Photoshop CS4 Part 2

Question

because someone had to go and spoil the previous thread and there is much to discuss!
Such as "Collections" in Bridge CS4 and its new Output Panel which lets you use any template, including the Lightroom ones, directly out of Bridge.
VERY nice!

Answer 1

Buko -
My complaint is not always PDF issues. It's only a part of the problem that exist when you want to repurpose files for a different device.
Actually today, I get a request to match a digital press and an Epson 9800 output. Numbers are the same, but the color is different. Light lime green is the color. PDF's are exactly the same. CMYK mode PDF. This instantly requires editing in Photoshop and saving back into the PDF if you don't have native files. Save Photoshop PDF file and you can't retain layered data cuz once you save the parent PDF - objects are done.
Fun....
So I happen to have the In Design document and can directly edit the images - IF - I have the links - I can do such edits. If not, screw you, and write out PDF's and extract images that way. Again, another generation of who the hell knows what flavor of image it was when it was given birth.
What I really love is when customers supply "copy + paste" objects within IN Design. They are not links and therefore are not editable - nor do they register to exist in the links pallet. But they are there and need to be edited... Sweet...
And then you have issues like vector elements that can't be picked apart for whatever reason, some vector objects come into INDY as copy/paste objects but as a whole sum object and not how the art was originally created. That leads to once again saving out a PDF and then opening it in Illustrator - raping the object, then stuffing it back in INDD to be able to perform edits such as scale, AND of course color change - cuz the designer can't understand the concept of spot colors and white ink interaction on color paper. Artist colors the file "paper color" cuz it's in the list of colors and she needs a stock color cuz her brain is an artist.
nice...
So - farther up the tube of wonders comes the simple concept of how was the CMYK files separated - why - from whom - what for - where is it going - and how many directions shall it be listed as acceptable art and for what purpose.
web, animation, 3D, medical, aerospace, and guess what - and I will tell you - everyone prints. I don't care who the hell you are and what you do - but I KNOW -you- print because you want something in your hand. Adobe has neglected this simple human intervention with said art and is not promoting good behavioral habits in a short tempered, get it done now society.
OK - now forget print for a moment and all that noise...
Reliability of RGB files is very low as far as handling of said files. Files come from all walks of life and when one goes a whacking due to various educational levels - you only have so much to work with. I think everyone here in these forums has had some kind of experience with receiving others files and are told to do something with them.
How many users REALLY KNOW WHERE the files came from and is it in the correct color space and did the user giving you the files was even aware of if it was converted, CMYK, or is golden ACR or RAW
Who the hell knows? Clearly not me. YOU?
So Buko -
It's way more then dealing with PDF files. It's much larger then my arrogant reflections. It's a bigger problem then Adobe itself.
IT's about reliability and usability for your needs.
I can't confirm files period - which makes my or any ones ability to make a file - better.
(fill in your quality requirements)
get it?
It's not rocket science and it's not even color science. It's implementation for mutiple users with common sense.
Just shoot me at that point... The masses do not understand file creation and content control - and we are creating more of a mess with each release without cleaning up the workflow.
It would only be fitting if I die sane.
I see beyond a lot of things -even my nose.
Yes you can create great art with Adobe products. No question. Problem is what happens when you give your creation away....
do you know without a doubt that whomever you give the files to - has the reliability needed to assist them in giving you back what you gave them?
I just don't know Buko, but I know...