Looking for information on Mac software for poster layout and printing.

[dgberg]

Looking for information on Mac software for poster layout, design and printing.
Have a request for a number of photo posters for a large party. The photo part is easy but would like to to find a program (Mac) that would simplify this for me. I have CS5 and Power point but would prefer a stand alone program specifically for posters.
 "Photo Posters" on Flickr has many good examples of finished projects but no info on what was used for layout.
The requested sizes are 24" x 48" and 36" x 60" Will be printing and laminating in house.
This project is for a friend, and she was told poster work is new for me. (Geez that really takes the pressure off.)
If it works out I just may want to add poster printing and laminating as a regular offering.
When I purchased my laminator the owner gave me 3 rolls of 38" x 100'  Presentation Matte paper.
Looks like a good chance to use some of that free material.

[na goodman]

You could try ImageNest http://www.bluecubit.com/

[LeiMeng]

If you have CS5, then you have InDesign?  I think InDesign is specialized for image & text & vector layouts.

[dgberg]

You could try ImageNest http://www.bluecubit.com/

Nancy,
Do you have ImageNest and if so what specifically are you using it for.
Its $600 for my larger printer which doesn't scare me off if it does the job.
Time for a trial.

[na goodman]

I don't have it but I do have a few client's that use it and they really like. It's a lot cheaper than some of the other rips out there. I think there is a free trial so I would try that. What operating system are you running on your Mac?

[JohnHeerema]

I personally use InDesign for posters. Partly because I have it, and partly because I prefer to use tools that have enough legs to justify the learning curve for a new tool. It's good if you have a fairly regular layout scheme: you can flow text around graphics, and dragging images from Bridge to InDesign is a fast way to do a trial layout (but you might want to use Photoshop for sharpening, etc before your final layout).

[dgberg]

Nancy,
My os is 10.58.
I also have some Photo Tex product on order and will also need a good layout program for these large wall banners and possibly wall paper murals.
Is this a rip I could use for both?
Thanks for your help.

[na goodman]

Yes, you should be able to use it for both.

[Sven W]

Dan
You need a good layout program, as you mentioned, and that's InDesign or even Illustrator.
But your printer, or driver, probably don't handle post-script data in a proper way.
I usually export my layouts from InDesign as high-res pdf's, rasterize them in PS, where I have
much more control over the color management, and then print.

/Sven

[dgberg]

Thanks Sven,
I have several rolls of Photo Tex printable fabric on the way to try out.
Advertising banners, wall coverings etc. Have had several rip suggestions  for the banner layout so far.
Would just love to do the printing and not the design but see no way that that can happen.
I am also looking for a large image library for customers to choose from. Have looked at istock but am hoping I
can find a way to display images on my site.
On One software has a real nice tiling feature in Perfect Resize for wall murals,I can use that as a start.

[Luca Ragogna]

+1 on Indesign

[Ernst Dinkla]

Xara Designer Pro or Xara Xtreme.  Very fast. Runs on a PC though. There is a slower Linux version that is free. There was talk about porting that one to the Mac. I have Illustrator and InDesign but use Xara.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst

New: Spectral plots of +250 inkjet papers:

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

[dgberg]

Xara Designer Pro or Xara Xtreme.  Very fast. Runs on a PC though. There is a slower Linux version that is free. There was talk about porting that one to the Mac. I have Illustrator and InDesign but use Xara.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst

New: Spectral plots of +250 inkjet papers:

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm

Ernst,
Is the learning curve and the cost worth the benefit for InDesign.
I have CS5 so the cost will be $895.00.
Who knows starting out I may do 1 a month or a half dozen. The bottom line is you have to be set up properly and know what you are doing.
I think I may be looking more for a template program with a hundred templates and all you have to do is drag and drop some photos add a little text work and done.
Maybe I could find someone local that could do the limited amount of design work I might need.
Must keep in perspective that this is not billboard work nor does it have a high price point.
Posters and banners are usually pretty cheap,especailly with the internet these days.
No one is going to pay $25 or $50 for a small poster banner design.
Which brings me full circle to a template program. Does InDesign have canned templates?

[Ernst Dinkla]

The learning curve is the most expensive part in complicated programs. If you are familiar with PS CS5, create text layers as templates you may already have enough for what you need, cheaper too. Cheap fonts can be bought on the internet or in CD-Rom bundles if you need more choices. Stay with RGB color descriptions for all the poster elements from start to finish as it will keep your color management easier/consistent with normal inkjet printer driver output. The same advice if you use an illustration program. Check what kind of poster related plug-ins or templates are available for PS on the internet. Poster designs that go beyond some textlines + photos are made in software like Illustrator, CorelDraw, Xara. Better vector tools, text handling, 3D, etc etc possible then.

Inkscape pops up as a Mac alternative to Xara, there are more:
http://alternativeto.net/software/xara-xtreme/?platform=mac


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst

Try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/

[dgberg]

Very helpful
Thank you.

[Ernst Dinkla]

Both on my Ubuntu system and Windows box I had Inkscape installed but only used it occasionally for SVG files. The latest version downloaded today is very capable I see. Have to get the knack of it. The rendering will still be slower than Xara Xtreme but it is has some nice tools. It has even color management which never was implanted in Xara despite my pleads to do so. Inkscape color description in RGB-A (A for transparency) can be used which  is perfect in my opinion, the way to go in general. Export the design in the end as a bitmap (8 bit PNG)  300/360/600/720 PPI which then can be printed with Photoshop. More to explore.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst

Dinkla Gallery Canvas Wrap Actions for Photoshop

http://www.pigment-print.com/dinklacanvaswraps/index.html