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Re: FrameMaker and printers, service bureaus

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Posted by Laurence Burrows on May 02, 1997 at 22:40:29:

In Reply to: FrameMaker and printers, service bureaus posted by Cybersmith on April 13, 1997 at 09:49:29:

: Anyway, the problem is, most printers and service bureaus have never heard of FrameMaker. Has anyone found a service bureau that supports this package? There's a market for one!

Solution here in several parts.

1. In FrameMaker, output .ps files with the driver options for postscript set to "optimise for portablity". This makes for bigger (but more generic) .ps files.

2. Find a bureau that =really= understands about imposition. Many will tell you that they can impose but what they will do (**!!~?!) is try and open the files in Quark, create an eps file for each page, save them, open a Quark document the size of the print sheet, and manually impose (???) the .eps page images on the sheet!!!!. If Quark can't read =your= files, you are told 'your postscript is non-standard/broken/backwards/purple.

3. Some imposition software cannot =read= FrameMaker postscript, which means editing the .ps files (not fun)--PressWise is an example here. See if the bureau has access to DoubleUp Pro which =does= work fine with FrameMaker .ps files.

4. If you are printing page images (like docutech) some =enlightened= bureaus will accept .pdf files that you can have Acrobat 3 distill from your .ps files (see 2 above). This simplifies things greatly because:
(a) The Acrobat distiller acts like a mini rip and will alert you to 99% of postscript errors before the file goes to the bureau.
(b) The bureau can print up a sample for contractual purposes.
(c) If the bureau has Acrobat Exchange they can do last-minute text edits for you to remove those trully horrendus blundders that sometims sneke through all our proofing.

5. Absolutely insist on trial runs/samples/names of satisfied customers before signing a contract!!!

Regards, Laurence
+I don't have interests in any of the companies mentioned

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: : Anyway, the problem is, most printers and service bureaus have never heard of FrameMaker. Has anyone found a service bureau that supports this package? There's a market for one! : Solution here in several parts. : 1. In FrameMaker, output .ps files with the driver options for postscript set to "optimise for portablity". This makes for bigger (but more generic) .ps files. : 2. Find a bureau that =really= understands about imposition. Many will tell you that they can impose but what they will do (**!!~?!) is try and open the files in Quark, create an eps file for each page, save them, open a Quark document the size of the print sheet, and manually impose (???) the .eps page images on the sheet!!!!. If Quark can't read =your= files, you are told 'your postscript is non-standard/broken/backwards/purple. : 3. Some imposition software cannot =read= FrameMaker postscript, which means editing the .ps files (not fun)--PressWise is an example here. See if the bureau has access to DoubleUp Pro which =does= work fine with FrameMaker .ps files. : 4. If you are printing page images (like docutech) some =enlightened= bureaus will accept .pdf files that you can have Acrobat 3 distill from your .ps files (see 2 above). This simplifies things greatly because: : (a) The Acrobat distiller acts like a mini rip and will alert you to 99% of postscript errors before the file goes to the bureau. : (b) The bureau can print up a sample for contractual purposes. : (c) If the bureau has Acrobat Exchange they can do last-minute text edits for you to remove those trully horrendus blundders that sometims sneke through all our proofing. : 5. Absolutely insist on trial runs/samples/names of satisfied customers before signing a contract!!! : Regards, Laurence : +I don't have interests in any of the companies mentioned

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