posted
Just wondering what format you consider best use to attach a layout to an email.
This is what I usually do... If it's text overlayed onto a picture,Say a vehicle, I'll render the text to bitmap and export the image as a jpeg.
If it is a simple design/layout, I'll export as bitmap, then run it thru Image Optimizer to compress as a gif.
But I recently had to send a proof which was several different signs with lots of text on them. Rendering to bitmap resulted in the text being too blocky when viewed. Most customers wouldn't be able to read vector files, so in this case I exported as an .ai file to Corel, then saved as a PDF. It looked pretty good, file size was around 500kb, but the colours were way off when printed.
So how do you do it???
Cheers, Neil
------------------ Neil Riley Riley Signs Adelaide, South Ozzz A "Down Under" Supporter!
Posts: 157 | From: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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stick a bloody jpeg or a gif to that mail attachment. don't sweat a tech file like an eps file! most customers have the capability to pull an image file in their browser.
posted
Maybe I'm out to lunch, but the way I do it and it seems to work fine, I print off the Job on good quality paper first, then scan into photo shop, I reduce the resolution to 75dpi and keep the physical size low to about 3in. save as a bitmap and then send, customers usually have no trouble seeing these on their email. I'm using composer and I don't think I can export text and graphics to a bitmap with great results, or am I wrong? Neil
------------------ "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF
Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
What I do, is save a copy of the design, etc. as eps, then take it into photoshop, paintshop, etc. and then save it as a gif or jpeg. Eps makes for a smoother looking design when converted for web use or emailing. Here is a sample. The above design was done in freehand, saved as eps, then converted to gif in photoshop. Makes for a clean design pic.
------------------ John Deaton III Deaton Design 109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
posted
I've been thinking on this question for a while. The perfect solution I found was sending as a .pdf. I bought a program called Jaws pdf http://www.jawssystems.com/products/products_fs.html It allows me to convert anything, quote or design to .pdf and send it by email. Most of my clients have Acrobat Reader, it's the perfect medium, files are small, formating remains and Acrobat Reader allows zooming in on details. Few clients I know have software that allows viewing of images (even though it seems basic to us). More than ever I am sending all the info to clients, quote, design, product info by email using pdf's. It's a big time saver. Of course, some clients don;t have email, that's their problem !
------------------ Gray M. Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania.
posted
Another thought Neil, if you are interested in the software I mention, try the Australian site www.hardsoft.com.au, it cost me about $200 but has been worth every penny. The program installs itself as a printer driver so you simply go to print the document/design/whatever, choose the jaws pdf 'printer' and print to a file. I send it to a folder that is easy to access from my email. I'll be in SA 9-11th Nov. maybe we can catch up?
------------------ Gray M. Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania.
posted
Neil..I do all my stuff in Corel. It doesn't matter whether it is vector over a bitmap or just vector, I just duplicate the full scale design, reduce the size to about 10"wide by whatever height and export from Corel as a JPG at 72 DPI. Attach that JPG to the e-mail and anyone with an e-mail account can open it with their browser, usually just by double clicking it.
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
posted
Thanks guys, I guess it depends mainly on the type of design used - save as a jpeg for mainly photo's, as a gif for typical sign layouts using block colours, and as a pdf for text intensive layouts so they can zoom in without loss of resolution.
John's gif looks great btw! Gray, give us a call when you're in town the no. is (08) 8387 4033
Neil
------------------ Neil Riley Riley Signs Adelaide, South Ozzz A "Down Under" Supporter!
Posts: 157 | From: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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I guess if you've got alot of small text the only option is PDF.
I usually export from Corel into JPG like Dave Grundy, except instead of resizing the actual artwork and using a DPI setting, I just type in a specific pixel size (like 800x600) and Corel will make it that size... that's just the way I do it, it's easier for me to guage how big the file is gonna be without havin to scale the art and do any math to then figure out the actual size.
Now if I'm doing a new pattern design for my site where sharpness and image clarity are a must, I use Corel to Export my vector art as an adobe illustrator file, then use Photoshop to do effects and color changes..
I prefer JPG format over GIF, regardless if the artwork is line art or photos. GIF is meant for line art BUT if you have gradients in your art they will come out a little rough. You can increase the number of colors in the image but by the time you get a smooth gradient, the JPG version of the image will be the same size if not a little smaller.
I did the following image with the Corel to AI to Photoshop to JPG method..
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Good one Mike, I'm gonna try that way in future. I like the idea of specifying the pixel size for viewing, as opposed to the resolution which changes the size of the pic.
Great design too. What's it for?
Thanks for the info, Neil
------------------ Neil Riley Riley Signs Adelaide, South Ozzz A "Down Under" Supporter!
Posts: 157 | From: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I've tried just about all these suggestions, but was blown away by a utility that came free with my HP scanner. It's called "Hemera Net Graphics Optimizer". From any design program, I just copy to clipboard and paste into this program. Click the mouse a few times and it analyzes the image, determines the best size, format and resolution and sets it up automatically. Never found anything easier". I even do this with vehicles. Typically, I'll digitally photograph a van, import into design software, create graphics at full scale on the picture, cut the whole thing to the clipboard, paste, click, click, save, DONE!
That design is just one of the stock designs I offer through my website and it's only by coincidence that it resembles a black widow spider. It's kinda cool how it worked out. I was working with a design I already had made (wasn't too thrilled with it), mirrored it, stretched it out long then rotated it and BAM! I had a black widow.. kinda fitting too because not only do I have a black widow web stretched across the back door here, I also had a few of 'em livin' inside my computer which I discovered when I went to install some new hardware. Yikes! That's the first time I ever had to use pesticide on my computer.. hehehehe.
Anyways... I've got a nice little collection of striping designs for customers to choose from or just to give them some ideas of what can be made. They'll work on cars, trucks, and jetskis which make up the bulk of my business.
I do my own designs instead of using the CD's with pre-designed stuff. People can go anywhere to get that predesigned stuff, but I see way too much of it around here and I like offering something unique.
Pete, Adobe ImageReady does the same thing but gives you more control. It comes with Photoshop 5 and 6... not only can it optimize graphics for you, but it shows you how the optimized images will look. You can have four optimized images on screen at the same time, each a different file format, or even the same formats with certain levels of optimization specified, so you can compare them all.. and it tells ya how long the image will take to download at various connection speeds.
It's pretty handy, especially since I run a few websites.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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It's kinda cool how it worked out. I was working with a design I already had made (wasn't too thrilled with it), mirrored it, stretched it out long then rotated it and BAM! I had a black widow.. kinda fitting too because not only do I have a black widow web stretched across the back door here, I also had a few of 'em livin' inside my computer which I discovered when I went to install some new hardware. Yikes! That's the first time I ever had to use pesticide on my computer.. hehehehe.
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