I have been pondering how to get the best quality image into an Apple Photo Book,
I shoot, import and edit RAW. If I select images for a photo book, what actually gets uploaded to Apple for printing? Is it a JPEG exported from the RAW image? If so, how do I know what is sent up to Apple is the best quality, and how can I ensure best quality from my Apple Book.
Cheers
Darryn
Darryn,
The file that actually gets uploaded to the printer is a PDF that Aperture automatically generates and uploads when you buy the book. That PDF is generated at an optimal quality and resolution for printing by their printers.
@PhotoJoseph
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Hi Joseph,
With your reply to Darryn, I need to ask if Aperture is downsampling the images when saving as PDF? And if it does, is there a work around on this so that you keep a minimum 300dpi resolution. I’ve done some googling and never really got a definite answer. Some say that you need to find some .plist and change in there.
Thanks,
Andrew
Andrew,
Offhand I don’t know what resolution the files are sampled to, however when ordering a book through Aperture’s book services, the PDF is optimized for the printer—the resolution sent should be no more or no less than what’s needed.
There are scripts you can modify for exporting using the PDF menu in the Print dialog, (located in your System folder), however those won’t affect the PDF created when ordering a book.
If you want to modify the PDF output from the PDF menu, then take a look in Macintosh HD/Library/Scripts/Printing Scripts—I believe those are the ones you’re looking for.
-Joseph @ApertureExpert
@PhotoJoseph
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Oops—perhaps it’s the scripts in Macintosh HD/Library/PDF Services that you’re looking for.
-Joseph @ApertureExpert
@PhotoJoseph
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Hi Joseph,
Thanks for the reply.
When you say the “PDF is optimized for the printer”, you mean Apple’s printer? What about if save it to PDF to be sent to other printing companies?
Regards,
Andrew
Andrew,
Correct—assuming you are buying a book from Apple, in which case the PDF that is generated and uploaded (invisible process to the user) is an optimized PDF specifically for them.
If you use anything under the PDF menu, then you can modify those scripts per the instructions above.
-Joseph @ApertureExpert
@PhotoJoseph
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