Adobe Illustrator - Strange problem with text and .eps files

Author

Strange problem with text and .eps files

enhypnion@gmail.com

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

Greetings everyone, hoping someone can illuminate me in what is
happening here, and if possible, how I can avoid or solve this problem.

I was given a bunch of EPS files from a client which have text for me
to edit. However once I open the file, all the text, while still in
text (non-outlined) form, is all broken up into small chunks. Example:
For instance the sentece "Advisory Board" would be split into (just an
example): Adv i so r y B oard (spaces exagerated). I also notice
how the kerning is all out of whack as well, with some lines showing
all kinds of different values and few, if any, showing the correct
value.

Is there a way to import the .eps files where they retain the entire
text fields? As it is my editing is now becoming retyping as pretty
much all of it is unusable.

In case this helps, the original files were created on a Mac, and I am
working on a PC. I have seen this behavior before, for example on .eps
files created from Photoshop that contain fonts.

Any help or even just an explanation of why this happens so I
understand it would be greatly appreciated.

-Alex

Casey G.

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

Sounds like it was created in Quark and exported as EPS. I don't think
there's anything you can do to get it all together other than re-typesetting
it.

Casey
<enhypnion@XXXXXXXXXX> wrote in message
news:1125765375.363952.80820@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Greetings everyone, hoping someone can illuminate me in what is
> happening here, and if possible, how I can avoid or solve this problem.
>
> I was given a bunch of EPS files from a client which have text for me
> to edit. However once I open the file, all the text, while still in
> text (non-outlined) form, is all broken up into small chunks. Example:
> For instance the sentece "Advisory Board" would be split into (just an
> example): Adv i so r y B oard (spaces exagerated). I also notice
> how the kerning is all out of whack as well, with some lines showing
> all kinds of different values and few, if any, showing the correct
> value.
>
> Is there a way to import the .eps files where they retain the entire
> text fields? As it is my editing is now becoming retyping as pretty
> much all of it is unusable.
>
> In case this helps, the original files were created on a Mac, and I am
> working on a PC. I have seen this behavior before, for example on .eps
> files created from Photoshop that contain fonts.
>
> Any help or even just an explanation of why this happens so I
> understand it would be greatly appreciated.
>
> -Alex
>

_+arrooke

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

> Greetings everyone, hoping someone can illuminate me in what is
> happening here, and if possible, how I can avoid or solve this problem.
>
> I was given a bunch of EPS files from a client which have text for me
> to edit. However once I open the file, all the text, while still in
> text (non-outlined) form, is all broken up into small chunks. Example:
> For instance the sentece "Advisory Board" would be split into (just an
> example): Adv i so r y B oard (spaces exagerated). I also notice
> how the kerning is all out of whack as well, with some lines showing
> all kinds of different values and few, if any, showing the correct
> value.
>
> Is there a way to import the .eps files where they retain the entire
> text fields? As it is my editing is now becoming retyping as pretty
> much all of it is unusable.
>
> In case this helps, the original files were created on a Mac, and I am
> working on a PC. I have seen this behavior before, for example on .eps
> files created from Photoshop that contain fonts.
>
> Any help or even just an explanation of why this happens so I
> understand it would be greatly appreciated.
>
> -Alex
>
Hi Alex,

Your problem would be in the Mac to PC conversion. Even though you may have
the same font - PC version - frequently there is a slight variation in the
spacing, or amount of room a charactor may take up between the Mac and the
PC version of the same font. Add to that, the fact that fonts names can also
be sightly different, so what you think might be the same font, isn't quite.
Best to try a font conversion utility, such as CrossFont. Sometimes it
works, sometimes it doesn't. Sounds as though you may have a little more
editing on your hands than you expected.
One thing you could try, is have the original Mac file output as PDF. Then
on your PC, open the file in Acrobat and save as EPS. Or even try opening
the PDF directly in Illustrator first.

Keith.

steggy

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

_+arrooke wrote:
>
> Hi Alex,
>
> Your problem would be in the Mac to PC conversion. Even though you may have
> the same font - PC version - frequently there is a slight variation in the
> spacing, or amount of room a charactor may take up between the Mac and the
> PC version of the same font. Add to that, the fact that fonts names can also
> be sightly different, so what you think might be the same font, isn't quite.
> Best to try a font conversion utility, such as CrossFont. Sometimes it
> works, sometimes it doesn't. Sounds as though you may have a little more
> editing on your hands than you expected.
> One thing you could try, is have the original Mac file output as PDF. Then
> on your PC, open the file in Acrobat and save as EPS. Or even try opening
> the PDF directly in Illustrator first.
>
> Keith.

The behaviour Alex is describing sounds to me as if this is
about a PDF opened in Illustrator. Try making a PDF with
text and open it up in Illustrator, you will get this.
--
steg

_+arrooke

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

> > >
[color=darkred]
have[color=darkred]
the[color=darkred]
the[color=darkred]
also[color=darkred]
quite.[color=darkred]
Then[color=darkred]
opening[color=darkred]
>
> The behaviour Alex is describing sounds to me as if this is
> about a PDF opened in Illustrator. Try making a PDF with
> text and open it up in Illustrator, you will get this.
> --
> steg

Hi Steg,

Nope. Alex is opening EPS the way I read it. But yes I agree. That often
happens with PDF into Illustrator, although I've had decent luck doing it.
I opened a Mac Quark file in Quark, PC once. Same font - or so I thought. It
was a magazine with columns of text. I didn't get the spacing problem but I
sure got text reflow. I found this out afterwards. They didn't give me hard
copy to compare - how was I to know. The client was pissed, but at least it
didn't make it to press.

Bet you're glad you moved now huh?! What a f'd up place.

Keith.

steggy

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

>
> Hi Steg,
>
> Nope. Alex is opening EPS the way I read it. But yes I agree. That often
> happens with PDF into Illustrator, although I've had decent luck doing it.
> I opened a Mac Quark file in Quark, PC once. Same font - or so I thought. It
> was a magazine with columns of text. I didn't get the spacing problem but I
> sure got text reflow. I found this out afterwards. They didn't give me hard
> copy to compare - how was I to know. The client was pissed, but at least it
> didn't make it to press.
>
> Bet you're glad you moved now huh?! What a f'd up place.
>
> Keith.

Hey Keith.
What I was thinking is that maybe Alex received files that
were originally PDF but saved as EPS after importing into
Illustrator. I realize it is a stretch but you never know;)))

What do you mean with your last sentence Keith? Moved from where?
--
steg

enhypnion@gmail.com

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

That seems to be exactly it!
It was breaking my head for a while but I tested it myself and Quark
does this without fail it seems.

Luckily, I managed to obtain from the client all of this in its Quark
format, so its all good now (well about 5 hours behind, but who needs
sleep anyways).

Thank you for your response

enhypnion@gmail.com

2005-09-05, 7:17 pm

Yeah, I am having one of these issues with one of the provided ads, but
I think I got it all fixed now.

As far as the original problem I had, Casey hit it on the head with his
response. What I originally got were all EPS files exported from Quark.
I thankfully managed to obtain the files on their original form, or I
would have had to retypeset everything.

_+arrooke

2005-09-06, 4:17 am

> Yeah, I am having one of these issues with one of the provided ads, but
> I think I got it all fixed now.
>
> As far as the original problem I had, Casey hit it on the head with his
> response. What I originally got were all EPS files exported from Quark.
> I thankfully managed to obtain the files on their original form, or I
> would have had to retypeset everything.
>

Good old Quark. Haven't used it since InDesign made the scene.

steggy

2005-09-06, 4:17 am

_+arrooke wrote:
>
>
> Out of the US.

Ow OK.........that is a big huge great country, but I assume
you are speaking of New Orleans. And yes I was
flabbergasted, 24 hours after Katrina already....I said
something about it and one Dutch guy, living in America, on
usenet thought I was an old fashioned America
hater...DUH!!!!! Who is hurting people here??

What the hell do they think in Washington. I had no clue my
friend was having this vacation going on, but he flew from
Mexico City to New Orleans, the day after the mayor told
people to leave the city.
He arrived, the flew! They landed! And they told him he
better get the hell out of there. But there was no
transportation. He slept between dead bodies. How the hell
can that happen. How can an administration refuse people a
safe city (dikes!! Dikes Guys!!), proposals to strengthen
the dikes were thrown in the dumpster. Spent the tax money
on more important stuff like Irak, we all have our
priorities no do we not.
And then we just have to wait till things go wrong now don't we.........
--
steg

enhypnion@gmail.com

2005-09-06, 4:17 am

I am trying to free myself from the bonds of Quark. But I still get the
occasional 'oh inDesign? can you give me a quark file instead?'

And of course, cases in which old material is provided as Quark. I took
the leap on this one and just went ahead and imported the quark files
in InDesign CS2, and my headache pill intake has taken a drastic drop.

steggy

2005-09-06, 4:17 am

enhypnion@XXXXXXXXXX wrote:
>
> I am trying to free myself from the bonds of Quark. But I still get the
> occasional 'oh inDesign? can you give me a quark file instead?'
>
> And of course, cases in which old material is provided as Quark. I took
> the leap on this one and just went ahead and imported the quark files
> in InDesign CS2, and my headache pill intake has taken a drastic drop.

Please leave some blurbs from the posting you answer on. It
is so hard to follow if you cut it all away.

But you are right, looks great does it not? I did the same
and it seems colors, typing, even the whole lay out is just
exactly the same as the original XPress file had.
Now it is just the question of getting the secrets from
InDesign under the belt. Of course I am very happy to see
the old well known Illustrator and Photoshop tools;)
--
steg

_+arrooke

2005-09-06, 4:17 am

> > >
>
> Ow OK.........that is a big huge great country, but I assume
> you are speaking of New Orleans. And yes I was
> flabbergasted, 24 hours after Katrina already....I said
> something about it and one Dutch guy, living in America, on
> usenet thought I was an old fashioned America
> hater...DUH!!!!! Who is hurting people here??
>
> What the hell do they think in Washington. I had no clue my
> friend was having this vacation going on, but he flew from
> Mexico City to New Orleans, the day after the mayor told
> people to leave the city.
> He arrived, the flew! They landed! And they told him he
> better get the hell out of there. But there was no
> transportation. He slept between dead bodies. How the hell
> can that happen. How can an administration refuse people a
> safe city (dikes!! Dikes Guys!!), proposals to strengthen
> the dikes were thrown in the dumpster. Spent the tax money
> on more important stuff like Irak, we all have our
> priorities no do we not.
> And then we just have to wait till things go wrong now don't we.........
> --
> steg

Sorry Steg. Didn't mean to get you riled up :-)
Keith.

_+arrooke

2005-09-06, 4:17 am

> I am trying to free myself from the bonds of Quark. But I still get the
> occasional 'oh inDesign? can you give me a quark file instead?'
>
> And of course, cases in which old material is provided as Quark. I took
> the leap on this one and just went ahead and imported the quark files
> in InDesign CS2, and my headache pill intake has taken a drastic drop.
>
When I used to work for a company (I work for myself now), I would often get
troublesome Quark files from customers. I found I had better luck opening
Quark files in InDesign to troubleshoot them than I did opening them in
their native Quark.

Casey G.

2005-09-06, 7:16 pm

Hey...glad I could help and glad you conquered this monster :)

Casey G.

<enhypnion@XXXXXXXXXX> wrote in message
news:1125935263.799358.24050@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> That seems to be exactly it!
> It was breaking my head for a while but I tested it myself and Quark
> does this without fail it seems.
>
> Luckily, I managed to obtain from the client all of this in its Quark
> format, so its all good now (well about 5 hours behind, but who needs
> sleep anyways).
>
> Thank you for your response
>

oneiros

2005-09-06, 7:16 pm

_+arrooke wrote:
> When I used to work for a company (I work for myself now), I would often get
> troublesome Quark files from customers. I found I had better luck opening
> Quark files in InDesign to troubleshoot them than I did opening them in
> their native Quark.

Yes! I actually came across this not too long ago, where a file was
giving me all kinds of problems in Quark, I imported into InDesign, and
did a preflight and much to my surprise, it picked out two of the fonts
installed in my system (and which were being used in this project) were
'incomplete'. This led me to fixing a problem that was causing me
problems not just on that project, but I suspect was causing an earlier
headache I was having with photoshop and illustrator on previous
project. I now tend to use ID to preflight my files even if I still
have to send them as a QuirkyXpress file, because it seems to pick up
on more stuff than Quark does.

oneiros

2005-09-06, 7:16 pm

steggy wrote:

>
> Please leave some blurbs from the posting you answer on. It
> is so hard to follow if you cut it all away.
>

My apologies for that, I use google groups to post and unless you hit
on 'Reply to author' it automaticaly doesn't put the blurbs. My bad for
expecting it to do so.

> But you are right, looks great does it not? I did the same
> and it seems colors, typing, even the whole lay out is just
> exactly the same as the original XPress file had.
> Now it is just the question of getting the secrets from
> InDesign under the belt. Of course I am very happy to see
> the old well known Illustrator and Photoshop tools;)
> --
> steg

One of the things which I am enjoying the most from ID is how it deals
with fonts. With Quark I had only access to roman, bold, and italic
(and combinations of those), and there was no way, outside of checking
your font usage through the menu) that you were using a 'fake' bold or
whatever.Now this might have been a PC-only issue, but in ID it deals
with fonts in a more familiar and powerful manner (IMO).

-Alex

steggy

2005-09-06, 7:16 pm

oneiros wrote:
>
> steggy wrote:
>
>
> One of the things which I am enjoying the most from ID is how it deals
> with fonts. With Quark I had only access to roman, bold, and italic
> (and combinations of those), and there was no way, outside of checking
> your font usage through the menu) that you were using a 'fake' bold or
> whatever.Now this might have been a PC-only issue, but in ID it deals
> with fonts in a more familiar and powerful manner (IMO).
>
> -Alex

It does. But forced bold (what you call fake bold) is never
a good thing. Always use the regular bold from the character
family I'd say. No reason to do otherwise??
--
steg