Expert: Amy - 5/5/2009

Question
I inherited large instruction manual project that is currently in PageMaker 7.0. The graphic images are computer screen shots which are embedded as either Illustrator or PDF formats. The PageMaker files for each chapter are HUGE and I want to: 1) Link the graphics to reduce file size and 2) Improve the quality of the printed images. I do have access to the graphics files (some original bitmaps, but most are Illustrator files). When I attempt File>Place for the resized (14p width) Illustrator files, a blank full 8.5" x 11" page image appears. How should I be doing this?

Answer
Hi Dennis.

Can you try to print a page or export a page to PDF? Does the image show up in the printed/PDF product but not the on-screen display? If so, look around in Preferences for something about graphics display. I don't have PageMaker anymore or I'd be able to tell you exactly what to look for.

If the AI docs don't show up in an exported PDF or printed version, then the document isn't being placed properly. Support for native Illustrator files is iffy. PageMaker doesn't have flattening technology so is unable to display or print transparency effects. That could be causing a problem. (Drop shadows, etc.) But screen shots shouldn't have transparency.

Are the AI files version 9 or later saved with PDF compatibility? I think that's a requirement of the PageMaker import feature.

If you can, can you try re-saving the AI files as a later version AI or better yet, a PDF (with no further image compression or downsampling - I'm sure screen shots are 72 dpi to begin with), then linking them?

If that doesn't work, try re-saving them as EPS files, then linking them. EPS files will be large but they'll work.

Also, a final thought, make sure that the Illustrator files actually contain the screen shot images and not just links to bitmaps. That might cause problems. Do you know how to change an imported graphic's status from linked to embedded? Let me know.

Amy Pace