Tip 1
Copy Picture Files from QuarkXPress
QuarkXPress offers an easy way to copy a picture file from a picture box into a folder on your Mac. Just select the picture box, and then under the scriptshaped menu, choose Images> Copy to Folder.... Choose a folder, and the original picture file will be copied into it.

Tip 2
Use Adobe PDF Printer
When you install the full version of Acrobat 6 or higher, it will install a virtual “;Adobe PDF” printer in your Print dialog box. When you select it as your printer, it does the same thing as creating a Post-Script file and then running it through Distiller. It’s a tremendous time saver, with no drawbacks. If the Adobe PDF printer does not appear as one of the available printers in your Print dialog box, and you’re using Acrobat 6, make sure that you’ve updated to Acrobat 6.0.1.

Tip 3
Quick Screen-Ready PDFs
In Acrobat 6 and higher, you can create a lower-resolution version of an existing high-resolution PDF file by simply choosing File> Reduce File Size. This downsamples all your images to 150 dpi, suitable for on-screen viewing or desktop printing.

To create an even smaller file, use a different tool: PDF Optimizer from the Advanced menu. In the PDF Optimizer window, downsample images to 72 dpi and choose a JPEG quality level (JPEG affects only the image preview in the PDF). You can also choose to unembed fonts if you like.

Tip 4
Print Part of a PDF Page
There are two ways to print just a portion of a PDF page in Acrobat:

1. In version 6 or higher, select the Snapshot tool from the toolbar (it looks like a camera), then drag a selection marquee around the area you want to print. When you choose File> Print, one of the what-to print options will be “Selected Graphic”. Choose that and only your selected area will print.

2. In version 7 or higher, zoom in and resize your window to surround only the part you want to print. Then, when you choose File> Print, one of the what-to-print options will be “Current View”. Choose that and only the area in your window will print.

Tip 5
Easier Circles in Illustrator
In Illustrator, if you know where a circle should begin, you can press the Command key while using the Ellipse tool. This lets you begin the circle’s arc exactly where you click, instead of at a virtual “corner” of an imaginary enclosing box. Use this tip when tracing a template that has rounded corners.

Tip 6
Import a Folder of Pictures into QuarkXPress
QuarkXPress offers an easy way to import a folder full of pictures into picture boxes on the document page. First create enough picture boxes to contain the pictures in the folder, and select the ones you want to use. Then, under the script-shaped menu, choose Images> Fldr to Selct PBoxes.... Select the folder, decide the order you want them filled (top-most in their creation order to bottom or viceversa) and how to scale the pictures (100%, Fit to Box, Fit to Box Proportionally, Fit Box to Picture, or Fit to Largest Percent).

When you click the OK button, all the pictures in the folder will be imported into the picture boxes on the page.

Tip 7
Reuse Items in the Same Place Every Time
Sometimes you need to position an item or items on a page in exactly the same position every time you use them, but using a template isn’t easy because you need to place them onto an existing inside page. Try this:In InDesign, drag the items into a Library ( File> New> Library). When you need to use them again, choose Place Items from the Library palette menu. This will place them in exactly the same position as they were originally.

In QuarkXPress, you can do a similar thing, but to maintain position you need to first draw a temporary box around the edge of the page and drag it into the Library along with the page items. Then, when you drag the items out of the Library, immediately type 0 into the X and Y coordinate fields in the Measurements palette. Then delete the box.

Bug Fixes

Fix 1
Adobe Reader 7.0.9
Adobe Reader 7.0.9 Update fixes a number of security vulnerabilities. It is recommended for all users of version 7. (However, we recommend upgrading to the free version 8 instead.) www.adobe.com

Fix 2
Another Reason to Upgrade Mac OS X
If your Mac is running any operating system prior to Mac OS X 10.4.6, its system clock will not automatically adjust for the new dates for Daylight Saving Time.

Beginning this year, Daylight Saving Time begins earlier and ends later than in previous years. (It’s now the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November. Previously, it was the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October.)

Unless Apple releases updates for earlier versions of Mac OS X, those Macs will not show the correct time for three weeks in March and one week in November, every year. More info: www.energy.ca.gov/daylightsaving.html.

Fix 3
QuarkXPress 7.1 Known Issues
Quark’s website has a list of known issues in QuarkXPress 7.1.Most are fairly obscure, but one isn’t: If several items overlap a semiopaque picture box, the picture box or one of the overlapping items may not be included in the output. Read the full list at www.quark.com/products/xpress/71knownissues.html.