SUMMARY: Setting up Frame PS to PDF (LONG)

["Jason Aiken" <jason.aiken@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Framers,

I apologize if this message is useless gibberish or construed as
propaganda for or against Adobe. This is meant to follow-up on the
postings last week regarding Windows 98 and the new AdobePS print
drivers. Get ready for acronym soup.

System 1 (S1):
Mac OS 8.5.1, Power PC with 233 Mhz upgrade, 193 Mb RAM, 4 Gb HD
Virtual PSprinter: LW 8.6.1, AcroDist 3.0 PPD, Distiller 3.0x
FrameMaker 5.1

System 2 (S2):
Virtual PC installed on System 1.
PSprinter: AdobePS 4.2.4, AcroDist 3.0 PPD, Distiller 3.0x
FrameMaker 5.5.6


System 3 (S3):
W98, 450 Mhz Compaq Deskpro, 196 Mb RAM, 6 Gb HD
PSprinter: Varies between AdobePS 4.2.6 and AdobePS4.3,
Distiller 4.0 with 3.0 compatibility on
FrameMaker 5.5.6

System 4 (S4):
W95, 166 Mhz, 96 Mb RAM, 4 Gb HD
PSprinter: AdobePS 4.2.6, Distiller 3.02
FrameMaker 5.5.6

Test file 1 (TF1):
194 pg. multichapter FrameMaker book with 132
referenced graphics, all black and white, EPS mostly, with 3-4 .TIF
files.
No True Type fonts present.

Test file 2 (TF2):
2 pg. color cover file with 3 PMS Pantone spot colors in FM 5.5.6. Some
spot colors present in Illustrator EPS file.

The goal for TF1 and TF2 is to create a print vendor ready PDF using
Acrobat 4 which is viewable by Acrobat 3 users. Tried and tested
Distiller
Job Options used in all instances. I've tried numerous configurations
on multiple settings with equally various results.

TF1:

FM      PSdriver     PSfile     Dist     PDF     Sys    Err
5.1      LW8.6.1      9Mb      3.01    2.5Mb     S1     N
5.5.6   APS4.2.4    13Mb    3.01    2.8Mb     S2     N
5.5.6   APS4.2.6    57Mb    4          9.5Mb     S3     N
5.5.6   APS4.3        59Mb   4           0Mb        S3     Y

Comments on TF1:
Regardless of OS platform or Frame version, comparable PS file
and PDF file sizes are achieved with success when using old
drivers and the older Acrobat Distiller 3.0x. However, using the
newest PS drivers HUGE PS files are produced on W98 and there
is no way I can get a PDF out of AdobePS4.3 generated PS. No matter
what optimization I used (speed bombed on pg. 3, portability bombed
on pg. 26), AdobePS4.3 didn't go. I also started experiencing
weird memory errors and even one GPF between FM556 and Adobe43.
By the way, optimizing for speed did reduce the PSfile to a mere 33Mb,
but bombed during Distillation 100% of the time. Making PDF without
Acrobat Data on did little to reduce PS file size, and nobody
wants to lose those precious links anyway.

TF2:

FM      PSdriver        Dist         Sys    Err
5.5.6    APS4.2.6     3.02         S4        Y
5.5.6    APS4.3         4              S3        Y
5.5.6    LW8.6.1       4 beta3    S1       N

Comments on TF2:
File size differences were negligible on this 2 pg. color file. My 
goal was to test out proper RIP and spot color capability with
our print vendor. This vendor is armed with awesome RIP technology
(e.g. trapping from the RIP) and multiple PDF plug-ins.
Although the document created with AdobePS4.2.6 did RIP, it didn't
keep the spot colors. AdobePS4.3 was again a no go, with multiple PS
errors prohibiting the RIP and RGB colors present (2 Pantones did
make it over). Ages ago, using S1 and Acro4 beta3, this same file
separated and RIPped perfectly.

Conclusion:
My feelings about AdobePS4.3 is that it might work for your stuff,
it might not. We'll have to wait until the driver matures, however. In
the meantime, the judge and jury reside with Acrobat 4.0, FM 5.5.6, and
AdobePS 4.2.6 on the Windows 95/8 environment, as long as you
don't mind the larger file sizes. The AdobePS4.3 driver is creating
huge PS files, and even the AdobePS4.2.6 driver creates a PDF
more than three times the size of previous files.I haven't tested the
latest Mac driver.

Adobe:
Please direct my comments where necessary or let me know an 
address more applicable to this AdobePS4.3 information. I think I'll
add this to the User to User forum, just in case.

Upcoming tests for the bored and nerdy:
Using TF2 and S3, I want to create a PDF using AdobePS4.2.6 and
compare differences with the Acrobat 3.0-4.0 compatibility settings. Let
me know if you care to hear these results.

Best wishes all,

Jason Aiken
Frame Templar

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