Re: [docbook-apps] How to specify out resolution for FO

[Sean Wheller <sean@enbaya.co.za>]

On Sunday 01 February 2004 00:12, Bob Stayton wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Tolpin" <dvd@davidashen.net>
> To: <docbook-apps@lists.oasis-open.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 12:49 AM
> Subject: Re: [docbook-apps] How to specify out resolution for FO
>
> > Bob Stayton:
> > [ Charset ISO-8859-1 unsupported, converting... ]
> >
> > > PDF resolution is not part of the XSL spec, so there is no provision in
>
> the
>
> > > standard to specify it.  There might be an extension provided by
> > > the FO processor, so you should first look there to see if such an
> > >
> > > > Anyone know how to specify, in the XSL customization layer, the
> > > > output resolution for FO.
> >
> > Nor it is a feature of PDF. PDF is a vector format and is the same for
> > any resolution. I suspect that it is included raster images which should
>
> depend
>
> > on the resolution, not the PDF itself, but then different images should
> > be used for different media.
>
> I agree that PDF is a vector format, but setting the resolution
> is a feature of Adobe Distiller.  Under Settings > Edit Adobe PDF Settings
> is "Resolution: 600 dots per inch".  I assume they use that only for
> graphics, but it may include other optimizations for the output
> rendering device.
>
> Bob Stayton
> Sagehill Enterprises
> bobs@sagehill.net
>
> > David Tolpin
> > http://davidashen.net/

The reason for these questions.

In my experience, it is always easier to prepare production files in such a 
way that they are optimized for the equipment of the print shop doing your 
production. It saves lots of time, both sides, and increases the chances of 
getting production to the state of being a "repeatable process". This state 
is often found in organizations that apply engineering processes to their 
production.

When files are not optimized, any number of tweaks may be required during 
production, theses steps may be forgotten during future print runs. The 
result being inconsistent quality.  

So, as far as I can see, providing you have Acrobat Distiller, the route to 
obtaining PDF with a higher resolution should be something like this:

XML > XSL-FO > PS > [ACROBAT DISTILLER]> PDF

This complicates the pre-press production stages and relies on one more tool 
in the tool-chain. In my mind, the Adobe suite of products for PDF creation 
are brilliant and well worth the money, so people like myself don't have any 
problem investing in them. However, this is not always the case for every 
person.

That said I get to the next question. How does one produce a PS that is 
created with the ppd's of a specific printer?

The "use case" would be to input the PS that has been created with the 
following route above, into the Acrobat Distiller so that I output a PDF that 
is both a higher resolution and is optimized for a specific printer.

As Bob and David have pointed out, resolution is outside the XSL-FO spec. So 
how do we get resolution into our PS files? I think we're back to square one.

Which highlights a very disconcerting point. When it comes to professional 
level production, XML processing technologies and standards are still 
deficient. Is this an oversight that may become the Achilles heal of XML in 
environments that need professional print production?


-- 
Sean Wheller