Text outlines

[capezio]

Err I wasn't sure where to post this but here goes

I have changed the font on a simple logotype for a client and used IDesign
I am using it on a business card to start with so it will be tiny when sized approx 16mm x 45mm overall type is 17pt futura medium and oblique before reducing with 3 square boxes.

How do I save the file once I've created outlines at present I have just grouped the boxes and sized it in position on the card 55 x 85mm. However, when I save it as a pdf (which I've done as a proof to send to client) when looked at on screen it is very wavy/fuzzy, will this print smoothly and how do I save this logo for future varied use.

I experimented by saving it as an eps because I know that later I am going to have to put it on a coloured background not white which it is on now and when I did this it looked horrid with a kind of white line around it. (Is this what I've heard of as trapping and knockout?)

I would really appreciate your advice and thank you in advance.

[jsnyder]

The bad preview is probably just Acrobat trying to render the vector paths. Are you on a PC? It probably looks fine on a Mac.

It should print just fine. Have you tried printing it?

For a smooth preview on screen (on a PC) export the file as a JPG.

For future varied use, export it as an EPS. Then it can be used in most apps.

What are you viewing the EPS with that makes it look horrid?

[capezio]

I'm looking at it on a Powerbook G4
I haven't tried printing yet, cos its bedtime will do tomorrow.
I exported it as an eps from Indesign then brought it back into indesign into a box and filled it with another colour. The text had white lines around it.

edit: I'm relatively new to IDesign and I've just been playing round with the eps file I created and tried importing it again same result white lines. Then Istarted looking at the menu: object > Display performance. It was set on >use view setting, so I tried high quality and it looks fine. I tried again importing the eps and it seems to default back to the >use view setting. Is this what it does?

[jsnyder]

Yes, try changing to View>Display Performance>High Quality Display. This will smooth all objects on screen. You may want to switch it back to Typical, ot Fast, depending on the amount of objects you're viewing, and the redraw rate. (High Quality gets really slow when your viewing a lot of text or objects.)

[Alan G]

Sounds like it looks fine in Indy but crappy in Acrobat. If that's the case, you should look over the PDF preset you're using in the export dialog. Get rid of downsampling, for starters. Modify one of the higher resolution presets such as High Quality Print.

If you have transparency in the logotype, be sure that your transparency flattener preset is set to high resolution, or use a PDF version for Acrobat 5 or later, which allows transparency.

See if either of those suggestions make a difference. They should.

Unless you have a specific reason (such as the production folks equipment requires it), there's seldom any need to output to EPS.

[Newbov]

From my experience, EPS files always preview like crap. In my prepress days all we used were EPS files and Scitex CTs, That was in the mid 90's. Now with the advent of Adobe CS and significant updates to RIPS I never use EPS files. And no printer I uses demands I use them. I recommend using tiffs or PSDs.

As for bad looking PDFs, check your Acrobat settings like the last post says.

Newbov

[Craig B]

EPS files always preview like Crap? In what? ... MS products. Yes.

Vector based .eps files are preferred for any logo over TIFF or PSD.

If you're referring to raster based photoshop .eps files, I generally agree that TIFFs are just as good, unless you're needing the format for duotones or DCS files.

[Newbov]

Sorry, I guess I should have stated that I was referring to raster files. EPS or.AI is the way to go for vector files.images/icons/icon9.gif

[capezio]

thanks for the replies to this, I have sorted the fact that it looks crappy in ID but looks ok when the high qulaity is checked.

I have since downloaded adobe reader 7 (acrobat reader 5 before) and it renders much better.

So back to the original if I have this simple logotype created in Indesign how do I save it so that I can reverse it out to place on a coloured background not white. I need a transparent background which is why I saved it as an eps. I only know how do do clipping paths from photoshop and that is very hit and miss or item>clipping>item>non white areas in Quark but i can't use quark anymore.

So what can you advise
thanks again

[Craig B]

Do you have Illustrator? You really shouldn't be designing logos in InDesign.

With that being said, what other programs will you be using this logotype with. Are you going to continue designing the layouts in InDesign. If so, just leave it InDesign. If you need to reverse it out, just change the text to white.

Once again, that's not the preferred method.

I think right now it's just hard to get my head around what you're trying to do. I would recommend not using clipping paths. Keep it all .eps (which is why I recommend Illustrator.)

[capezio]

I'm not explaining very well am I. I have recreated an existing logo ie the boxes and changed the name and font. At some pont this will have to go on a comps slip and the client wants it on the palest blue. Business cards are white at top with other details on the blue.
He wants to use the comps slip portrait as a sort of memo sheet as well so he wants lots of white space to write on—hence the reversal of the blue and white.

Because the logo is just boxes and text I turned the test to outlines so I could size it. I was thinking if it was ever needed for any other material by anyone else that it would be best saved as a .eps so the background is transparent .
I'm confused :confused:

edit I have Illy 9 its a pain cos it runs on classic and I have a problem with installing the fonts

[capezio]

This is the card