APX is an XTension that is designed to simplify the process of generating QuarkXPress 3.3 PostScript™ files for post-processing by Adobe prepress products. By using APX, you are assured that the resulting PostScript files conform to the Adobe Document Structuring Conventions (DSC) so that they can be post-processed by Aldus® Color Central™, Aldus® PrePrint® Pro, Aldus® PressWise™, Aldus® TrapWise™, and Adobe™ OPEN™.
Some of the benefits of using APX are:
• Multiple-page PostScript file compatibility
Because the resulting file format created by APX is similar to an Aldus® PageMaker® for separations (SEP) file, it can be trapped in TrapWise 2.x, imposed in PressWise 2.0, and separated by TrapWise 2.x or PrePrint Pro 1.0. Additionally, these files can be post-processed by other PostScript prepress applications.
• Page bleeds automatically included in the PostScript file.
EPS Bleeder (or a similar utility application) is no longer required in order for page bleed information to be included in QuarkXPress PostScript files.
• Option to knockout QuarkXPress elements for files to be trapped in TrapWise
You can use APX to override QuarkXPress’ default overprint setting and set all box backgrounds, frame insides, and frame outsides to knockout. This eliminates the need to manually set a box to knockout from within the Trap Information palette in order to workaround the default overprint setting.
• Consistent page positioning in PressWise 2.0.
A QuarkXPress PostScript file generated with APX is modified so that you no longer need to include registration marks for proper page positioning in PressWise. Therefore, the registration mark offset and other page positioning values set in QuarkXPress do not affect PressWise page positioning.
• Direct printing to disk and/or to an OPEN pipeline.
With APX, you can save a PostScript file to disk, send it to an OPEN pipeline, or both. A pipeline is a workflow path defined in Adobe OPEN that connects OPEN-aware applications running on separate workstations. PostScript files sent to a pipeline are automatically processed according to the pipeline’s configuration. This functionality is included for customers who integrate other prepress products into their workflows.
Click “All” to print all the pages of the document. Click “From” and enter a page range to print selected pages of the document.
• “Send to”
Click “Disk” to have APX export the PostScript to a specified file. Click “Pipeline” to have APX send the resulting PostScript file to the Adobe OPEN pipeline selected in the Chooser. Click “Both” to have APX export the PostScript to a specified file and send it to a pipeline.
• “Format”
Click “Composite” to have APX generate a composite, color separable, device independent, DSC 3.0 (Document Structuring Conventions) conforming PostScript file that can be post-processed by PressWise 2.x, TrapWise 2.x, and other Adobe prepress applications. Click “Preseparated” to have APX generate a QuarkXPress preseparated PostScript file that can be added to PressWise signatures. Selecting “Preseparated” activates the “Screens” button.
• “Knockout elements for TrapWise”
Active when “Composite” is selected, checking this option causes APX to override QuarkXPress’ default overprint setting and sets all box backgrounds, frame insides, and frame outsides to knockout. Since choosing this feature changes the QuarkXPress document, you should save a copy of the original document before exporting with this option turned on.
• “OPI”
Choose “Include Images” from the popup menu when generating a PostScript file that is not to be post-processed by an OPI™ (Open Prepress Interface) server or application with OPI-linking capabilities. Choose “Omit TIFF” from the popup menu when generating a PostScript file for post-processing by an OPI server, such as Color Central, or an application with OPI-linking capabilities, such as TrapWise or PrePrint. For the best reliability with TrapWise or PrePrint, select Omit TIFF.
• “Screens”
Active when “Preseparated” is selected, click to open the Halftone Screens dialog box and adjust screen angles and frequency and to specify dot shapes of process and spot inks before generating a preseparated PostScript file for post-processing in PressWise. For the options available in the Halftone Screens dialog box, see section 4, “Options available in the Halftone Screens dialog box,” below. Note: APX does not read screen angles and frequency values from PostScript Printer Description (PPD) or QuarkXPress Printer Description (PDF) files. You must enter your own values.
Enter the desired screen angle (in degrees) for the four process inks. Spot inks used in the document inherit their halftone angle and frequency from specifications provided in the QuarkXPress Edit Color dialog box. The halftone shape selected in the Halftone Screens dialog box effects all plates.
• “Frequency”
Enter the desired screen frequency (in lines per inch) for the four process inks used in the document.
• “Shape”
Choose the desired type of halftone shape to be used when imaging the document to film after imposition. For more information on the halftone dot shapes available in the “Shape” popup menu, refer to Peter Fink’s PostScript™ Screening: Adobe Accurate Screens™, published by Adobe Press (ISBN 0-672-48544-3).
QuarkXPress documents that are trapped in QuarkXPress, printed to disk as a preseparated PostScript file through APX, and post-processed through PressWise, retain the QuarkXPress trapping information.
QuarkXPress documents that are trapped in QuarkXPress, printed to disk as a composite PostScript file through APX, and post-processed in TrapWise and/or PrePrint Pro, do not retain the QuarkXPress trapping information. APX disables external trapping functionality requested by QuarkXPress’ custom ‘settrap’ PostScript command.
• APX and the Cool Blends XTension
When generating a composite PostScript file, you should be aware that spot color blends created using the Cool Blends XTension convert to their process color equivalents when processed by APX. They cannot be re-configured in a manner that allows separation as spot color inks. This behavior is inherent to QuarkXPress.
• Multiple Master fonts and QuarkXPress
EPS files generated by QuarkXPress and APX that contain Multiple Master fonts generate a PostScript error (Error: invalidfont; Command findfont) when opened in TrapWise. This behavior is inherent to QuarkXPress.
• Memory and disk space requirements
When exporting 100 or more pages into a single APX document make sure you: have an adequate amount of free disk space on the destination disk; and allocate extra RAM to the QuarkXPress application. To allocate more RAM to QuarkXPress, select the QuarkXPress application icon, choose Get Info from the Finder’s File menu and increase the amount of memory shown in the “Preferred Size” edit box.
• APX is not compatible with QuarkXPress 3.2
APX is not compatible with QuarkXPress 3.2. APX requires QuarkXPress 3.3 or later.
• Updating links before exporting from APX
To save time, make sure links to all graphics placed in the QuarkXPress document are updated before using APX to export for prepress.
• Preseparated file requirements.
You cannot drag an APX preseparated file onto the Aldus PressWise application icon to create a new job. Instead, you must create or open a job and then add the preseparated file generated by APX to the PressWise job using the PressWise “Add/Remove files” dialog box.
• Version 1.0.2 fixes incompatibility with Linotype RIPs
APX version 1.0.1 was incompatible with some Linotype RIPs. Version 1.0.2 fixes this problem.
Technical support for APX is available in conjuction with support for Color Central, PressWise, TrapWise, PrePrint Pro, and other registered Adobe prepress products. If you need technical support, call the technical support phone number for your Adobe prepress product. NOTE: Make sure that you have your product serial number available before calling technical support.
Since APX is distributed free of charge, we have no way of knowing who you are and if you are satisfied with APX’s performance. If you have a feature request, a compatatibility issue, or other non-technical questions, contact the Adobe Prepress Group at 1-800-685-6736. If you have a technical support question, call the technical support phnoe number for your Adobe prepress product.
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