, if Adobe got lots of hits off this, you'd think they would get a clue that there is still a demand for their old software for people who can't afford the new stuff or for computers too old to use it. CS2 is four versions back, it wouldn't hurt for them to sell it at a reduced price. If your computer could run CS6, it couldn't run CS2 very well, so you know you're not losing sales of CS6 or Cloud subscriptions to people buying CS2.

We just upgraded about 3 versions to 8.5. Trying out this new picture effects. It says it works on EPS pix, but I've tried several in our files and can't find one that will let me use picture effects. They are all just plain Photoshop EPS files done in CS2. Maybe they're too old? Do I have to resave in a newer Photoshop?

Supposed to be getting a Mako II violet platesetter. Anybody have one? Any quirks I should know about?

Don't slap me, but does anybody have a copy of Multi-Ad Creator 6 or 7 they want to get rid of? I need the whole thing, not just an upgrade. Reasonably priced, of course. I'm trying not to have to bite the bullet for a $200 upgrade.

OK, I'm trying to learn InDesign. Is there someplace you can specify that all placed images automatically come with text wrap like you can in (gulp) Quark? And can you set options for it?

Nobody will probably be able to explain this, but here goes...
I use EPS files from Multi-Ad Creator imported into a Quark document, then print to postscript into three different hot folders for Distiller to make PDFs (for ad proofs, printing copy, web copy). I tried InDesign this week, and get error messages, usually citing "curveto", whether I've tried exporting postscript, EPS, printing to postscript, different settings, tried everything. I've made about 20 test files, no soap. The only thing I can think of is the gradients in Multi-Ad Creator trick it up. But making a PDF directly from InDesign does work.
I guess I ought to be grateful that something works, but I'm spoiled with the hot folders.
Any ideas?

Heard Kodak is gonna quit making film. My boss thinks that just leaves Fuji for film for our imagesetter and the price will go up. Anybody know of any good alternatives? We've got a Katana and use 12 inch film.

It's called www.macdrivermuseum.com. Has links for all kinds of drivers for printers and other stuff.

Whenever I place a grayscale image from Photoshop into Illustrator, it still wants to separate into CMYK when printing. Changing the image under Convert Colors makes it really dark, so that won't work. Had a recent file come in with an RGB image, changed it to grayscale in PS, placed in Illustrator, same problem. It was a PSD file with transparent background (clipping path wouldn't have worked for this). How do you guys handle this?

I get a weird locked PDF sometimes. When I open in in Acrobat (6), the screen goes dark, then nothing but the PDF on a black screen. Have to press Escape to get out of it. This time I pressed Command Escape, and the thing went back to a normal display with a PDF I could do whatever with.

We're getting one to replace a DC240. My biggest concern is what kind of heavy stock will it duplex in the machine? 110 lb. index? C1S cover? (usually 11x17 or 12x18 for bus. cards is what we run). I don't believe everything the sales people say.
Also, is there anything that makes it a pain to you?
I've been told it has to be calibrated every day. Is this a pain?

I upgraded to Tiger and downloaded the combo update, which took it to 10.4.10. No problems at all. Now with the 10.4.11 update, my Classic apps are acting a little hinky. Anybody have this problem?
By the way, I've got plenty of RAM. According to Activity Monitor, I don't use half of it.

I know this is not exactly prepress, but has anyone tried any of those sites like Elance, where you bid on jobs? Whadd'ya think? Could always use a little extra gas money.

We've got a Harlequin RIP 510 that we want to use with a Katana 5055 imagesetter. Our old imagesetter was another brand and died. Seems like all we have is the output plug-in for the old model, but the RIP manual says it will run the Katana we have. Do we need another plug-in?

Assuming that no changes will be made after you get a PDF (yeah, I know, but just bear with me), do you prefer fonts embedded or outlined? Do you notice any difference between the two methods with small type?

and apparently are NOT being taught in design school.

Before you even START your project –

Call your PRINTER! Find out what kind of file they need. Don't have an optimal setup? All you've got is Publisher? Fine, just let us know, we can work with you. We can help you avoid pitfalls, tell you what kind of graphics files you need, the importance of embedding fonts, etc.

In return, you'll get three benefits.

1. Your project will be printed with fewer delays and problems, and fewer unexpected results (that's not the color green I picked!).

2. You'll get knowledge you can use through the rest of your career, starting with your next project.

3. Next time you're in a bar with your old design school classmates, you can sound SMART! "Hey, Bubba, you didn't really send them RGB images, did ya?"

Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?

But if you insist on shoving a crappy file at us at the last minute, pleading, "I don't know how to do all that stuff, you're supposed to be the experts," be prepared...

to be skewered in the B4Print bar, where you can't even come to see what we've said about you, Ha, Ha!