PageMaker

Adobe PageMaker is a popular program for creating working files, however there are many problems which commonly arise when outputting files from this program. Adobe has taken steps towards fixing this problem by discontinuing PageMaker and allowing current users to convert their documents to InDesign, which is much less problematic in pre-press workflows.

Be careful with the resolution of large raster images. We have run into pictures which will not print correctly above a certain size to resolution ratio. It is best to limit your resolution to 300 dpi at final size. See the Raster Images section of the Linked Graphics section for more information about resolution.

Do not apply menu styles to fonts if you do not have a font file which corresponds to the style being applied. If you only have a regular version of a font and you ask PageMaker to make some characters bold, it will print a double image of the type in an effort to make it thicker. If you italicize a font which you do not have an italic file for, it simply skews the regular face. Both of these may be acceptable under certain conditions, but as a rule these are undesirable.

Make sure your placed graphics are linked to their original files when you import them. Avoid including copies of graphics within the pagemaker file, especially if they are excessively large. If you send us a file with embedded graphics and no external files, it is more work for us to edit the graphics if they pose a problem during output.

Be careful with making objects non-printing. If there are objects which have been made non-printing, they will not print, and many times we will not be familiar enough with the artwork to notice their absence before a proof is printed. This can be costly if we have to generate multiple proofs, especially if we have to duplicate prepress work.