PCN Synod

Nonprofit Prices

2007-06-22T06:52:00.000-06:00

From Kathy in Palo Duro:
"I am currently exploring obtaining more robust, industry standard desktop publishing software. Adobe has a very good licensing pricing policy for nonprofits -- about $199.00 for InDesign. The main issue is that the software must be purchased from a reseller that is authorized to sell a particular title to nonprofits for the discounted price. Many of the listed resellers only offer the discounted prices to educational clients. I will let you know when I find a vendor. Similar pricing arrangements are available for Quark Express and from some of the same resellers."

Shane's reply:
"We finally received nonprofit status with CDW for Microsoft products.
I heard it was difficult for church-related groups to receive Adobe nonprofit pricing.
I'll post that as a topic on our blog... something like "nonprofit prices.""

See also: Shar in Indian Nations comment on EDITORS USING WORD for an alternative. http://pcnsynod.blogspot.com/2007/06/editors-using-word.html

EDITORS USING WORD

2007-06-21T19:31:00.000-06:00

At least two editors, Shar in Indian Nations (pronounced like it is short for "Sharon") and Theresa in Tres Rios are using Microsoft Word to publish their pages.

This topic is started from them to share tips but also for others to see in case using Word might work for others.

EDITORS USING PUBLISHER (problems)

2007-06-20T10:41:00.000-06:00

To Presbytery Page Editors using Microsoft Publisher:

Our memory says four of you use Publisher, let us know if this wrong or incomplete.

Donna at South Louisiana
Julie at Eastern Oklahoma
April Coldsmith (welcome!) at Mission
Cindy at Pines (now InDesign)

From Shane: PROBLEM! – I was under the mistaken impression that UMR could use PDF files created from Publisher IF all the new technical requirements were met using the newer versions of Acrobat. That’s wrong. Learning that was like running into a brick wall, but at least knocking a small hole in it. Acrobat cannot fix Publisher’s limitations as far as UMR’s new high tech system is concerned.

TODAY’s SOLUTION: Send your completed Publisher page and all original photo/image files to Beth Hernandez and she will save them. Shane will look them over and send them on to UMR and the SUN will pay this time to have them reset. Because of this it would be extremely helpful to have your work in before the absolute deadline of 9a next Tuesday.

So, if you use Publisher, send all files (.pub and .jpg and/or .tif files) to Beth and NOT to UMR.

LONG TERM SOLUTION: Many of you will not want or want to afford buying a high-end publishing program like InDesign, so a possible solution is to hire a third party to reset the pages (if we find one cheaper than UMR) and evenly split the cost of that third party between the presbyteries involved.

NOTE: UMR charges about $60/hr for this work. If they don’t have to fix your photos/images that will decrease time required. It will be good to invest in a cheaper program called Photoshop Elements ($100) that you can use to prepare all graphics/photos you use in any printed or electronic publication.

So that we can see feedback about these questions and concerns in one place, I’ve placed this topic on our PCN blog.

Welcome Presbyterian Communicators!

2007-05-07T13:05:00.000-06:00

Recent additions: The Presbyterian SUN - PDF preparation

The Presbyterian SUN - Photos/Line-Art

We launched this blog as a fun venue for exploring our work as part of the Presbyterian Communicators Network.

Please use the "Blog Archive" at right to find topics. This blog is driven more by topic than date.

It is meant to support each other and share tips with electronic and print communications, particularly for the 11 presbyteries and their nearly 900 congregations in the Synod of the Sun. For now, the topics will be those which best help editors of The Presbyterian SUN and presbytery websites, but all volunteer or staff communicators are welcome!

Right now the settings are such that anyone can post a comment. But please consider registering with blogger.com and "joining this blog."

NOTE: Moderator may combine groups of replies as relevant only in order to make them easier to read. (i.e. Lists of tips on creating .pdfs)

The Presbyterian SUN - PDF preparation

2007-05-07T09:40:00.001-06:00

Revised 12/2008

For editors and advertisers who work with UMR Communications (our print house) and The Presbyterian SUN newspaper...

New equipment at the printing house works much better but requires SPECIFIC preparation when converting files to PDF (recommended).

Acrobat 6 and 7 users need to choose/use the PDF x/1a-2001 settings in Distiller.

Investing in the full version of Adobe Acrobat can help with many publishing and office and website needs.

INSTRUCTIONS for PDF with/without spot color

1) IF you have a last minute problem with your PDF, UMR (our print house) can usually fix files created in Quark, PageMaker, InDesign.

2) Ads and Presbytery Pages in BLACK & WHITE: File needed on black plate only.

NOTE: Your program may be "using" color even though you can't see any!
Solution: In a program like PageMaker, Click UTILITIES > DEFINE COLORS > and REMOVE UNUSED colors from the list.

HELP: Send us similar tips for other programs.

3) Ads using SPOT COLOR: Our print house needs composites that separate to the black plate and to ONE color plate only.

Detailed example: What UMR said about one ad using spot color

Problem AD has 5 plates (C, M, Y, K) AND a Pantone spot color plate.

All 5 plates have graphics on them.
We need the black elements to be on the K plate only.
The spot color elements to be on the C plate only.
We don't need the Pantone plate at all.

Another example:

Problem AD has black elements on the K plate (good)
But the color is on both C and M (bad)
If the color was on just C or M, it would be perfect.

4) HOW TO check intended and unintended separations using Adobe Acrobat

Option A:

Open .pdf, use the Advanced option at the Adobe Acrobat toolbar, pull down to Output Preview.
Pulldown to select for U.S. web press. This shows us all 4 plates (and a fifth, if the customer has created a spot color plate.)

Option B:

Open the .pdf, click FILE > PRINT
On the PRINT dialog box, choose Advanced (bottom left).
On the Advanced Print Setup dialog box, select Separations as Color
Now you can select and deselect the plate colors in the Ink Manager section to see what's on each plate.

The Presbyterian SUN - Photos/Line-Art

2007-05-07T09:30:00.000-06:00

For best printing results we recommend:

Picture resolution = 200 dpi

Line-art resolution = 800 dpi

for printing at 100 % of the original size

If you ask our print house (UMR) to enlarge images, these densities should be correspondingly higher.

If your space for a photo is smaller than the original, it usually isn't a problem.

Please don't send color photos - it costs to prepare them for print.
If you are not sure how to prepare a photo for print - please ask Shane (synod editor).

PhotoShop Elements is a great investment.
(Limited version, less expensive than full version of PhotoShop.)

Tips on e-mail lists

2007-02-23T13:51:00.000-06:00

Share your joy and/or frustration when it comes to maintaining e-mail lists.

Tips on Web publishing

2007-02-23T13:45:00.000-06:00

Please reply with your tips or questions on Web publishing.

Tips for Print

2007-02-23T13:43:00.000-06:00

Please reply with your tips and links or needs when it comes to printed publishing.