DocuSlim User's Manual

The DocuSlim XTension works with the DocuSlim Image Robot Photoshop plug-in and Action Set to process images in a QuarkXPress document. DocuSlim will go through a QuarkXPress document and automatically process the images in various ways.

DocuSlim can: re-size and re-import at 100%; crop excess image material (with user defined picture box bleed); resample to a user-defined target resolution; rotate images; change color models from RGB to CMYK and/or alter the LZW compression status of TIFFs.

Since DocuSlim automates these processes, tremendous amounts of time are saved in the workflow. A user can even direct DocuSlim to delete pasteboard items. In some cases the decrease in document size is dramatic once the images are optimized, saving valuable server space. This reduces electronic transmission to pre-press and RIP time as well.

Occasionally, a document will increase in size, specifically if it contains multiple RGB images that are converted into CMYK or LZW is turned off, but print quality is then improved. All processing is done in Adobe PhotoShop®, automatically. New versions of pictures are then reimported with correct placement (even though they may have been cropped). Users refer to The Job List dialog box to choose which images to process (or not) and to preview how much file size will change. DocuSlim reports exactly what it did to which images and the actual new file sizes.

PREPARATION

Launch Photoshop or select PhotoShop in the Options Tab of the DocuSlim dialog.

Open a QuarkXPress document to optimize. It is recommended to check if there are modified images, if so, update them before processing with DocuSlim.

Select DocuSlim... menu item from the Utilities menu.

You will see a dialog with four tabbed sections. The Advanced tab options will only be available with

DocuSlim Pro. At the bottom of the dialog is the Target pop-up. This is where you select what you want DocuSlim to process. The options are as follows:

Selection only processes current selection

Current Page Processes all pictures on current page

Current Spread Processes all pictures on current spread

Pages Allows you to set a page range

Document Processes all images in non-master page part of document

Master Pages Processes all images on all master pages

The Process button will start the procedure by displaying a list of what actions will be taken.

PROCESSING TAB

Change resolution to: Set the target resolution in either dpi or lpi. lpi is internally treated as 1/2 dpi. All candidate images will be set to this resolution in Photoshop. All resizing and resampling in DocuSlim is done using the Bicubic Method in PhotoShop.

Crop excess image area: If only part of the image is used, then DocuSlim will remove unused image area. Crop safety: When cropping excess image area outside of the picture box, you can set the size of the safety here. This safety represents an extra amount of picture which is left so you can make small adjustments or sometimes to avoid those little one pixel white areas which can occur with precise cropping in an imprecise world. Resize to match XPress: When the image is scaled horizontally and/or vertically, the image will be resized to match the actual image size (as set in QuarkXPress) and is reimported at 100% picture scale. Rotate and/or skew to match XPress: When the image is rotated or skewed inside the Quark box, the image will be rotated to match the actual image rotation or skew (as set in QuarkXPress) and is reimported at 0°. This does not involve box rotation. If a box is rotated and the image is not, it will not be rotated in PhotoShop. Change color mode: This gives you the option to set certain images to a particular color model, the choices being:

RGB to CMYK Any RGB pictures encountered will be set to CMYK

RGB to Gray Any RGB images will be set to Grayscale (color info discarded).

All to Gray Every image will be set to Grayscale

Allow over-sampling: One of the main uses of DocuSlim is to reduce the size of the image file not to enlarge it, however, you can enlarge the image by checking this flag. For example, target resolution is 300dpi and you are using a 72dpi image, normally DocuSlim will not change the resolution of the image, however, if this flag is turned on, DocuSlim will set the resolution of the image to 300dpi.

Change TIFF LZW compression: You can change LZW compression status for TIFF image. Turn on this flag and choose the LZW compression status desired. Turning LZW off can result in much larger files but sometimes they print better on certain systems.

Ignore files in folder: When this is checked on and a folder has been selected, DocuSlim will skip any images which reside in that folder.

Process originals in range: When checked, DocuSlim will only consider images which fall within the specified range. All other images will be ignored. This has nothing to do with final resolution, only the resolution of the original image.

Delete pasteboard pictures: Delete picture boxes which are placed in pasteboard. This check box is enabled only if DocuSlim is performed on a Document.

Ignore master page items: When this is checked, DocuSlim will not process any items it encounters which come from the master page of that page. If you do Master Pages and then do Document, you should check this on to avoid duplicate processing. This is important to understand if your document uses Master Page pictures.

OPTIONS TAB

Make new document as <name>: Allows you to execute DocuSlim on a duplicated version of the current document. In this way, you can preserve the original document, untouched. The document created will have the same name with the specified suffix appended.

The default suffix is _docuslim. If the name becomes too long, it will be truncated first.

Use image prefix: The processed image files will use the specified prefix to distinguish them from the originals. Default value is docuslim_. Multiple instances will cause auto numbering to occur (eg. docuslim_01, docuslim_02, etc.) By having no prefix or turning this option off, it is possible to have DocuSlim overwrite the original images (when Original Folder is being used). Make sure this is really what you want to do before using it in this way!

Save Optimized Images To: You can select the destination in which the optimized images will be placed either Original folder or New art folder. In case you want to use New art folder, click the button and choose a folder. The selected folder name will be displayed as the button title. Create new folder w/ document name will cause such a folder to be created automatically and all processed images placed within.

Select Adobe® Photoshop®: If you select your Photoshop application here, you won't have to have it running when you start DocuSlimming. If selected, DocuSlim will launch Photoshop for you before proceeding.

ADVANCED TAB (ENHANCED VERSION ONLY)

These options are only available to owners of the Enhanced Version of DocuSlim.

Change file format to: When checked, DocuSlim will convert all processed files to the image format selected in the popup.

When saving TIFF, DocuSlim will switch on LZW if this is set in the Processing Tab. EPS files are saved with the following settings: 8-bit mac Preview; Binary encoding; No halftone screen;No Transfer function; Postscript Color Management off.

Process each instance of same image: Many times the same image is used in different places in a document. Whether the scaling and cropping is the same or not, when you check this on, DocuSlim will process each instance as though it were a new and separate image.

Call Photoshop® Action before saving: This powerful feature opens up the entire world of Photoshop Actions to DocuSlim. Exactly match the Name of the Set and the Action you want to call. This action will then be performed right before Photoshop saves the image and it is reimported to Quark. Make sure not to call an action that changes the size of the image or it will not be placed correctly when DocuSlim reimports it.

Create low-res images: When checked on, this option will create an entirely different version of each image processed at the specified DPI and with the specified prefix. Use these images in conjunction with OPI software or using GLUON’s ArtSwapper to switch between hi and lo-res images.

APPLE SCRIPT (ENHANCED VERSION ONLY)

These options are only available to owners of the Enhanced Version of DocuSlim.

There are currently only two AppleScript calls for DocuSlim. Neither one has any parameters passed to it:

docuslim_run

This causes DocuSlim to perform operations using Current Settings. When in AppleScript mode, the Job List and result List dialogs will be supressed.

docuslim_finished

This is a Boolean (true/false) test to see if DocuSlim has completed its reimport of the processed graphics. When it returns true, processing is complete. This is to be used in a testing loop so the Scripting Application knows when to move on to other operations.

PRESETS TAB

This Tab is where you go to save and recall entire setting groups.

Name: The currently selected list item's name appears here. You can change it here to whatever you want.

Replace: Hitting this causes the current settings to replace the currently selected list item

Delete: Deletes the currently selected preset item from the list

Save: This will create a new preset item using current settings and the name that appears in the name field above.

Rename: Will change only the name of the currently selected item on the list to the name in the Name text field.

Use Settings: After you have selected an item on the list, hit this button to change current settings to the ones previously stored using that name.

Revert All: Hitting this will revert all stored settings back to the way they were before you opened the DocuSlim Dialog.

CHECKING THE JOB LIST

After you press the Process button in the Settings

Dialog, DocuSlim will gather all image information and analyze each image to determine which procedure(s) should be performed for each image. After the analyzing process is finished, the Job List dialog will be displayed. This dialog gives you an extra chance to see what DocuSlim plans to do and exclude particular images from processing if needed.

Below the job list, you can see the original size and estimated resultant size.

Detailed information on processing for each image is provided at the bottom of the dialog. Click on a listed item to see its details: You can turn processing on or off for a given image by clicking the checkmark on the left. x: The image is examined and determined to not need processing or it does not qualify for DocuSlim processing. The reason is displayed in the detail information area.

Page: The page number where the image resides. If the image is used on multiple pages, this shows the first and the last page numbers.: This bullet indicates which processes will be performed for the image.

List Headers are defined as follows: Res: Resolution change (resampling) to target specified; Resize: Resizing to match XPress; Crop: Cropping of excess image material; Mode: Color mode change; R/S: Rotate and/or skew to match XPress; B.Size: Original image's file size (Before Size).; A.Size: Estimated processed image's file size (After Size).

RESULT LIST

After you press the Proceed button on the Job List dialog,

DocuSlim performs the processing utilizing the DocuSlim Image Robot Photoshop plug-in. The results will be displayed after all processing is finished.

The dialog shows the image file name, optimization status and file sizes.

Below the results list, the original file size and the actual optimized image size are displayed.

The Information area will show the full path to both original and optimized images.

Result: Either OK or Failed. In case of a failed result, the information area will display the reason. Currently two messages are available for the failed case: 1. ‘Error occurred while duplicating the image file and 2. Error occurred while optimizing image using Photoshop®.

IMAGE PROCESSING CONSIDERATIONS

NOTE1: DocuSlim cannot crop all rotated and/or skewed picture contents. If a custom clipping path is created in Quark and the image is rotated, DocuSlim will not process the image. If only the picture box is rotated and/or skewed, DocuSlim works as expected. Also, DocuSlim cannot crop an image which uses non-item runaround and/or clipping when Restrict to Box is turned off.

NOTE2: DocuSlim cannot perform an optimization to a flipped image which uses non-item runaround and/or clipping.

NOTE3: DocuSlim (non-pro) cannot perform optimization with multiple images using different settings for each image. However, you can optimize each image separately with its own settings.

Any images that it doesn't feel comfortable processing, DocuSlim will ignore. We'd rather have it not process an image than do it incorrectly.

IMPORTANT: After using DocuSlim, always inspect your document carefully to make sure all images are placed exactly as they were. As accurate as DocuSlim is, it's not infallible (neither is Photoshop or your computer for that matter). Never send a job for serious printing without inspecting your document meticulously. Images to be specially cognizant of include those that are rotated, skewed, flipped and/or have complex clipping paths or runarounds assigned.

TROUBLESHOOTING

First: Try using the Tech Support Section at www.gluon.com. Very often, answers are right there.

Nothing Happens

This can happen for any of the following reasons:

1) You didn't install all three components needed: the XTension, the plug-in and the Action set. If you crashed in Photoshop before quitting cleanly once, it won't remember to load the Action Set next time.
2) Your Photoshop doesn't have the required ADM Plugin active. DocuSlim needs this to communicate with Photoshop.
3) The images are missing

Something Happens But My Images Don't Get Changed

This can happen for any of the following reasons:

1) Photoshop has insufficient RAM to complete processing
2) Photoshop can't save because the disk is full or the names are too long
3) Some dialog in Photoshop is preventing processing from completing. Make sure NOT to turn on the little Dialog button in the Action Palette next to the DocuSlim Action Set.

Photoshop 6.0 Settings

In Photoshop 6 and higher, we recommend using the following settings in the Saving Preferences Dialog:

1) Never Append File Name Extensions
2) Check On the Enable Advanced TIFF Options checkbox.

Installation—READ THIS BEFORE USING!!!

Step #1

Drag DocuSlim QuarkXTension to the XTensions folder inside the QuarkXPress (version 4.03 or higher) folder.

Step #2

Drag DocuSlim Image Robot Plugin Photoshop plug-in to the Plug-Ins folder inside the Photoshop (version 5 or higher) folder.

Step #3

Launch Photoshop and in the Actions palette, choose the Load Actions... menu item and select the DocuSlim Action Set file which is provided with DocuSlim package. This file can reside anywhere but should be kept with your other Action Sets.

Step #4

Unless it's a DEMO version, activate any GLUON by launching the GLUON Activator, provided. This is not necessary for DEMOs. This process must be repeated for each machine upon which you want to use GLUONS. Once you have activated a machine for one GLUON, this machine will run all GLUONS so you do not need to repeat the process when you get new GLUONS. IMPORTANT: GLUONS will not operate if the above activation procedure is not followed! Please keep the GLUON Activator in a safe place OFF THE NETWORK. You will need it again if the System reinstalled.