Re: [Gimp-user] Export to pdf

[Dwain Alford <rteest53 gmail com>]

john and uwe,
here, here. i agree whole-heartedly. gimp is a raster (pixel) based program
while inkscape is a vector (number) based program which produces "smooth"
outlines. scribus is a page layout program that handles the job of
combining raster images, vector images and text into a neat package that a
good print shop can execute a quality finished product of your design.

scribus exports directly to pdf and produces a cmyk file that is "print
ready". design tools are just that, tools. would use a screw driver to try
and pry a nail from a board? you would choose the appropriate tool for the
job, correct? even though gimp can be used to design a page, inkscape is a
better choice of the two. however, even though inkscape is a good program
to use for page design, scribus is better. scribus will allow you to import
text from an open document format (open office or libreoffice); it will
also allow you to import a .svg (scaleable vector graphic) image or an
adobe illustrator image. however, i have found that certain illy files
after illustrator 9 will not import. but be not dismayed, illustrator will
convert your image to the .svg format for importation.

for my work flow, i use a raster editor (gimp, photoshop, etc.) to size,
color correct, etc. photographs; i use a vector editor (inkscape,
illustrator, corel draw, etc.) to produce and size vector drawings and
usually export to the .tif format (tif files contain more information than
jpeg or png files - most commercial print shops prefer tif files for this
reason); and i use a page layout program (scribus, indesign, quark express,
etc.) to put the design elements together for the purpose of producing a
print ready pdf file that produces a quality finished product.

i need to mention that "properly" sizing a raster image is most important.
most commercial printers use a certain image resolution for different types
of paper and the "use" of the image. for instance, a fine art print would
be printed at 175 dpi while a newsprint image would be printed at 75-80
dpi. all this depends on the paper used for the job. i usually use 300 dpi
for raster images and size the image according to the size i want to
produce on the page. most vector images are either 300 or 600 dpi,
depending on the program i use to produce them.

scribus will allow you to draw a container for an image and the program can
size a large or small image to the container, but a 72 dpi image enlarged
by this process will produce an ugly final image on the paper. there are
some commercial printers that cannot print a scribus pdf file. since adobe
is the "industry standard" software they calibrate their printers to adobe.
small print shops use corel draw as their standard software. in this case,
you can provide a native file with accompanying fonts in the file for
printing. for most jobs where i use corel draw, i will convert text to
curves so i don't have to provide fonts to the printer. and don't assume a
printer knows how to print from a pdf. i have run across one that didn't
understand that he didn't have to import my pdf into draw to print it. i
guess he didn't know he could print from a pdf viewer to his chosen
printer. but i digress. a page layout program is also a type setter. you
can kern letters and paragraphs for "readability". i'm sure you have seen
where some of your letters in a particular font will look closer together
than other letters when printed. although raster and vector programs have
the same capability, page layout programs do it better, because that's how
they are designed.

color management is key to the whole process, but that's another
conversation all together.

hope this helps.

On Tue, May 7, 2019 at 7:49 AM Jehan Pagès via gimp-user-list <
gimp-user-list gnome org> wrote:

> Hi!
>
> On Fri, May 3, 2019 at 10:07 PM Uwe Sassnowski <uwesassnowski web de>
> wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I designed a brochure in gimp with several picture and text levels /
> > layers. Then I combined all pictures and texts to one layer and exported
> it
> > to pdf. I sent the pdf to the printing company for printing. The print
> was
> > not in a perfect quality. The printing company told us that they normally
> > get pdf's from their clients where they can make changes to improve the
> > quality. I tried to export to pdf without combining all layers. But then
> > all texts are changed in format. I can create pictures from the text
> > layers. But then I and the printing company cannot go into the text
> > anymore. Is there a way to export to pdf all single pictures and texts
> > without combining all layers so that the printing company can touch all
> > pictures and texts and to reach a higher quality print?
>
> I can't remember if our implementation for PDF export rasterize text or
> not. In any case, if you want to lay out various items and similar
> activities common for printed objects, I would suggest to use Inkscape
> and/or Scribus. I mean: you can still use GIMP for obviously raster parts
> (drawing, photographs, etc.). But when it comes to complex designs,
> Inkscape may be the most appropriate tool. And if you have objects to set
> precisely on your page, Scribus may be better suited (it won't do that much
> more than what Inkscape does, simply it's rather *how* it does it which may
> make it much more straightforward when you think in term of print).
>
> Now GIMP can also work very fine, even if you have texts. But then you have
> to understand well the printing process to provide a perfect raster object
> to the printshop and not expect them to edit it (we certainly don't want
> printshops to edit our designs in fact!).
>
> Jehan
>
>
> > With best regards,
> > Uwe
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