ICAD and DTP
Q. I am using IntelliCAD within a workflow for generating drawings within publications. Consequently I need to generate copies of drawings in a form that can be placed in a document layout application (actually PageMaker). Currently I export the drawings as encapsulated postscript using AutoCAD's PSOUT command. IntelliCAD notes that this command is currently not implemented. Do you have a recommended way to generate encapsulated postscript? (Or an alternative?) This is a particularly important question, as the trial version does not, of course, allow drawings to be saved or printed.
A. This is a common request. Most of our clients now take advantage of the fact that IntelliCAD can print to a PDF file. They set up a PDF writer (Adobe PDF Writer or [preferably] CutePDF Writer and print to a custom sheet the actual size of their finished illustration. You then simply place the illustration into your Publisher, PageMaker or InDesign document.
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Printing to PDF and placing the PDF file into an InDesign/PageMaker document. |
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The finished PDF file in Acrobat Reader |
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The resolution is high (600 dpi) although we could heave set it higher if required. |
Note that old >10 year old copies of PageMaker may not allow you to place PDF files - if your copy does not, it is time to upgrade!