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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    ...Granada province, Andalucia, Spain
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    Default Printing Xara specific gradients/transparencies

    I am creating a design which uses an elliptical fill. When exported as a .pdf and opened in Illustrator, the fill is given the name "non-native art" and is rasterized.
    My question is this: if the print job were for the side of a van, could XDP be used to do this and retain a pure vector output?
    Bob.
    ** Detailed "Create A Spinning Logo Tutorial" is available in .pdf format for download at this link **
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  2. #2

    Default Re: Printing Xara specific gradients/transparencies

    Hi Bob,
    I'm not aware of any large format digital printer in the sign industry which can print directly from Xara. That's the Holy Grail of many Xara users
    Everything must go through a RIP before sending to the printer, even CorelDraw and RasterLink (rip) work together for this purpose.
    In other words, the printer needs bitmap data - not vector.
    Of course, there may have been some changes in the industry since I was involved - but I think Xara would have announced something about this.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Printing Xara specific gradients/transparencies

    A quality reply! Thanks very much, Steve - I was afraid that this was the case. Ah well, back to the drawing-board!
    Bob.
    ** Detailed "Create A Spinning Logo Tutorial" is available in .pdf format for download at this link **
    Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Printing Xara specific gradients/transparencies

    Quote Originally Posted by iamtheblues View Post
    I am creating a design which uses an elliptical fill. When exported as a .pdf and opened in Illustrator, the fill is given the name "non-native art" and is rasterized.
    My question is this: if the print job were for the side of a van, could XDP be used to do this and retain a pure vector output?
    Bob.
    Bob, depending on the PDF settings, it is still vector in the PDF and in Illustrator. Illy just doesn't understand the fill type and so cannot deal with it.

    The following screen shot is of a circular gradient from XDP and checked in Acrobat. It's vector.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    The next screen shot is the same PDF, taken into Illy and then a new PDF created. That PDF was then brought into XDP. It is still vector and the fill can be edited inside XDP. Who's the smart one in this instance? Yep, XDP.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Take care, Mike

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2000
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    Red Boiling Springs TN USA
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    19,208

    Default Re: Printing Xara specific gradients/transparencies

    Has anyone tried using the Print as Bitmap option?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Soquili
    a.k.a. Bill Taylor
    Bill is no longer with us. He died on 10 Dec 2012. We remember him always.
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Ottawa, IL USA
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    1,138

    Default Re: Printing Xara specific gradients/transparencies

    Depends on your printer I suppose, but I print to large format inkjet printer all the time (Canon IPF 8100). Those printers that use RIPs (raster image processors) require hi-res TIF files for printing which is easy enough to create, though is raster now and nolonger a vector file. I use to have a printer that required at least a software RIP. Now a days, however, I print to my Canon directly straight from Xara. This is no problem for me. I'm sure an Epson color printer could handle it as well, since the Epson and Canon printers serve the same specific market.

    Yes, you can print directly from Xara, but it depends on the printer and what it supports. I run a professional graphic design shop - signs and more, and never need to make a PDF file to print in-house. I do create printer marks PDFs when I need to outsource, not so for jobs done in shop.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    The Highlands Scotland
    Posts
    350

    Default Re: Printing Xara specific gradients/transparencies

    Hi Bob, I have a 54” Versacam printer and all my Xara prints are from PDF files through the Versaworks RIP. As you said exporting from Xara to PDF is fine and opens great in Adobe Acrobat as a vector but when opened in Illustrator the transparencies and feather edged shapes are displayed as solid blocks. What make of printer do you use and what RIP is driving it?
    Hope I can help

 

 

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