Curve/Path Resolution

[Guest]

Hi, all:

I've inherited some vector art files, and I'd like to know a way to
check the smoothness of the curves in them. I've noticed where
everything looks fine on screen, but when printed out, curves become
noticeably "stepped" or polygonal (i.e. blocky).

I remember reading a post a while back from someone saying how there was
a way to determine the resolution (or something to that effect) of a
path/curve in Illustrator, but for the life of me I can't find anything
but the setup option where you set the path output resolution.

I don't think that's it since a piece of artwork in question was
examined by this person, and they indicated there was a way to examine
the properties of the selected specific curves. Do you experts know of
anything like this, or am I misremembering?

What would be the solution to the blocky curve output? Just an
adjustment to the path output resolution?

TIA

[LauraK]

>I remember reading a post a while back from someone saying how there wasa way to determine the resolution (or something to that effect) of apath/curve in Illustrator, but for the life of me I can't find anythingbut the setup option where you set the path output resolution.

It's on the Attributes pallette.
Windows>Show Attributes
You may need to click the triangle on the upper right to get options and "Show
all."
It should show "800."
For an explanation of how and why to change it, go to Help/Index and under "A"
look for Attributes Pallette. Click on the "1" after it and that will bring up
a help file called "Changing the Path Output Resolution" which will explain
your options.
And I have no idea why they do it that way.:)


laurak@madmousergraphics.com
http://www.madmousergraphics.com
web design, print design, photography

[Doug Winger]

In article <3F176B01.EAC4F143@NOSPAM.bellsouth.net>,
kehr@NOSPAM.bellsouth.net wrote:
Hi, all: I've inherited some vector art files, and I'd like to know a way to check the smoothness of the curves in them. I've noticed where everything looks fine on screen, but when printed out, curves become noticeably "stepped" or polygonal (i.e. blocky). I remember reading a post a while back from someone saying how there was a way to determine the resolution (or something to that effect) of a path/curve in Illustrator, but for the life of me I can't find anything but the setup option where you set the path output resolution. I don't think that's it since a piece of artwork in question was examined by this person, and they indicated there was a way to examine the properties of the selected specific curves. Do you experts know of anything like this, or am I misremembering? What would be the solution to the blocky curve output? Just an adjustment to the path output resolution? TIA

You'll find 'Output Resolution' in the Document Setup. Load the file, then
bring that up to make any changes to "flatness" of curves. A value of 800 is
the normal default.

The earlier versions had a direct 'flatness' setting, but I haven't seen
that since 88. Same thing, different name. The "Split Long Paths" is still the
same, though. If there's a way of altering that on individual strokes, aside
from editing the raw postscript output, I haven't heard of it.

It's mostly to prevent vmerrors in imagesetters, where allowing a smaller
number of straight "sections" to simulate a curve to ease processing
requirements.


- Doug