Re: PDF image quality challenge

[Robert Lauriston <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com>]

The vector stuff is perfectly clear. It's the screen-shot bitmaps that
are confusing. I don't understand what Flare is doing and can't make
sense of their online help.

For example, if you take e.g. a screen shot of a 450 x 300 dialog box
and place it in a page layout program at 300 dpi, it will be a 1.5" x
1" postage stamp and none of the text will be readable. If you place
it at 75 dpi, it will be 6" x 4" and easily legible.

Are you resizing the images (interpolating extra pixels) to blow them
up to 300 dpi?


On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 4:56 PM, Shawn C <shawn -at- convergent -dot- io> wrote:
> Hello Robert,
>
> The resolution was multi-part.
>
> Best Practices:
> - Use vector source files where possible (company logo, all my tech
> drawings)
> - All bitmaps should be a minimum of 300DPI (if possible)
>
> How to use them:
>
> Vector: I needed to install GhostScript for .eps and my MadBuild server
> needed Java installed to render .svg images (output from Visio).
> Bitmap: Just try to output the largest practical size possible.
>
> Finally, configure TARGET PDF image compression from "JPEG" to "Automatic"
>
> The reason why I was encountering problems was because of old habits. In
> the past, an image at 1:1 was good enough for acceptable PDF output. But
> Flare handles images a bit differently and 1:1 source images output poorly.
>
> Sorry, I've rushed through this reply. Feel free to ask me to clarify
> anything and I will tomorrow. My ride is here... leaving the office now. :-)
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 4:44 PM, Robert Lauriston <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com>wrote:
>
>> You resolved that issue? What was the fix?
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 2:45 PM, Shawn C <shawn -at- convergent -dot- io> wrote:
>> >>It sounds like Flare is inappropriately resizing images for PDF.
>> >
>> > Something is up in Flare. Like I previously mentioned, I never
>> encountered
>> > such a problem in either FrameMaker or Word.
>> >
>> > I need to work on content now, so I'll revisit this problem over the
>> > weekend.
>> >
>> > On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 12:31 PM, Robert Lauriston <robert -at- lauriston -dot- com
>> >wrote:
>> >
>> >> From the Creating Single Source Images topic in Flare's help:
>> >>
>> >> "The typical DPI setting for images displayed in an Internet browser
>> >> is usually somewhere between 72 and 96. The DPI is automatically set
>> >> for online output when you capture the image, depending on the
>> >> computer that you are using. However, the DPI setting for printed
>> >> output often needs to be higher (say, 300 DPI). "
>> >>
>> >> Actually, a dpi somewhere around 72 to 96 (comparable to the
>> >> resolution of computer displays) is the setting that will make screen
>> >> captures easily readable in printed output and 100% zoom in Acrobat.
>> >>
>> >> The same 72-96 dpi is also good for browsers since you're viewing the
>> >> screen shot on a screen of roughly that resolution.
>> >>
>> >> It sounds like Flare is inappropriately resizing images for PDF.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> http://webhelp.madcapsoftware.com/flare9/Default.htm#Images/Creating_Single_Source_Images.htm
>> >>
>> >> On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 10:57 AM, Shawn C <shawn -at- convergent -dot- io> wrote:
>> >> > Hello all,
>> >> >
>> >> > My first attempt at a new thread. Please be kind.
>> >> >
>> >> > I already posted a similar message to the MadCap forum so the purpose
>> of
>> >> > this message is to explore this as a broader issue and hopefully
>> discover
>> >> > some best practices.
>> >> >
>> >> > I am a brand-new (1 month) user of MadCap Flare, but a long time Adobe
>> >> > FrameMaker and Microsoft Word technical writer. Recently, I have
>> >> > encountered major issues with images when publishing a Flare project
>> to a
>> >> > PDF file. The problem is that, at less than 100% zoom level, images
>> are
>> >> > oddly pixelated (badly rendered).To add some clarity, my images are
>> >> > generally inserted at slightly greater than 300 DPI. So, I am using
>> >> > slightly higher than normal resolution... maintaining a balance of
>> file
>> >> > size vs image quality considerations.
>> >> >
>> >> > I don't recall running into such image problems under Word or
>> FrameMaker
>> >> so
>> >> > my finger is pointing is pointing at Flare.
>> >> >
>> >> > After some experimentation, I found that by integrating GhostScript
>> with
>> >> > Flare, I can use .eps [vector] images, the results are images that
>> render
>> >> > perfect at all zoom levels, inside a PDF.
>> >> >
>> >> > Part 1 of 2 solved! That is because the .eps format will obviously
>> only
>> >> > work on vector friendly images, like our corporate logo. Now, what do
>> I
>> >> do
>> >> > about screen captures? Screen captures are a very important part of my
>> >> > documentation. Any thoughts?
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Thank you,
>> >> > --
>> >> > Shawn Connelly
>> >> > technical writer
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> > --
>> > Shawn Connelly
>> > technical writer
>> >   <http://convergent.io> <shawn -at- convergent -dot- io>
>> >
>> >
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>
>
>
> --
> Shawn Connelly
> technical writer
>
> <shawn -at- convergent -dot- io>
>
>
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