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Has anyone got their mits on Quark 7 yet?
- Thread starter AlBDamned
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Considering it hasn't been released yet or even a release date set, I will be surprised if this thread continues much further... on topic, that is.
Next year, probably Mar-May is my best guess.
Next year, probably Mar-May is my best guess.
Blue Velvet said:
Really? That far away? I guess they were getting in early touting it to our software manager. Not sure our [majorityof comps at work] eMacs could handle it though.
Says on the newquark.com it fully integrates with P/shopand they've boosted the customer service capabilities of so it's easier to get help. Is that a good thing or a bad sign...
AlBDamned said:
March isn't that far away... maybe Feb for all I know.
It's almost irrelevant anyway -- Quark have a record of releasing terrible x.0 versions. There's no way I'll roll this out at work until 7.1 or later...
I can't quite see the big deal with Photoshop integration. Layered TIFs with masks, adjustment layers, even type layers distill fine on my setup, not that I'm a huge fan of placing layered files into final artwork.
Quark are good at touting features before a release to pique interest but when it comes to an app that behaves properly and is reliable, that's another matter entirely.
Personally, I'm more interested in a greatly-improved Print dialog box, a complete revision of its type & image screen rendering engine, a usable table tool, and a completely new approach to H&Js and guides.
What sort of publications are you working on, BV?
I've recently changed jobs which means my demands of Quark are less than before (40page B&W B2B Vs. 170 page full colour glossy) but I'm still intruiged as to the 'improvements' of Q7.
I think the 'Photoshop integration' is all about it matching up to InDesign on paper, but all the advertising so far would suggest it goes little further than that. I too wpuld not buy a Quark X.0 version either.
Things I'd really hope they adjust? Font reliability, ditto the H&J's, better colour saving and interface, overall reliability, help function, some decent tutorials and a complete revision of layer use, it's so clumsy at the moment.
I've recently changed jobs which means my demands of Quark are less than before (40page B&W B2B Vs. 170 page full colour glossy) but I'm still intruiged as to the 'improvements' of Q7.
I think the 'Photoshop integration' is all about it matching up to InDesign on paper, but all the advertising so far would suggest it goes little further than that. I too wpuld not buy a Quark X.0 version either.
Things I'd really hope they adjust? Font reliability, ditto the H&J's, better colour saving and interface, overall reliability, help function, some decent tutorials and a complete revision of layer use, it's so clumsy at the moment.
AlBDamned said:
My work varies from week to week.
Before Xmas and without the schedule in front of me, this is just a vague recollection of the kind of things I have to do.
At least two publications, one CMYK 36pp catalogue (210x210mm, uncoated) and a directory, CMYK cover with matt laminate -- mono text about 136pp+, pinched crown quarto with comprehensive indexing.
Then 5 x pull-up display stands for events, 2 new sets of business stationery, some 7 metre-high banners for an annual conference plus themed signage, delegate badges, themed coffee mugs, etc.
Also a number of A4 4pp CMYK flyers and A6 invites on 350gsm stock. This week past, I've done a few flyers, some banners and also some certificates as well as upgrading some network apps and drafting the new branding guidelines
Busy four weeks ahead of me, I'm doing some work at home this weekend to free up some space for next week.
Oh, and I never use the layers feature on QuarkXpress. To me, pointless.
Shift-Alt-Apple-Click to select layered boxes...
Edit: Oh, and I've got a birthday and a colleague-leaving card to do.
Blue Velvet said:
That's a varied job~descript so I can see why you have a good handle on what you'd like to see improved.
With the layers, I'm referring (maybe incorrectly) to various type boxes laid over one another. getting to the right layer, to adjust something or whatever, always seems so cack-handed. it seems you either have to temporarily lift a layer or two off, or send it back/forward, do what you need to do, then put it all back. Too much effort.
AlBDamned said:
That's where Shift-Alt-Apple-Click comes in. Let's you reach down through that maze of boxes without disturbing their placement on the page or in the stacking order.
Used to work perfectly in Quark's 4 & 5, now a little flaky in Quark 6 where you've got to be a little precise about selecting the edges of the box that you're trying to grab.
Yet another 'buried' feature that has no menu command or equivalent. There's a keyboard shortcut list in the Quark's 'Help'.
Blue Velvet said:
Ok, so I've been playing with this over the weekend and it does help a lot (thanks for the tip!). But you're absolutely right, you have to be pretty precise. I work at around 150% most of the time when not typing and it's still frustratin. Getting better with the accuracy but it's still no P/shop with regard to layer usage.