Paddock Plaza Graphics Specifications

Paddock Productions utilizes PhotoShop 7.0 for graphics translation into video. PhotoShop 7.0 will accept any standard Adobe file, such as Illustrator.

Generally, the following guidelines apply:

FILE FORMAT PREFERENCES:
(in order of preference)

RESOLUTION:

150dpi minimum
720 x 540 pixels minimum, maintain this aspect ratio for larger files
Illustrator and EPS files are resolution independent. Just bring the fonts!

DISK FORMATS:

3.5", 1.44Mb floppy (PC or Mac)
Iomega Zip (100MB, PC or Mac)
Iomega Jaz (1GB, PC or Mac)
CD, CD-R
DVD, DVD-R

ONLINE ACCOUNTS:

FTP uploads are available upon request. Contact Brian Paddock if there is a file you need to transfer to us. Please do not try to email files larger than 2MB.

Email for files less than 2MB:  brian@Paddock.com

Any questions regarding file formats should be directed to Brian Paddock at the above email address, or on voice mail at (816) 531-3733.

The Good Stuff...

Here are some tips specific to certain nightmares, er, I mean file formats. Most of these are from personal experience...

Microsoft Power Point

It would be best to avoid this program if at all possible... But it does seem to be everywhere, so let's at least try to minimize the confusion.

Tip #1

If you are using graphics in your Power Point file, chances are that they were imported into Power Point. You'll thank yourself again and again if you bring in the original files as well as the Power Point file. Your boss will thank you, your friends will thank you, and it'll bring a tear to our eye.

Power Point understands the following image files. If you use any of these in your presentation, bring them with you!

Tip #2

You should also bring all the fonts used in the presentation. Unfortunately, we do not yet have every font known on this planet. So in order to avoid that awkward moment when your beautifully positioned frame suddenly looks less than elegant when rendered with the "Symbol" font, please bring your fonts with you.

Tip #3

Charts and graphs that have been created inside Power Point can be extracted. Once again, the fonts are required to faithfully reconstruct the original image.

Adobe Illustrator

Tip #1

This is a recurring theme. Bring the fonts with you. Alternately, you can convert the type to outlines. This has the effect of "freezing" all of the type, and turning it in to lines and curves. In this way, the need for the original font is eliminated. On the downside, though, it is practically impossible to "fix a typo" when the font has been converted to an outline.

Tip #2

Adobe Illustrator has the ability to import or "Place" files. If you use this feature, then you should bring along copies of the "placed" files as well as the Illustrator file. In later versions of Illustrator, you have the option to "Include Placed Files" in the Illustrator file. This is another way to make sure that all the graphics that make up your image get included. Any linked or embedded graphics will be saved as a flat layer and included in the Illustrator file.

To use this feature:

1. Open the file that you want to bring
2. Choose "File" and then "Save As"
3. Pick a new name for the file Do not save over your original file!
4. Make sure the checkbox next to "Include Placed Files" is checked.
5. Click the "Save" or "Save As" button.

Quark XPress

Quark really isn't so bad. In fact, there are some tools in Quark that can be quite helpful. You just have to know where to look.

Tip #1

Ok, you know this one by now, right? Bring the fonts! Quark can help you identify which fonts to bring. If you go to the "Utilities" menu, you will find the menu choice "Usage" in version 4.x, or "Font Usage" in version 3.x. This will tell you what fonts you are using in your document, and thus, which fonts to bring with you. In version 4.x, the "More Info" option will also tell you where the fonts are on your hard drive!

Tip #2

Quark's "Usage" utility will also tell you what image files you are using in Quark. As with the fonts, you must bring these images with you if you want them to appear in your video. Quark automatically generates temporary images to use when you are working in a Quark document. Just because you can see the images when you open the Quark document does not mean that the real images have been included. Go to "Utilities" and select "Usage" (Version 4.x) or "Picture Usage" (Version 3.x) and you will get a list of all the picture files to bring with you.

What else?

If you can think of anything to add to this page, or have a horror story (ummm, I mean "tip") of your own to share, please let us know.