CorelDRAW X4 vs inDesign

I have CorelDRAW and been a fan of it since 2003. One because it is slightly cheaper than the Adobe applications and two I do find it easier to use. Or maybe it is just because I have grown accustomed to the UI.

I have some issues with clients that bring in their already designed artwork. It doesn't matter what I tell the client there is always someone else who designs using a different application and sends me either the raw file or a PDF version that may not output to the Xerox Phaser 7760 "color" proper.

Here's the question I have to the forum. Is there a "proper" way to tell a client how to output their file to a PDF that can keep accurate color profiles and not look different than the way they design it with whatever application/computer they design with?

 

I don't really know what You mean by "accurate color profiles".

If Your machine is calibrated, and You have color profile of it, You should send their designer that profile, !BUT! that still doesn't mean colors wouldn't be different slightly in print. It only means the designer will be able to check the overall look of design in print, but on his monitor (I think the word is "soft proof" or "screen proof" ??)
Anyway, proper color calibration involves very sophisticated AND EXPENSIVE procedure, and most people out there designing, do not have their equipment calibrated (monitors, printers ... ...) Too many factors influence outcome!

So, all U can do is ask them to prepare file in CMYK color space (less chance for mistakes and color shifts due to color converting), and make sure Your machine is calibrated enough (at least "by eye") to support their files. Then it comes only to designer and his/her expertise :{)

 

There are settings using Acrobat and distiller. I have about 10 or 12 to be used with different print companies. Each company has a different setup allbeit slight differences they are different. All leave color unchanged, so yes the designer should KNOW his color is the way he wants it at the end of his workflow.

 

You could always save out your preferred PDF options. You can do this in Adobe applications and then send the options file to your client. Don't know if its do-able from Corel tho'

However you'll find, as we did, that trying to get the client to change their SOP is like p•ssing in the wind.

 

I think we're all forgetting the one thing corel just can't do...unless the setting does exist somewhere, you guys might know...

Corel Drawx5 is what we use here, and when I send files from corel to the DocuColour there is always major transparency issues. Because you can't place a masked image as an eps it will never work properly...or can you?!

There is absolutely nowhere I can find to change my transparency resolution to "high"


So Corel is a major failure in my opinion. If you can't output a file containing a transparency, what's the point of using it?

 

Have you tried changing the rendering resolution in CorelDraw?