PDF file graphics are poor - AI to Word to Acrobat

Question

I've been learning to use AI to build the simple, mostly vector, grapics I want available to Word and other end points like web.  Sizing and then exporting AI files to PNG and then using those directly in web apps works fine.
The story isn't so good for grapics put into Word.
After trying a number of options, taking the graphic to a TIFF worked best for viewing in Word.  But when converted to a PDF the images (lines, text) errodes noticably.  I'm assuming that's because I'm having Acrobat convert a raster image.  I'm also assuming that manipulating the image (e.g. line width, font size, etc.) will not improve things although, if I'm wrong, I'd like to hear back.
I decided that getting the vector objects into EMF files would help but that actually produced poor results when viewed in Word.
It may be the method I'm using so if there's some wisdom about AI to Word to Acrobat I'd appreciate hearing it.
Thanks
Tom

Answer 1

I do not use WORD, but another word processor that allows me to see the format of the graphics as bitmaps or metafiles. The imported vector files are metafiles (this is a form of vector file used in Windows. Imported bitmap files are kept as bitmap files. There are some conversions that depend primarily on the compatibility of the graphic vector form and the windows metafile format. The results are generally excellent for me. What you could do is import in general formats like eps (include a bitmap if you want to see it in word and print to PDF to see the actual vector form), an emf file saved from AI (it should be retained as a vector form), and a bitmap, then also include clipboard versions of the same files from the original vector and bitmap files. You can judge for yourself. I am still interested in the comment from the other individual about not using the clipboard and why.
EPS is a vector graphic format developed by Adobe (as I recall, would have to look at my graphic book to be sure) along with PS files. It allows a bitmap preview file to be included -- what you see on screen in WORD. EMF files should be able to be loaded from the insert pictures menu in WORD (it is there in my WORD 2007 along with EPS and WMF files -- I do not there are any other formats that support vectors there). WMF is the old Windows MetaFile format and EMF is the Enhanced Windows MetaFile format. Actually, EMF and WMF files can include both vector and bitmap formats, similar in a sense to what Adobe can do I guess with PDF. The standard EMF is what is actually used in the clipboard. You can get more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Metafile. A similar discussion of EPS file is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encapsulated_PostScript. The main difference between the EMF and clipboard in WORD is that they are scaled differently when inserted. One problem with vector graphics in WORD 2007 and 2010 is that fonts of the text are not embedded. So someone without the fonts and looking at the WORD file would not see the proper text -- this is a MS issue introduced with their XML form of a DOC file. It is even messed up in their DOC compatibility format.
The AI file format is supposed to actually be a variation on the EPS file format from what I have read -- Apparently EPS is an outgrowth of AI?
In any case, the WORD file may not show the EPS file correctly. It appears that WORD 2007 does an attempt at displaying the result, but with errors (I have been looking at some line drawings and the WORD display shows line breaks. I printed the various forms of graphics in WORD to a PDF and the results for the EPS was not good. I think this may be a MS issue, but am not sure. Actually, the WORD converter to PDF even messed it up. That would suggest that at this point, EPS is not a good choice because of the way WORD handles things.
Don't know that my long winded description helps or not.
The EMF file can be inserted with the Insert>Picture menu. If you use the special paste, you can insert either WMF or WMF versions from the clipboard. Generally the results are the same. From my short experiment with EPS and WORD 2007, it looks like the result is a problem. However, that could have been the EPS save of my application, don't know. The best way to see what works for you is to do what I just did and that is create a vector graphic and save it as EMF and EPS. Then clipboard it into work and insert both the EMF and EPS in the picture menu. See what the result looks like and then also print to PDF and see what you get. Then draw your own conclusions rather than depending on someone like me who is just indicating results I have gotten.
Good luck.