Patch for Flare 4.2 PDF issues

[NealPozner]

Hello, Propellerheads. We have made a patch available in order to address some issues related to image quality and EMF support in PDFs generated by Flare 4.2. The patch is available in our Knowledge Base at http://kb.madcapsoftware.com/default_CSH.htm#PATF4PDF.

A few things you will want to be aware of is that depending on how many images you have in our output, and the filetype of source images, the file size of your generated PDF may be the same, much smaller, or much larger than before you installed the patch. Projects with large quantities of PNG files might find the resultant PDF to be much larger than before.

If you are using PNG images and find that Flare is creating huge PDF files, our suggestion for now is to convert your PNG files to JPG files in the source. As we continue to work on solutions in the next version, we hope to address this issue and provide the ability to control image size in the target file.

[ccardimon]

So we're not supposed to be using the PNG format now because of file size issues?

And after capturing an image, we should save it as JPG? Is that it?

I thought we should save images as PNG because images could best be edited later in that format and yet still be inserted into a document in that same format. Has this changed?

Which is the best button option to choose for optimum image quality (if I'm still using PNG): Default, Automatic, or JPEG?

[LTinker68]

So we're not supposed to be using the PNG format now because of file size issues?

No, you can use PNGs, it's just that now you have the choice of whether or not you want the images to be compressed. If you don't want to compress them then your file size will naturally be larger. From what someone posted in another forum, the default option is good if you want to keep the PNG's image quality. If you want to compress the image a bit, then you can choose JPEG, but I don't see a way to control the amount of compression, so it's low or perhaps medium compression unless you select the maximum option.

Maybe the options translate to default (no compression), automatic (medium compression), and JPEG (low compression), JPEG with maximum (maximum compression). That's just a guess, though. Don't know why they didn't give you a numeric or slider option for the JPEG option, as is the norm.

[ccardimon]

Thanks, Lisa. Yeah, they could have explained the PDF Options a *bit* better.

[Ryan Cerniglia]

Thanks, Lisa. Yeah, they could have explained the PDF Options a *bit* better.

In the interest of getting the options out for people to use, the in-program documentation is a bit skimpy at the moment... but I heavily recommend going over the knowledge base article we've posted regarding the new PDF options in Flare v4.2.1.

[ccardimon]

In the interest of getting the options out for people to use, the in-program documentation is a bit skimpy at the moment... but I heavily recommend going over the knowledge base article we've posted regarding the new PDF options in Flare v4.2.1.

Understood. Thanks for the link.

[forfear]

hey i think they're using some new version of Capture internally? there's some funkee curved callout tails uhm.

[Andrew]

hey i think they're using some new version of Capture internally? there's some funkee curved callout tails uhm.

Yep, I saw those and drooled with envy.

[NorthEast]

... but I heavily recommend going over the knowledge base article we've posted regarding the new PDF options in Flare v4.2.1.

That link didn't work for me (and the topic isn't in the TOC either), but I found the page at:
http://kb.madcapsoftware.com/Content/Fl ... _4.2.1.htm

[rob hollinger]

hey i think they're using some new version of Capture internally? there's some funkee curved callout tails uhm.

Yep, I saw those and drooled with envy.

You guys are sharp.. As soona as we posted that image, I didnt think anyone would notice.

Coming soon..

[Andrew]

Job hazard...I read almost all documentation as a tech writer, which means I'm always looking for neat things to stea...er, inspiration.

Can't wait to see it.

[forfear]

Job hazard...I read almost all documentation as a tech writer, which means I'm always looking for neat things to stea...er, inspiration.

Can't wait to see it.

aye aye...preach it brother! preach it!

[rob hollinger]

Id say mums the word, but I think you get the idea..

[KevinDAmery]

Cool... now if only the edges were anti-aliased....

[SteveS]

Cool... now if only the edges were anti-aliased....

...and torn edges didn't look so amatuerish.

I cringe everytime I compare a Capture torn edge with Snaggit's.

[Andrew]

Mmm...looks nice. Thanks for the preview...and improved PDF options look like a great start!

As SteveS said, it would be great to have a better torn edge algorithm.

[ccardimon]

Cool... now if only the edges were anti-aliased....

I wish I knew enough about this stuff to know what "anti-aliased" means. Sigh.

[Andrew]

I wish I knew enough about this stuff to know what "anti-aliased" means. Sigh.

Anti-aliasing is a method for making the "jaggie" edges of curves on a computer screen appear to be more smooth.

Here's a decent primer with some good visuals:
http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Articl ... sing.shtml

[ccardimon]

I wish I knew enough about this stuff to know what "anti-aliased" means. Sigh.

Anti-aliasing is a method for making the "jaggie" edges of curves on a computer screen appear to be more smooth.

Here's a decent primer with some good visuals:
http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Articl ... sing.shtml

Thank you. The phrase anti-aliasing makes no sense to me at all right now. How about, "de-jaggedizing" the edges? Alias sounds like something from the old Fugitive series.

[forfear]

anti-aliasing = > Font Smoothing

[ccardimon]

anti-aliasing = > Font Smoothing

Yours sounds much better. I hate you.

[forfear]

anti-aliasing = > Font Smoothing

Yours sounds much better. I hate you.

[doc_guy]

Okay kids. Everybody be nice! Or I'm going to have to put somebody in time out!

[ccardimon]

Time Out? What's that? Some New Age thing? In my day you got the paddle, and then stood in the corner.

[NorthEast]

Luxury! In my day you were lashed to death, twice.