Quark vs InDesign tracking, etc.

steven r wilson

I am currently a graphic design student at Cal State Fullerton, and they are teaching Quark (4.1) in school on OS 9 eMacs. I have a Dual G4 500 at home where I run OS X 10.2.x, and have a copy of InDesign 2.0.



Besides the obvious differences in operating systems, I need to deal with other issues when I work between both programs. I won't be doing much of my final prints at school because the laser printers there have chronically low toner, which makes for poor quality presentation prints.



However, I do work on both programs, and I have some issues, including:



1. In Quark, I've been told to run a default tracking of "1.25" and work from there, but in InDesign 2.0 it adjusts this to "1" and seems to want to adjust tracking in sets of "10." Is there a different system at play here if so how do adjust or is Quark just allow for tighter control over tracking?



2. In terms of file formats, is there a way I can work on the same file and move it back and forth between the two programs, or am I just going to be starting from scratch as I move back and forth?



3. What is the best way for me to take InDesign files to get printed? We're not talking about Press runs here, we're talking about maybe a few copies, should I save them as PDF files? What should I do?



I really appreciate anyone's help here, I'm learning a lot in this class, and I'm looking forward to see how all my stuff comes out when I'm done!

costique

Quote:

Originally posted by Steven R Wilson

2. In terms of file formats, is there a way I can work on the same file and move it back and forth between the two programs, or am I just going to be starting from scratch as I move back and forth?

No way. You can open QXD in InDesign and that is all.

Quote:

3. What is the best way for me to take InDesign files to get printed? We're not talking about Press runs here, we're talking about maybe a few copies, should I save them as PDF files? What should I do?

PDF is ideal for this purpose. Just don't forget to embed all fonts in it and you'll be able to print it even from a Windows box.



Sorry, didn't understand point 1.

dr vannostran

I don't recall what we use for tracking with Quark or InDesign. I couldn't open Quark 5 or 6 files in InDesign but Quark 3.3 and 4 files would open in InDesign. I don't think that you can open InDesign files in Quark. People don't usually move between applications when doing layouts it would only cause problems.



I would think it would be wise to learn both programs. I work at a large publishing house and we use Quark Xpress solely. The only time we use InDesign is when a customer sends us something done in InDesign. When we do receive an InDesign file we just exported it as an EPS file and print it out of Quark. Many printers will tell you that they accept InDesign files but the truth be known they were still printing them from Quark.



The best way to get them printed is to make PDF files. Watch out when you are using the Transparency settings on things in InDesign. It can cause problems when you are trying to print the file and it will also cause you problems in your PDF file if you are not careful.

steven r wilson

Thanks for the helpful replies so far, sounds like my instincts were correct on some of those issues, but it's nice to have someone confirm and expand upon what I suspected.



As far as tracking, I'd still like to know what setting to use in InDesign to match up with 1.25 in Quark, as well as how adjusting in InDesign matches up with adjusting in Quark.



I guess as far as printing from InDesign, if I need to do any press runs from there, I need to find some place that supports InDesign natively. I live in LA area, I'm sure there's plenty of print places that could do that around here.. Thanks again for everyone's help!

tommy_thompson

Have been a Graphic Designer for almost 10 years. Love the work. I was torn between Quark and PageMaker (I dubbed it RageMaker) and went with Quark for several reasons...much smarter program at the time. Now after waiting for Quark to come out for X, and it being so taxing on the pocketbook, I did buckle and get a copy of InDesign. It is probably just my ignorance of the program, but I am finding the reasons I hated PageMaker in InDesign. You mentioned only one. I really hope it is just my lack of understanding in the program and it will be corrected with time. If I were you, I would take full advantage of getting a student copy of Quark...it is half price. I for one, am having a #$@ of a time getting used to the "features" in InDesign. It is like PageMaker on steroids..if Adobe is listening- change the way your type works! Things go IN boxes...not one them..if you disagree, they remind me not to have you give my movers instructions on how to move me into my new house! I am not discounting InDesign just yet, I paid for it, and am hell bent on "learning" it. But what I would do seriouly, is get that student copy of Quark, and use the file collection, or export your .ps file and rip it with distiller..I don't trust Quarks .PDF output option fully, and by outputting a .ps file and ripping it with distiller..should give you the "comfort" of extending your school experiance as well as making .PDF files if the printer needs it. Sorry for part rant..but is good info.

steven r wilson

I haven't yet used a copy of Quark above version 4. I don't know what version you are currently using.. I'm not defending InDesign when I say I'm no fan of the interface of Quark. InDesign may have a long way to go and may have gone in the wrong direction in some respects, but until I either get a newer copy of Quark for myself or the school upgrades past version 4, I won't know for sure.. but I find myself bumping into the interface of Quark more than any other program..



Examples, no keyboard command to get tools? huh?



No keyboard commands to zoom in or out? huh?



ONE undo? huh?



Also, I understand that Distiller is not making the leap to OS X? Or am I wrong here? I'm NOT going back to OS 9, they have that in the lab, and I don't miss it at home.



Personally I plan to learn both programs, and so far I have no reason to buy Quark myself since they have it at school. I figure as long as I know both programs I'm okay.



Thanks for your imput, and if you want to explain some specific problems you have with InDesign (make sure to mention what version you have), I'd love to hear them, I figure the more knowledge I have the better..



I'm still looking for someone to tell me how to convert tracking info from Quark to InDesign?



Thanks...

xaqtly

Acrobat 6 is fully OS X native, including Distiller.

tommy_thompson

Yes, I have the full version of Acrobat 6, and it IS X native.

steven r wilson

That's really good to know.. I guess maybe since I've never used the commercial version of Acrobat I only knew what I'd read.. I mainly use Photoshop and Illustrator, and starting to learn Quark and InDesign right now..



Has anyone out there taken the time to really learn InDesign after at least version 1.5 or preferrably 2.0 and gone back to Quark preferring it over InDesign? If so can anyone tell me why specifically? I'd like to know.. I only have version 4 of Quark to compare it to, and that's not a fair comparison I don't think...

yose

Quote:

Examples, no keyboard command to get tools? huh?



No keyboard commands to zoom in or out? huh?



ONE undo? huh?

Command + Option + Tab: cycle down through Quark tools.

Command + Option + Tab + Shift: " but backwards.



Control + V: Jumps to the Zoom % in the lower lefthand of your document.

Control + Shift + Mouse click: Zoom in (Q6)

Control + Option + Mouse click: Zoom out (Q6)



They should be teaching you these keyboard shortcuts the first day of your quark classes.



In the end I prefer InDesign... Especially ID3 (CS)... Adobe came to the ATypI conference in Vancouver this September and treated us with a lotta new tech and discussion on thats going on... Quark? Nope.

steven r wilson

I'm learning on Quark 4.x (I think 4.1). I will have to try those keyboard shortcuts and see if they work in Quark.. still, that's clunkier than being able to hit a single key and select a tool, but it's good to know those might work. I think I'm stuck with QE 4.1 for the forseeable future, no ID or QE 5+, and no OS X.. they even run OS 9 on eMacs and Quicksilver PowerMacs.. oh well..



I know a lot of you designers out there run on OS 9, but I left it behind years ago at home and I do *not* miss it..



I don't know how good or bad QE 6 is, but I'm not happy how they haven't used Quartz text rendering..

yose

You won't find it so clunky when you're editing text and then hit V to switch over to the selection tool and pause while it doesn't work. .



I'm a student myself and had been working with ID2 and QuarkXpress 4.11 until this past week when I moved up to Quark 6 along with my school. I have a teacher who drills us on Quark/Illustrator/Photoshop/InDesign?we'll have 30 seconds to do something before he jumps to the next task?we call him the colonel.



Having taught myself InDesign I used to loathe Quark until I started learning all these keyboard shortcuts?now I hardly have to use the mouse with it and it's extremely efficient, having InDesign assume Quark's shortcuts is just icing on the cake.