Something else that can help speed up the translation to PDF: if any of the artwork uses Illustrator's Effects, have the artist expand the appearance of all objects, then do an object cleanup (Object > Path > Cleanup) and resave. Reimport to FrameMaker. Especially if the objects are appearing on each page, even a small improvement in processing time will add up.
Tori Muir tmuir at spot-on-creative.com | 650.430.8674 www.spot-on-creative.com On 4/14/10 2:42 PM, Combs, Richard wrote: > Pete Roebber wrote: > > >>> You're not using OLE (File> Import> Object), are you? Use File> Import >>> File. What format are the graphics? >>> IIRC, FM 9 supports native Illustrator (.ai) file import. What file size >>> >> are they? >> >> I'm using File> Import> File to import .ai files. The graphics files are >> ~1MB each. >> >> >>> I'd look at two things. First, if the AI files are really big, see if >>> >> they can be "optimized" to cut down the file size, >> >>> or try exporting to other formats. >>> >> Is 1MB really big? I've also tried JPG, with file sizes around 200K. Didn't >> seem to make a big difference, though I didn't try doing a whole manual >> that way. >> > Well, it strikes me as big for vector drawings, but I'm not very > knowledgeable about AI files. Are there gradient fills, or something similar? > > I'd strongly advise against JPG, which should be reserved for continuous-tone > images, i.e., photographs. But you might do a timed test comparing AI files > with, say, PNG. Presumably, you're only talking about changing three or so > master pages, so comparing two complete versions of the manual shouldn't take > any longer than it takes to import page layouts to all the files in a copy of > the book. > > >>> Second, look at your Distiller joboptions settings. Depending on the >>> >> intended destination >> >>> of the PDF (on-screen vs. office printer vs. high-quality press), you may >>> >> be able to use a different joboptions file or >> >>> tweak the compression/downsampling settings. >>> >> I always use "Standard." I publish the PDF to the Web so it has to be high >> enough quality in case customers want to print, but still keep the file >> size reasonable. >> > In Distiller, select Settings> Edit Adobe PDF Settings to look at and tweak > the Standard.joboptions file (you can save changes under a different name). > Or just for grins, try using the Smallest File Size setting and compare the > speed and quality. > > >>> Oh, and one other thing. When you say ">1 hour print times," are you >>> >> talking about the time to create the PDF or the time to >> >>> print the PDF on an office printer? If the latter, check how much memory >>> >> the printer has and/or try different printers. >> >> >>> If the former -- wow. You _are_ using the Adobe PDF printer instance, >>> >> right? >> >> Former. I use, from the book file, File/Save AS PDF, and select "Standard" >> as the quality setting. Wow is right! >> > Unless you have Sundorne's SetPrint plug-in or you manually change it in > Print Setup, FM uses your system's default printer for Save As PDF -- that's > the chief cause of the problems people have with Save As PDF. Use only the > Adobe PDF printer for PDFs, either by manually changing to it or by using > SetPrint to automatically change FM's printer when it starts. > > That's all I've got, so I'm directing the conversation back to the list in > case anyone else has something to contribute. "Wisdom of the crowd," you > know. :-) > > > Richard G. Combs > Senior Technical Writer > Polycom, Inc. > richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom > 303-223-5111 > ------ > rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom > 303-903-6372 > ------ > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to framers as tmuir at spot-on-creative.com. > > Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com. > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com > or visit > http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/tmuir%40spot-on-creative.com > > Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. > >
