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Printing Drawing With Small Line Weights

jgs

Currently using Epson 1280 in the office. Print from Illustrator CS2, Photoshop CS2, Viz and Quark. Main problem seems to be with diagrams in Illustrator.

Having some problems with line weights dropping out, coming out jagged, or doing other strange things.

This is for brochure sheets, small presentations and award submissions. For large boards and original AutoCad files we don't have any problem with our large plotter.

What is the best printer/software combination for perfect drawings at small sizes up to 8.5 x 11?

Can you recommend a great graphics IT firm?




 
May 29, 08 2:13 pm
blah

Always print from a PDF, not the application. That should solve the problem.

May 29, 08 3:28 pm  · 
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jgs

No sorry PDF always look worse. The pages may be a combination of photographs, text and line drawings.

May 29, 08 3:35 pm  · 
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blah

Then there's something wrong with your export settings and/or your links. Which application are you exporting from? Are you exporting all of the fonts?

May 29, 08 3:36 pm  · 
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rehiggins

make sure that your lineweights don't go below .25pt, anything less and you run the risk of an inkjet not being able to print the line. If you need additional help, I'd be interested in consulting…

May 29, 08 3:39 pm  · 
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blah

"This is for brochure sheets, small presentations and award submissions. For large boards and original AutoCad files we don't have any problem with our large plotter."

That's because postscript information is being lost somewhere. I don't believe you're exporting properly.

May 29, 08 3:53 pm  · 
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jgs

.25 pt does not cut it. We use .1 often. Lot's of times there is no problem. I've seen other firms work with very thin line weights. So how do they do it?

We are mainly using Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2 and Quark.

I really don't know if the main problem is software or hardware. Hardware may have it's limitations so which is the best hardware for my needs?

May 29, 08 4:17 pm  · 
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Antisthenes

i see what the problem is that is a injet printer not a lazer. to get nice fine lines user lazer

also i would second the use of PDF instead of direct out of the application, as our printers often fail and it wastes the printer ram and takes much longer to print out of adobe apps than out of their outputed pdf document(especially when mixed image vector data). export settings making a big difference. are you using acrobat pro?

May 29, 08 4:51 pm  · 
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jgs

I am not using Acrobat Pro, and I am not an expert with PDF so I am sure there is something I could be doing differently. As far as the laser goes, since these are on pages with photographs, the laser is not acceptable most of the time. For a presentation meeting? Sure. For an award submission, no way.

May 29, 08 5:08 pm  · 
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Antisthenes

so you'll need color lazer, have you tried any reprographics or printshops in your area to use their hardware, and maybe get some of their expert advise?

May 29, 08 5:17 pm  · 
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AP

i'll 3rd exporting to pdf and printing from there. makeArch hit this one on the head.

my portfolio has fine linework, text and color imagery. spreads were created in quark and exported to pdf prior to printing on an epson.

May 29, 08 5:56 pm  · 
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