postscript from quark

[mspain77]

okay. i have a epson photostylus 1280 and i'm trying to print a resume for a friend from quark passport 6.5. for some reason it's not giving my .eps files the proper postscript treatment--they look all pixelated. do i need to get a new PPD or something. also, my preview in quark is very bad. at work i was able to change it to high res preview, but i can't figure out how i did it from home. help

[elander]

Try exporting a PDF instead, and print that from Preview. The printer is not a PostScript printer, so it really isn't the printers fault, it's the printing system in QXP / Mac OS X that is acting up. You'll get the same problems in InDesign and Illustrator. The PDF detour solves that problem. I've set up a folder, and attached a folder action to it that automatically prints all files that are put inside, and then moves them to the Trash. I simply export my PDFs to that folder and the result is virtually the same as if I had printed them directly...

You could of course spring for a software RIP, for an Epson printer I guess the obvious choice would be PowerRIP, but that'll set you back $199. My solution is cheaper...

[mspain77]

Thanks elander. I actually don't have this problem printing from Illustrator, which is where I created the native .eps files. I know that I can print from elsewhere, but I would like to be able to print nice proofs from my printer before I collect and outsource a Quark job to a print shop. I actually JUST started using Quark and InDesign for layout. It's easy for me, but I just wish it was as easy at home as it is at work.
So, being that Illustrator doesn't react the same, could it be merely a setting in Quark or something else?

[Natobasso]

If you're printing from Quark make sure you have OPI for images turned off. Make sure your images are only 300dpi CMYK tifs for best results. Print pdf files.

[elander]

I think the problem is that your printer isn't a PostScript printer: instead of sending the PostScript part of the EPS, QXP simply sends the preview image instead. Not that it would help to send the PS part though, since the printer can't handle that anyway. Try the PDF detour, I'm pretty sure it'll work.

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Originally Posted by elander

I think the problem is that your printer isn't a PostScript printer: instead of sending the PostScript part of the EPS, QXP simply sends the preview image instead.

This is exactly what's happening. Quark's been this way ever since I can remember.

[mspain77]

Okay. Though I don't have that problem with any Adobe apps. (go adobe!), it must be something within quark and the way it talks to the printer. that's okay, i've recreated most of my quark files (only about 5-6) in InDesign, and that seems to work just fine, plus I like the interface a little better. what do you guys think about InDesign as oppossed to Quark?

[ElDiabloConCaca]

I'm a die-hard Quark user through and through, but I have used InDesign as well, and it is most definitely a viable alternative. It seems to be gaining more and more popularity every day -- most of my printing agencies are all "Adobe" printers now... they still support and suggest Quark, but have absolutely no trouble with Adobe-branded workflows.