Original Art
[bullet]- created native in Freehand MX(aka version 11.0) on
PC[/bullet][bullet]- CMYK vector images created 300 dpi at full size
with full bleed for 8x10 children's book[/bullet][bullet]- pages contain
layered solid-color-vector-shapes over 2,3 and 4 color
gradient-backgrounds[/bullet][bullet]- some gradients are linear, some are
radial[/bullet]

Export to PDF FAILURE
[bullet]- program hangs and locks up my entire PC, only way out is a forced
restart[/bullet][bullet]- I've only seen similar problems when trying to export
images using lens fills, so I stopped using them for print projects
several years ago[/bullet][bullet]- I suspect the gradient fills may be
the problem but the look is necessary for this project[/bullet]

!!! HELP !!!
[bullet]Anyone know of a utility developed before or after the Adobe buyout
that fixes these kind of export to PDF problems?[/bullet][bullet]All solutions
welcome! Newbie wisecracks tolerated[/bullet]

Thanks, Tom@SteffenGroup.com

Original Art
- created native in Freehand MX(aka version 11.0) on PC
- CMYK vector images created 300 dpi at full size with full bleed for 8x10
children's book
- pages contain layered solid-color-vector-shapes over 2,3 and 4 color
gradient-backgrounds
- some gradients are linear, some are radial

Export to PDF FAILURE
- program hangs and locks up my entire PC, only way out is a forced restart
- I've only seen similar problems when trying to export images using lens
fills, so I stopped using them for print projects several years ago
- I suspect the gradient fills may be the problem but the look is necessary
for this project

!!! HELP !!!
-Anyone know of a utility developed before or after the Adobe buyout that
fixes these kind of export to PDF problems?

Thanks, orphan

> Original Art
> - created native in Freehand MX(aka version 11.0) on PC
> - CMYK vector images created 300 dpi at full size with full bleed for 8x10
> children's book

Vector art does not have resolution unless you have used raster effects. Vector art can be printed with output device resolution.

> - pages contain layered solid-color-vector-shapes over 2,3 and 4 color
> gradient-backgrounds

This should be not a problem unless spot colors are used.

> - some gradients are linear, some are radial

> Export to PDF FAILURE
> - program hangs and locks up my entire PC, only way out is a forced restart
> - I've only seen similar problems when trying to export images using lens
> fills, so I stopped using them for print projects several years ago

FreeHand export filters often cannot handle very big or complex files. Like said this happens sometimes with tiff or jpg export too,

> - I suspect the gradient fills may be the problem but the look is necessary
> for this project

It may be that pdf export devides objects into stripes with a clipping path. If there are complex objects with gradients FreeHand may chocke. There may be ne single objet that cause the problem. It can be isolated by halving. Just delete half of the objects, export, depending on the result delete half of the first half and so on until you have found the object.

> -Anyone know of a utility developed before or after the Adobe buyout that
> fixes these kind of export to PDF problems?

Adobe Acrobat Pro. It can be installed to work as a PostScript printer. Personally I would never ever use FreeHand Pdf export in production, it is not reliable. Also Acrobat has quite good preflight tools.

Jukka

In addition to Jukka's good advice, I suggest you read this technote about
the limitations of FreeHand's PDF Export.

http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_13496

Judy Arndt