TIF files with clipping paths output to postscript in MS Publisher 2003

[Dominic Martin]

Hi,

I am creating CMYK documents in Microsoft Publisher 2003 and
outputting the job as a postscript file using Acrobat Distiller 3.0. I
can import EPS files with clipping paths and the jobs output
correctly. However, if I embed a clipping path within the alpha
channel of a TIF file, Publisher imports the image with the clipping
path intact but the postscript output puts a bounding box back on the
image. Does anyone have any ideas as to the cause of this?

Thanks in advance.

Dominic

 

[dominic.martin]

Thanks to everyone that replied. The issue was down to me using a level
2 postscript driver, when I needed to use a level 3. I also didn't
realise until yesterday that Publisher includes a generic level 3
colour postscript driver developed jointly by MS and Adobe. Although
the installation file is copied to the hard drive with everything else,
you have to know it's there and go through the add printer wizard to
install it. Here's the URL for anyone that wants to try it:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/assistance/HP010464291033.aspx

So after I put these two bits together, I can now successfully create
postscript output with the TIF transparencies intact.

I'd also just like to say, that I've never used any previous version of
Publisher but I've been impressed with the 2003 version. I'm not trying
to say it can replace Quark but if you understand the requirements of
the commercial printing world, it's a much cheaper alternative for
companies that wish to develop their own literature in-house. Microsoft
has put a lot of work into their website
(http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/FX010857941033.aspx) to explain how
you must configure a Publisher document if it's to be sent to a
commercial press.

Dominic