print publishing file types/specs

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mmike
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Post by mmike » Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:38 pm

I know this has been discussed, and I've checked both this and Notatio's forum, but I can't quite get a clear answer to this question: for an orchestral score to be professionally published and printed, what would be the best and preferred file type and resolution to create from a .musx Finale file (conventional music notation, no special graphics), to be delivered to someone designing the book with InDesign or similar desktop publishing software?
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motet
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Post by motet » Sun Jan 19, 2020 12:38 am

I don't know, but I'm guessing InDesign or other professional software can accommodate all common formats, so the question is one only of resolution. I think high resolution is always safe--it can be subsampled if need be.

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Peter Thomsen
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Post by Peter Thomsen » Sun Jan 19, 2020 8:45 am

Instead of using bitmap graphics, how about using vector graphics?

Are you saying that InDesign does not support vector graphics?

If you from Finale export as PDF, you will get a vector graphic (= no “resolution”, described in mathematical formulas, will always print at the best possible resolution).
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BuonTempi
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Post by BuonTempi » Sun Jan 19, 2020 9:22 am

If someone else is designing a book that contains music images, then you need to ask them what they want and work with them to produce the right material at the right size.

mmike
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Post by mmike » Sun Jan 19, 2020 9:42 am

InDesign certainly supports vector graphics. I was just wondering what would be the best in terms of resolution. But, as you say, and I wasn't aware of that,
(= no “resolution”, described in mathematical formulas, will always print at the best possible resolution).

I tested the Finale PDF Export feature as well as exporting with the Graphics Tool, and they both are, as far as I can see, exactly the same (although I remember some discussion about "true" black etc., but I've never actually seen any difference on the screen, nor when printed on paper). I usally use another method, though, that is printing to PDFCreator (much smaller file sizes), which actually seems somewhat better and, testing it by changing the "resolution" from 600 to 1200 dpi, apparently makes no difference.
I also have Adobe Acrobat Professional (fairly old version 8.0), but have not been able to figure out how to set it up as a printer, so that one can print to it from Finale (any specific advice on how to do that?). Would be interesting to see if there is any difference.
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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Sun Jan 19, 2020 1:53 pm

The printer usually has the final say on the exact format ("job options") of the PDF files they use for printing the job. The specs are sometimes posted on their website.
N. Grossingink
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mmike
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Post by mmike » Sun Jan 19, 2020 3:08 pm

The specs are sometimes posted on their website
Searched, but couldn't really find anything very useful ... might you have some specific links?
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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Sun Jan 19, 2020 3:35 pm

mmike wrote:
Sun Jan 19, 2020 3:08 pm
The specs are sometimes posted on their website
Searched, but couldn't really find anything very useful ... might you have some specific links?
I was referring to the printer that will do the actual job. You might have to give them a call. It might not make any difference how the PDFs are configured, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
N. Grossingink
Educational Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble a specialty
Sample: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFF5OeJDeLFGHMRyXrubFqZWXBubErw4/view?usp=share_link


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MikeHalloran
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Post by MikeHalloran » Sun Jan 19, 2020 6:10 pm

I tested the Finale PDF Export feature as well as exporting with the Graphics Tool, and they both are, as far as I can see, exactly the same (although I remember some discussion about "true" black etc., but I've never actually seen any difference on the screen, nor when printed on paper...
You are making an incorrect assumption. While true on Windows, it is not true on the Mac since 25. That “stuff” you remember seeing applies to the Mac only.

Why? No one knows and MM has never acknowledged if a bug, done on purpose or something to do with the Mac OS. Fortunately, export from the Graphics menu does work.

2014 did work the way Windows does now — Weird squared.
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