Designs for digital-only outputs - Mac or PC ?

hewligan · 02-24-2010, 11:42 PM

Originally posted by graphicartist01 View Post

IF MOST OF THE ACTUAL USERS OF DIGITAL OUTPUT, USES A P.C., WOULD IT BE BETTER TO RE-TOUCH/DESIGN ON A P.C. rather than a MAC ? At the same time, IF MOST OF THE GRAPHICS INDUSTRY IS USING A MAC FOR PRE-PRESS, WOULDN'T THERE BE COMPATIBILITY ISSUES WHEN I DEAL WITH OTHER DESIGNERS ?

There shouldn't be any compatibility issues. To be honest, there's no particular reason to choose Mac or Windows beyond personal preference for this type of work.

Titanium_FX · 02-25-2010, 12:09 AM

I agree with hewligan, there isn't much difference when it comes down to the core functionality of compiling data in adobe software, Im guessing by digital output forms you mean .pdf files that user input data to, if so the adobe distiller works exactly the same on PC/Mac.

From what I gather Macs are preferred in prepress due to their memory dumping capability, now that Windows 7 is out it has the same ability and no need to use dodgy programs to clear your windows memory, ensure you get the 64bit version as 32bit windows only supports 4gb memory.

**Lith** · 02-25-2010, 12:14 AM

Originally posted by graphicartist01 View Post

IF MOST OF THE GRAPHICS INDUSTRY IS USING A MAC FOR PRE-PRESS,

I believe thats a misconception. Out of all of the files I get from other graphic designers in a year i would be surprised if 10% were done on a mac. I recently had an issue with mac pdf's from a client and that was the first time I've had to deal mith a macperson in forever.

Maybe thats just around here.

**garricks** · 02-25-2010, 12:25 AM

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J_Frye · 02-25-2010, 11:29 AM

What I primarily want to do is freelance photo re-touching

I'm telling you right now...AT LEAST 85% of potential clients will come to you with an image done by a photo studio of some sort. Many will come to you with printed proofs. These are copyright images that you legally cannot tamper with in any way shape or form.

I would suggest you expand a bit (alot) on other aspects of digital freelancing.

If I had a dime for every person who has come to me with a photo from another studio to 'fix' ...well, I'd have a heaping SH*# load of 'em !

**Virgo Nightingale** · 02-25-2010, 12:51 PM

There really is no compatibility issues between Mac and PC. As long as the software in question is available for both platforms, the files it creates will be equally usable on either end. The only issue may be the fonts, as some are PC-only and some are Mac-only. OpenType fonts are cross-platform, so there won't (or shouldn't) be an issue with them as long as both computers have the same fonts in their libraries.

hank_scorpio · 02-25-2010, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by Virgo Nightingale View Post

There really is no compatibility issues between Mac and PC. As long as the software in question is available for both platforms, the files it creates will be equally usable on either end. The only issue may be the fonts, as some are PC-only and some are Mac-only. OpenType fonts are cross-platform, so there won't (or shouldn't) be an issue with them as long as both computers have the same fonts in their libraries.

It is, however, illegal to share fonts, so supplying a job for print and supplying fonts would violate most EULAs of fonts. The printer would have to purchase the font to print the file. That's why Adobe came to an agreement with type foundries about allowing a subset of the font for printing to be embedded in PDFs, rather than fonts being shipped with collected output from Quark or packaged in InDesign.

If the printers insist you send original files then they should purchase the font themselves, if they haven't already got them.

That's the explanation I got from Dov Issacs of Adobe in a polite reminder on the Adobe Forums ^^^

Titanium_FX · 02-25-2010, 01:06 PM

easier just to convert all fonts to outline, but is a pain for the next designer trying to figure out what font you used and "what the font" is hardly ever accurate.

**Virgo Nightingale** · 02-25-2010, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by Titanium_FX View Post

easier just to convert all fonts to outline, but is a pain for the next designer trying to figure out what font you used and "what the font" is hardly ever accurate.

I've been on the receiving end of outlined files that need to be edited. BIG pain in the ass. If you feel the need to outline, NEVER save over your original – keep an original with the fonts intact.

I only outline if the printer requests it or if some other font-embedding issue comes up in the pdf I've created and there's no other simple solution.

PrintDriver · 02-25-2010, 01:57 PM

You guys are straying a bit.
It sounds like the OP thinks they will only ever do digital not-for-print image files.
It absolutely does not matter in the least whether a photoshop image comes out of a PC or a Mac. It doesn't even matter later if the image files are used in a print layout. (As long as the resolution is there..........)
Why one would by the entire suite for this purpose is beyond me. Or why one would limit themselves to strictly digital image manip.
But <shrug>

gomez09 · 02-25-2010, 02:57 PM

great art doesn't depend on the OS but in the eyes and hands of the artist

hank_scorpio · 02-25-2010, 03:06 PM

or the beholder

gomez09 · 02-25-2010, 03:19 PM

@ eugenetyson, yah right! doing classi stuffs here.

graphicartist01 · 02-25-2010, 05:47 PM

@ Titanium FX : thanks. Not only PDF, but also design work for websites also. That is why I am wondering if most online visitors use a P.C., then Winodws could be a better match for designing as well

@ Lithonate : thanks.

@ J Frye : thanks. Yes, absolutely. I do understand that I cannot insist to work solely on photoshop. Hence, I am already taking classes on Illustrator and Color Reproduction. And I may take classes on Indesign too. But, I do not wish to get too much into an already dimnishing print-industry. So, I would be focussing on Photoshop and Web design.

@ Virgo Nightingale : thanks. Font and color is a concern when I carry files between my home PC and school Mac.

@ Print Driver : thanks. Further to my explanation to 'J Frye', student version of CS4 design premium costs $400. Hence I figured I would buy the whole package, rather than buying photoshop alone which is $200. I know that scope and viability of surviving exclusively on Photoshop is a whole another discussion.

EVEN IF THE INDUSTRY DOES NOT DEPEND ON MAC, THEN WOULDN'T MAC STILL BE A BETTER PLATFORM, BECAUSE MAC SNOW LEOPARD CAN TAKE MAC AND WINDOWS, WHICH GIVES THE FLEXIBILITY ?

Designs for digital-only outputs - Mac or PC ?

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