[JoeKool]

Perhaps Ive been out of the loop, or even just stick to Illustrator and Photoshop too much..but my firneds in advertising tell me Adobe created a semi-new product called InDesign that COMBINES Illustrator and Photoshop and a few other Adobe staples to make one super giant program. Other than the vector/pixel problems I can think of combining Illus. and Photoshop, I think it would be a GREAT idea to combine those two major programs.

Anyone use it? Like it? Know more about it? Whats the story?

Curious...

[Pat]

InDesign is more a combination of PageMaker and Illustrator, rather than Photoshop and Illustrator. It's essentially a page layout program with lots of frills which interfaces well with Photoshop native files. Publishers aren't too crazy about it because it's expensive and there are several output issues which people aren't too crazy about. Curiously, Adobe's low-end contender Acrobat is being increasingly co-opted for professional output. I was recently informed by my printer that Acrobat files are far more reliable and RIP faster than ANY of the common layout programs. Go figure.

-Pat

[Jabberwocky]

Pagemaker has become crap... InDesign is mirrors ... oh dang it... sometimers just set in... I can't think of the name, but when I do I will post it. But it's a lot like this other program, just not as widely used or cost as much.

I say PageMaker has become crap becasue it's adding over 7000 new templates... "now your secratery can be your graphics designer for half the price, but you will gstill get your Quality CRAP!" Nevermind... had a meeting the other day about it...

[ October 30, 2001: Message edited by: Jabberwocky ]

[BooMSticK]

Jabberwocky...Quark express, maybe?

I believe that indesign is supposed to be the Adobe 'Quark'. From what I have seen Indesign looks nice, with a layout/GUI that is very nice for people who are used to Adobe's other produckts...
,Boom

[Ko]

Well... as said above, InDesign is a page layout program and was meant to be Adobe's Quark Express "killer", but sadly they failed. It does indeed have some spiffy features that Quark dos not... and it interacts better with Photoshop/Illustrator for obvious reasons. But you just can't beat Quark (yet) Especially if you're an old Quark nut (me). InDesign's output functions were far from perfect, though I can't speak for the new version 2.0. But it may outshine Quark yet...

But there are very few companies willing to change their intire production flow, because a new "OOH-AAH" program hits the marked. If you bet on the new young horse, it might cost you LOTS of frustration and MONEY!!!.

PAT:

quote

Quote:

Adobe's low-end contender Acrobat is being increasingly co-opted for professional output. I was recently informed by my printer that Acrobat files are far more reliable and RIP faster than ANY of the common layout programs. Go figure.

There's actually nothing low-end about Acrobat... It's very HIGH-END. PDF files might just be THE most ingenious file format to grace the planet in recent years. Just look all over the place... PDF files are in abundance... manuals, guides etc. all easily downloadable from the web at very small filesizes, all thanks to Acrobat. I could go on for a considerable length of time yappin' about the splendors of Acrobat/PDF. But basically, Acrobat Distiller can't be used for much in itself as it's only a "compiler".
But feed it with an .eps or .ps file and it will serve you with a tasty .pdf. So you can make a publication with Quark or InDesign and output it as a PostScript file. Now you can simply use the same file to make a highres .pdf file that you send to your printer and another one in lowres with all colours converted to your specified RGB colourspace, ready for download from the web.
Pdf is also an invaluable tools, for sending proofs of artwork aswell as publications via email, to your clients. Acrobat can then be used for attaching notes and even scribbling on the PDF. There are many other features and options for referencing, indexing... well almost anything. PDF is actually the cornerstone in every publishing workflow today, unless your company hasn't had a reality check for the past three years )

Wow... that must be the longest, most boring post I've ever written on this board :P

- Ko

[ October 31, 2001: Message edited by: Ko ]

[worthless_meat_sack]

proofs of artwork? like pixels artwork?

better than just jpegs?

Forgive my stupidity, I really would like to know if there is somenthing cool I am missing.

[Pat]

Ko, I didn't mean to suggest that Acrobat was low-end in quality... only in price. In fact, I recently attended an Adobe's Acrobat seminar for more information on integrating it into my own publishing work. Contrary to you "bleeding edge" adopters, I've noticed alot of resistance in my peers to move to a new format like PDF because of output issues. My production environment requires predictable results with little tolerance for mistakes due to time constraints. While I'll be using it even more in my work, Pagemaker remains the cornerstone in our shop.

worthless_meat_sack - you're not missing much. Unless you're dealing with text/graphics layout and design, PDF's won't offer much more than you already have with plain jpegs. It's ment as a cross-platform document standard where notes, manuals and book-type information can be easily and accurately distributed. You can import pixel-based images, but they're usually jpeg quality due to size issues. It can be useful in a large work environment if a number of people have to edit, sign off or comment on your work though, because it supports internal post-it notes. On the proper network, 15 people can comment, suggest changes, etc and they'll all be in one central location for you to review. The only other advantage of a PDF is it's secure (it can be password protected) and the file format itself is like a roach-motel... text, jpegs and whetever go in, but they can't come out.

-Pat

[Jabberwocky]

BooMSticK - Thanks that's it... I swear I can't remember crap anymore...Sleep depravation setting in and i hit a major actist block for the last month that's really killing my class work. Anyone know how to get over artist block?