Datasheet

646
Saving and Printing Vector Data in a Raster File
✓ Provide all fonts used in your file. Provide both screen and PostScript
printer fonts, if applicable.
✓ Choose File➪Save As for your final save to squeeze down to the small-
est file size.
✓ Organize your files into folders. For example, put the image files
together in one folder, all the fonts in another, and so on.
✓ Communicate any trapping needs to your service bureau or offset
printer. For color separations, indicate whether you created the trap-
ping yourself or if you want the service bureau/offset printer to do it.
Saving and Printing Vector Data in a Raster File
Photoshop allows you to create vector shapes and vector type with the Pen
tools, shape tools, and type tools (I explain how in Book III). Technically, the
vector shapes are clipping paths applied to a bitmap, or raster, layer. But the
clipping path is still a vector path, thereby retaining vector qualities. This
vector data is resolution independent, which means that it prints at the reso-
lution of the PostScript output device. Photoshop sends the printer separate
images for each type and shape layer, which are printed on top of the raster
image and clipped by using their vector paths. The edges of the vector path
print at the full resolution of the PostScript printer, but the contents, such
as the colored pixels or the image pixels within the vector path, print at the
resolution of the Photoshop file (all portions of the type are resolution inde-
pendent). Therefore, type and shapes always have crisp, hard edges, with
curves appearing smooth and never jagged.
Some file format warnings
If you save your file as an EPS or DCS and
reopen the file in Photoshop, Photoshop raster-
izes the vector data to pixels. Save the original
in the native PSD format.
If you save your layered file as an EPS,
Photoshop converts your vector type to clip-
ping paths. Extensive and small type creates
complex clipping paths, which can be time
consuming and sometimes difficult to print.
You can either flatten your file or deselect the
Include Vector Data option in the Save as EPS
Options dialog box. Either choice rasterizes the
type into pixels at the resolution of your image.
You may want to consider eliminating the type
in your image file and applying it either in a
drawing or page layout program that can retain
vector type.