sligo
4th Level Troll
Read my blog: http://indysligo.weebly.com/
Posts: 495
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Post by sligo on Sept 3, 2010 12:17:27 GMT -5
I used MS Word for Final Exam, and and continuing to use it for newer projects. I've discovered a few property settings hidden behind pictures and tables that I didn't know existed before, which has allowed me to create an even better layout. However, Word still has certain limitations, which, by just looking at the four issues of TZ, you're able to manage quite well.
I understand you're using Mac-based software that is specifically suited for this kind of work. Though I'd be willing to step up and help or do the layouts, I would never come close the quality of what Quog can do. Further more, I'm limited in resources - I have the full adobe software on my work computer, which makes it easy to convert the files to PDF. However, since it's my work computer, I can't install all the custom fonts I need.
Speaking of that, if someone knows a good, free, PDF printer driver I can download on my home computer - one that doesn't watermark - I'd be very grateful! I'm not sure I can justify the expense of buying the Adobe software for my home computer just yet... Maybe after a couple more solo's are published.
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Post by ProfGremlin on Sept 3, 2010 13:20:14 GMT -5
Speaking of that, if someone knows a good, free, PDF printer driver I can download on my home computer - one that doesn't watermark - I'd be very grateful! Try this - www.pdf995.com/No watermark, just an html splash screen that pops open your browser when you use it. At least it did when I had it installed. As I haven't had need of it in some time I haven't bothered to reinstall it on my new computer.
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dekh
5th Level Troll
dekh by Grumlahk
Posts: 622
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Post by dekh on Sept 3, 2010 14:18:47 GMT -5
Speaking of that, if someone knows a good, free, PDF printer driver I can download on my home computer - one that doesn't watermark - I'd be very grateful! I'm not sure I can justify the expense of buying the Adobe software for my home computer just yet... Maybe after a couple more solo's are published. sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/No watermark, no splash, free, open source, a fine product.
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sligo
4th Level Troll
Read my blog: http://indysligo.weebly.com/
Posts: 495
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Post by sligo on Sept 3, 2010 14:28:41 GMT -5
Thanks, guys! I'll try both.
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Post by ProfGremlin on Sept 3, 2010 15:04:33 GMT -5
Thanks, guys! I'll try both. Sure, glad to help out. I'll have to take a look at the link Dekh mentioned, myself. Now if I could just find a simple and free way to convert pdf's to tiff's for work, I'd be happy.
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Post by mgtremaine on Sept 3, 2010 15:55:43 GMT -5
I'm sorry to here anyone thinks that the zine is too big to be downloaded. I however would not have it changed at all. Quog is doing a excellent job and I hope he continues on. After issue 4 or 5 comes out Aramis I could be convinced to burn a CD of all the issues and mail it to you on my dime. [Even if you live in another country according to Amazon .hahah ;P]
OT - Quog not sure if you are in the South Island in NZ but I guess they got rocked by an Earthquake hope everything is ok!
-Mike
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quoghmyre
7th Level Troll
The Summer Troll
Posts: 1,048
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Post by quoghmyre on Sept 3, 2010 17:49:20 GMT -5
thanks mgtremaine, we are on the other side of the island from Christchurch, so just got a good rattling. 2 of our children live there, but they are all ok. The joys of living on the ring of fire.
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dekh
5th Level Troll
dekh by Grumlahk
Posts: 622
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Post by dekh on Sept 3, 2010 18:12:43 GMT -5
Sure, glad to help out. I'll have to take a look at the link Dekh mentioned, myself. Now if I could just find a simple and free way to convert pdf's to tiff's for work, I'd be happy. You should be able to print the PDFs to a Fax printer and then nick the Tiffs from its queue.
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Post by mahrundl on Sept 4, 2010 20:57:49 GMT -5
I second Dekh on PDFCreator. Very useful product, with the ability to queue multiple documents and print or save them as a single PDF.
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Sept 30, 2010 4:46:52 GMT -5
I'll be doing TrollsZine 4 if the Editor wants, and that's my lot. I can see there are lots of people on this forum that can do the job better than I can, it's obviously time for a change, so I'm more than happy to pass next years issues over to them. Alright. For quite some time I've let this go, but I just can't. Quog, I don't think anyone is saying you're doing a bad job. Speaking for myself alone, I wasn't saying that. I am (and it seems most of the others are/were) simply confused as to why it is that other thoroughly professional and print-quality pdfs that are 'bigger' in terms of page count, 'bigger' and beefier in terms of images are typically half the size of an issue of TrollsZine. I will say that I don't understand why you didn't really answer the question, or look into or discuss alternatives, and why you couldn't/didn't take the constructive criticism graciously. We've not yelled at you or called you names or anything, man. Ya know? I think you and Zanshin have done great work and I know I couldn't even begin to do it at all. I'm just confused why a number of bigger and well-made products are much smaller in file size and why that isn't done with TrollsZine, that's all.
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quoghmyre
7th Level Troll
The Summer Troll
Posts: 1,048
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Post by quoghmyre on Sept 30, 2010 6:01:29 GMT -5
about 400K of Fonts about 400K of Text
The rest are the pictures, it's that simple. The Artists summit their pictures and I put them in the document.
I feel I have repeatedly explained, I'm not going to be responsible for cropping or compressing the submitted Art. That is not the job I signed up for. With every issue I have tried very hard to put aside my personal views and taken the layout in the direction most here decided.
I have a lot of things I want to do, I have a GM Adventure waiting for art, I have other publishers waiting for art, I wish to take on a Arts Degree next year to learn how to do these types of jobs better. Oh and then there's my day job, who generously provide the tech, broadband and paid me for the hours I spent doing the Zine. I'm overwhelmed and when I get overwhelmed, I don't take criticism well, I'm sorry.
I'm very proud of the wonderful writers and artists I have worked with on this project, but I'm facing major changes next year and the time and emotional energy this project takes is beyond me.
There are a lot of people here with a lot of talent and ideas I think they should have the opportunity to take on the Zine. I took the layout in one direction, another person will take it in a different direction. This is a great opportunity for the Zine, its writers and artist.
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sligo
4th Level Troll
Read my blog: http://indysligo.weebly.com/
Posts: 495
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Post by sligo on Sept 30, 2010 10:42:48 GMT -5
Quog - I completely understand! The file size has never bothered me, since I have high speed both at work and at home. Going through "real life" changes is stressful and sometimes overwhelming in its own right.
Your contributions are are definitely appreciated, and you've set a high standard. You've done a great job, and I hope you continue to contribute and participate in whatever capacity you're comfortable with.
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Sept 30, 2010 20:18:26 GMT -5
I'm overwhelmed and when I get overwhelmed, I don't take criticism well, I'm sorry. You don't need to apologize. It's all good. I was also concerned that you were under the impression you were under attack when you were not. But that's cool. Take time for the more important things: things that improve you and your life. No one will have an issue with that. Oh. One quick question: What dpi (on average) were the folks sending their art in?
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quoghmyre
7th Level Troll
The Summer Troll
Posts: 1,048
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Post by quoghmyre on Sept 30, 2010 23:33:27 GMT -5
There was a range, most were 300 DPI and that is perfectly reasonable but...
most weren't used at the original size so DPI becomes irrelevant as 30cm x 30 cm 50 DPI file when resized to 5 cm x 5 cm becomes 300 DPI.
I had to be very carful with some of the art as it was very low DPI and had to fiddle around to keep it small enough to not look bad.
Because I knew the size of the space mine were filling I could set them to 150 DPI, which I think is a good compromise. Great for viewing on screen and ok for printing. If your PDF reader has a Zoom, you can see that my work gets blurry very quickly.
Another interesting fact the convoluted process I have to go through uploading it to LuLu trimmed 10 Meg off the DriveThru size.
There seem to be 2 options to fix this... Layup the Zine, send it to the artists and get them to fix their art and re-submit it. This may or may not fix the problem, as the artist may not want to do this to their work and as volunteers may not want the extra step.
Or someone else can do it. As I think I said, we lost an artist at the first issue because they felt I messed with their work, and we haven't had any art from them since. Others have said they don't care if we resize it. But I feel it is one of those "it's ok, until its messed up" situations.
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Oct 2, 2010 19:54:21 GMT -5
Weird. Swords & Wizardry Core Rules had all of it's art submitted in 300dpi. All of that art still looks good up to 400% zoom. It's 118 pages and 15 megs. I wish I knew how to do this stuff, or at least how the layout guy for S&W handled it.
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