Final Files and Problems!

[BokehMommy]

Hi all,

I've been designing on a professional level for a year and half and have never had these problems before.

I have had three clients in the past two weeks complain about the quality of final files I send to them for their logo design. I typically send various sizes of RGB, 72dpi JPGs, PNGs (or GIFs), an EPS and/or AI, and high-res (300dpi), CMYK JPGs in various sizes for use in print.

My clients are complaining that their images are blurry. Have I changed some setting that I don't know about? Is something happening when I place the files in Photoshop to create the final images? Am I sending incorrect file types?

Also, those with Vista are having a hard time opening the zipped files I send. Does that have anything to do with this issue? (I use a MacBook Pro.)

Thanks in advance. I'm about to pull my hair out!!!

[jimking]

It's a bit slow on weekends so the responses may come slowly. These are logos? After you make the files to send, have you taken a very CLOSE look at your files before you send them. Zoom up close and see if your files are pixalated, fussy text not sharp. If the files are vector (illy files) I'd send them ai files or eps but not jpegs. If it's a photoshop file with simple text and art, no gradients, I'd send them 1200dpi bitmap. As far as RGB, 72dpi etc. I'd assume these are for the web? View your files that you've sent your clients and see for yourself if they are exceptable. Do the files match up to their complaints?

[Broacher]

My guess is that you've run into one of those rarer kind of clients: one with a postscript printer that uses true postscript sceens-- or, an old (likely HP) laser that uses fixed laser halftone screens (typically around 65 dpi). Most of the newer client printers (including lasers) use full rez scanning output (or with inkjet, fm screens) and you don't get any halftoning at all.

Fact is, in real production, for anything commercial done with lower rez halftoning (newspaper work, for example--and you also are aware, of course that image resolution and halftone lpi are two separate and independently-handled, raster processing settings) rasterized logos will look fuzzy, especially around small type and thin lines. Much better to send them a vector version of those files--which, of course, if you've been 'designing on a professional level for a year and a half' would be the master logo format you designed these in, right? Jim's advice of a 1200 line art (bw) is a good workaround, though limited in scaling of course.

If your client is using MS Office apps for the logo, usually an EMF export from the AI master works well.

That is, assuming (again, on a professional level) that you haven't designed their logo to be absolutely dependent on raster (no scalable) effects such as feathering, or drop shadow. Then you've got more work ahead of you.

[BokehMommy]

Yes, these are logos - and yes, I created them in Illy with no raster effects. My clients are asking for JPGs and PNGs that they can use on the web. They're also asking for files to use in their Word documents and on their own business cards (I try to get most clients to let me do that, but they insist).

So if I create a logo for a client who will be creating their own biz cards (in Publisher or some other such program) what is the best file type to send? I've always sent PDFs or high res JPGs. Is this totally wrong?

The crazy thing is (and I check ALL files before sending) they look perfect on my screen. I mean, absolutely perfect! What gives?? I also don't understand why this is suddenly happening when I've been creating final files for this long with no issues whatsoever. Makes a person doubt what they know!!!

I will try the EMF export from AI for MS Office Apps. Thanks for that!

Thanks for the help and responses. I appreciate the advice!

[BokehMommy]

Ok, will they be able to open and use an EMF if they don't have Illy?

[doubting_thomas]

If they use any of the applications on this list they should be able to.

http://www.fileinfo.net/extension/emf

[BokehMommy]

Ok, but that link says that it doesn't support CMYK data. Is that still going to work if my clients are using the logo for print?

Again, can anyone answer the question about the best file type to send?

Thanks for everyone's help!

[BokehMommy]

Ok, the EMF looks awful. The outlined text is pixelated and blurry. Any ideas?

[BJMRGTIVR6]

I know MS applications accept WMF which is Windows MetaFile and is a scalable (slightly) Clipart style file. I say somewhat scalable because it uses only straight lines and makes curves via tiny straight lines rather than using Bezier style handles.

Also, are they printing from Windows Apps? I know in the past image files look blurry on screen within word, publisher but will print out better.

[Craig B]

EMF sucks. I wouldn't recommend it. It's Microsoft's early version of a 'vector format" and it tends to have problems with anything with detail usually. Not only that but they can then edit individual pieces of the EMF file once it's placed if necessary.

This may be an obvious question, but have you verified from the client which file they're using that's causing the blurriness. I usually provide the same options for my clients and every now and then they end up using the low-res option in something and wonder why it's blurry.

[BokehMommy]

Hmmm, maybe that's the issue then. They're seeing it blurry on their screen in Word, but I can't see that because I'm checking my files with Preview...

[BokehMommy]

Actually, Craig, it's funny you ask that! It turns out the files they're using are the high-res ones - and those are the ones that are blurry! The 72dpi web images are apparently just fine. I have no idea what to do! You guys are awesome, though!!

[Craig B]

Not only that but from what I remember, sometimes in Word if you're zoomed in or out it could effect the "crispness" of a higher-res image placed on a page on a PC.