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Several of the posts on this topic spoke of printers "using PDF
originals to create four-color separations."
In my original post on the subject, I tried to highlight the fact that
four color process printing is probably *not* the best solution for
the original question.
Producing separations that call for spot colors in diagrams and line
art is likely to produce cheaper and better quality results than four
color process (or six color, eight color, Hexachrome, or the various
other color systems).
I agree that this *should* be the province of the graphic
designer--and the original question did in fact involve a graphic
designer. The fact that the question did not involve that selfsame
graphic designer, however, indicated a lack of knowledge on the part
of the designer and the writer that elicited my response.
When a writer assumes a four-color process, that *also* indicates to
me a lack of experience and knowledge of the printing process on the
part of the writer...including, presumably, the writers who answered
the question with such assumptions.
Printing is becoming more rare, but that should not mean that people
should settle for less than ideal results.
I also agree that this is yet one more reason that content should be
divorced from presentation.
David
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