Re: preparing Word files for docutech production

["Renze, Janet L" <Janet -dot- Renze -at- PSS -dot- BOEING -dot- COM>]

Whew--lots of list traffic over the holidays!!

I just finished a docutech project of my own for a xmas present (a cookbook--hurray!)
and after much searching for printers that were acceptable, went the docutech route.
I also tried PDF/PRN, but ended up sending a Word '97 file (along with all the
necessary fonts). The copy shop was able to open my fine just fine (sent it as an
email attachment). The word file was 333K, pdf was 11Meg--ouch! the output was
fabulous from the word file and they did everything i wanted just perfectly.

on that note, i used Copyworks in Iowa City, IA (www.copyworks.com). They didn't
pay me to say this, but they were FABULOUS to work with!!!! Jill was the account
rep that I worked with and she really saw me thru to the end--faxing info back and forth
(i was still in Washington state while everything was being printed), overniteing a
proof copy, dealing with paper colors and weights, binding and laminating--everything
was just as i hoped and dreamed!! the timeline was exactly what i needed and
no "babysitting" was required--a magnificent bonus for any printing project!

So i guess the old adage still works--make friends with your printer. If they really
want pdf, fine, but it helped me tremendously to use the same method for both sides
(Word file), esp. with the long-distance factor.

Happy new year, all!!
Janet

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Janet L. Renze
(425) 237-4622       M/S 6H-WL
janet -dot- l -dot- renze -at- boeing -dot- com

> ----------
> From:         Lynda Baxter[SMTP:lbaxter -at- COMPUSENSE -dot- COM]
> Reply To:     Lynda Baxter
> Sent:         Monday, January 04, 1999 8:03 AM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      preparing Word files for docutech production
>
> Do any of you produce hard copy manuals using the Xerox docutech? I'm trying
> to establish a workable process with a local printer and have run into some
> problems. I'm composing in Word 98, and printing draft copies to an HP
> Laserjet 4si.
>
> First, I installed the printer driver they supplied (AdobePS 4.2 Adobe
> PostScript Printer Driver), and then printed to file to create the .prn
> files. The docutech output from these files was much too light (particularly
> the screen captures!), and page formatting and kerning changed from my
> original Word doc files.
>
> Next, I sent the printer the original Word doc file. They printed to the
> docutech directly from their Word software. The output was much better, and
> the original formatting was retained.
>
> However, it's my understanding that it's supposed to be better to send the
> postscript file rather than the Word doc. That way the printer doesn't need
> the authoring software. How do you get around the problem, though, with the
> document reformatting when the postscript file is produced? How can I print
> and proof draft copies on our inhouse HP, and then confidently proceed to
> creating a postscript file that won't reformat?
>
> Any expertise would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
> _______________
> Lynda Baxter
> Technical Writer
> Compusense Inc.
>
>


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