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art_director · Aug 9, 2006, 11:07 AM

After a long wait and giving Quark thousands of dollars for their 'updates' I've switched to InDesign for the majority of my work flow. This happened abruptly and, to be honest, took me by surprise. First it was a couple small design shops, then a large client, then another large client and wala, I'm doing 95% of my work in ID CS2. Along with the change has come a major learning curve. Fortunately one of my biggest clients provided wonderful training materials that made the transition fairly painless.

On to the question I can't seem to find an answer for...

If I build files in ID CS2 on a Mac can they be opened by someone running ID CS2 on a PC? If so, do I need to save them in any special way?

Thx for any and all answers.

th3ph17 · Aug 9, 2006, 11:54 AM

good question. maybe look for some PC ID CS2 templates, see if they are ok for you. I imagine it will work fine, especially if it is packaged/pre-flighted and the fonts work and you use a file extension.

probably less of a problem than saving CS2 into the interchange format for CS1...that crashes for me about 10% of the time.

art_director · Aug 9, 2006, 11:59 AM

Thx for the reply.

The files were built 8.5" x 11" so I'm guessing (read hoping) they'll work.

th3ph17 · Aug 9, 2006, 01:43 PM

you are pretty old school, so i know you know this, but for the benefit of other readers we should probably define "the file will work" as, "the file will most likely open, and both parties will check to make sure the output prints or pdfs are still accurate before calling it done"

cla · Aug 9, 2006, 03:37 PM

To answer your question: no, you don't need to save them in any special way.

I've transfered files ID2 between the two platforms a number of times and never had any problems (except font related ones of course). The "Package..." feature has turned out to be really helpful, as it packages your InDesign document, fonts and images into a folder ready for zipping and emailing.

art_director · Aug 9, 2006, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by cla

To answer your question: no, you don't need to save them in any special way.

I've transfered files ID2 between the two platforms a number of times and never had any problems (except font related ones of course). The "Package..." feature has turned out to be really helpful, as it packages your InDesign document, fonts and images into a folder ready for zipping and emailing.

There's the golden answer I was looking for. Thx for the post.

Couldn't agree more about the 'package' feature. I've found it to work nicely.

art_director · Aug 9, 2006, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by th3ph17

you are pretty old school, so i know you know this, but for the benefit of other readers we should probably define "the file will work" as, "the file will most likely open, and both parties will check to make sure the output prints or pdfs are still accurate before calling it done"

Smart addition for those less experienced with the process and expectations.

Thx.

KeriVit · Aug 27, 2006, 12:30 AM

I have found that using Open Type Fonts also eases the transition.

siMac · Aug 27, 2006, 07:36 AM

I second the recommendation of OpenType fonts. Cross-platform goodness and feature-rich to boot.

Go OTF!

mitchell_pgh · Aug 27, 2006, 11:57 AM

art_director,

I'm realizing that InDesign is going to be the dominant player within a few more years. There just isn't enough incentive for new designers to buy Quark when they already have the CS. As long as Adobe "gives away" InDesign (by making the stand alone version of Photoshop and Illustrator [and even Acrobat Professional] so expensive), Quark just doesn't have a chance.

Quark still has a very strong base, but I'm noticing Quark users are getting older and older. I know very few young designers that embrace Quark.

I'm wondering if the CS3 Premium upgrade will be $549.00?

cla · Aug 28, 2006, 04:56 AM

I recently gave QuarkXPress a fair shot, being a universal binary and free for 30 days. All I found out is that I'm possessed – by Adobe. I found myself unable to function in an application in which I can't pan using the space bar, zoom using cmd-space and zoom out using cmd-alt-space.

As I found was no way of changing these settings, I'm sticking to InDesign despite the "syrapness" it displays on my 1 gb MacBook Pro.

mitchell_pgh · Aug 28, 2006, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by cla

I recently gave QuarkXPress a fair shot, being a universal binary and free for 30 days. All I found out is that I'm possessed – by Adobe. I found myself unable to function in an application in which I can't pan using the space bar, zoom using cmd-space and zoom out using cmd-alt-space.

As I found was no way of changing these settings, I'm sticking to InDesign despite the "syrapness" it displays on my 1 gb MacBook Pro.

I think you simply are too comfortable with InDesign... which is fine, but Quark can do most of the things InDesign can do.

I simply feel that Quark is going to have a very difficult time justifying the cost of their product now that InDesign can do just about (if not) everything QuarkXPress can do. Most people aren't using InDesign because they don't have the time to switch or have a workflow where Quark is critical.

art_director · Aug 28, 2006, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

art_director,

I'm realizing that InDesign is going to be the dominant player within a few more years. There just isn't enough incentive for new designers to buy Quark when they already have the CS. As long as Adobe "gives away" InDesign (by making the stand alone version of Photoshop and Illustrator [and even Acrobat Professional] so expensive), Quark just doesn't have a chance.

Quark still has a very strong base, but I'm noticing Quark users are getting older and older. I know very few young designers that embrace Quark.

I'm wondering if the CS3 Premium upgrade will be $549.00?

I think you're right, ID will become the primary page layout application. However, I think it will be sooner than we expect.

art_director · Aug 28, 2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

I think you simply are too comfortable with InDesign... which is fine, but Quark can do most of the things InDesign can do.

I simply feel that Quark is going to have a very difficult time justifying the cost of their product now that InDesign can do just about (if not) everything QuarkXPress can do. Most people aren't using InDesign because they don't have the time to switch or have a workflow where Quark is critical.

I think ID actually does a better job at some things. I'm not in love with picture handling but, on the other hand, ID's PSD import and PDF export put Quark to shame. Other examples exist but my lack of coffee isn't making them available for recall.

mitchell_pgh · Aug 28, 2006, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by art_director

I think ID actually does a better job at some things. I'm not in love with picture handling but, on the other hand, ID's PSD import and PDF export put Quark to shame. Other examples exist but my lack of coffee isn't making them available for recall.

It's interesting to hear the user experience of someone that's dealing with the transition. I think it's going to be a good bit of time before Quark isn't a contender, but we will just have to wait and see. I really wanted to see QuarkXPress 7 be a significant upgrade, and I'm just not seeing it. Still looks and feels very OS 7. Granted, it looks better, but it's still old school.

art_director · Aug 28, 2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

It's interesting to hear the user experience of someone that's dealing with the transition. I think it's going to be a good bit of time before Quark isn't a contender, but we will just have to wait and see. I really wanted to see QuarkXPress 7 be a significant upgrade, and I'm just not seeing it. Still looks and feels very OS 7. Granted, it looks better, but it's still old school.

Here's how it happened for me:

July, 2003 -- Small client asks me to build files in ID. I offer up Quark but we agree on Illustrator.

December, 2005 -- A second small client asks that I build files in ID. The request makes me laugh out loud as I explain that none of my clients are using it so I've not learned the app. We agree files will be built in Illustrator.

January, 2006 -- Third small client asks for ID files.

June, 2006 -- Very, very, very large client requires all files be supplied in ID starting August, 2006.

July, 2006 -- Another very, very, very, very, very large client begins exploring ID transition. Rumor is they'll make the change by January, 2007.

August, 2006 -- Three more large clients require files to be built in ID.

I have not started a job in QuarkXpress since June, 2006. I haven't even considered buying Quark 7. It's of no use to me at this point. Everything in my world is ID2 now.

siMac · Aug 28, 2006, 01:35 PM

ID2?!?

I hope you mean ID CS2!

art_director · Aug 28, 2006, 01:38 PM

That would be correct, ID CS2.

chris v · Aug 28, 2006, 01:51 PM

I've been working my way through the Real World InDesign (CS1) book over the last few months, and I've found lots of gems in there. I just finished laying out a 28-page magazine, and the paragraph & type styles pallets became my friends. I've made a compilation of all the cool little tips & tricks I've stumbled across so far -- I'll try to remember to post them when I get home.

One place where I can say ID really shines, is I can display the entire 28 page spread with over 20 placed 300 dpi tiffs, all full resolution and it remains teh snappy. I wouldn't dream of trying that in Quark.

siMac · Aug 28, 2006, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by art_director

That would be correct, ID CS2.

Phew!