![]() ![]() This is simply the latest one in a long line. Quark keeps improving their MS Word filters. Besides, the XTension only affected TIFF images, whereas this new built-in feature works for all color in the document, except EPS files.) (Note that this feature replaces the PrintRGB XTension–which only works with XPress 4.0x. Oh well, perhaps they’ll finally get it right in QuarkXPress 5. Therefore, CMYK color is still sent to those cheap color inkjet printers that everyone seems to have these days. Unfortunately, this only appears to work when printing PostScript. Now, in QuarkXPress 4.1, you have the option (in the Print dialog box) of sending raw RGB data, resulting in more eye-popping color. The problem: XPress 4.0x always converts colors to CMYK. If you have an RGB printing device (or one of the inexpensive color inkjet printers that pretend to be RGB devices), you have probably been disappointed in XPress 4’s color output. If you need a more robust HTML Export tool, take a look at Extensis’ BeyondPress, Gluon’s WebXPress, or HexMac’s HexWeb. While this is a step forward, it’s really only for people who want to get content easily into another Web design program, such as Dreamweaver or GoLive. Rather, it lets you export text from a single story (no graphics, and only minimal formatting). When it ships, QuarkXPress 5 is also supposed to export whole pages as HTML this XTension cannot do that. For even more PDF export control, check out Techno-Design’s Design XT. ![]() The filter also lets you import PDF files into picture boxes however, you cannot edit imported PDF files, and color PDFs might not always separate perfectly. In the meantime, however, anyone creating PDF files from XPress should be using the PDF Filter, which not only speeds up the process of creating PDFs, but also offers automatic hyperlinks for lists and indexes. The world is going PDF-wild! Quark has announced that QuarkXPress 5 will probably not need the distiller to create PDF files. XTensions Available at the Quark Site (but also included with XPress 4.1) Note that some of these XTensions are currently available for version 4.04, too, by downloading them from the Quark site. Let’s take a look at each new XTension and how likely it is that you’ll want to embrace it. ![]() This means that you can add the features you want and leave out the ones you don’t use. For some years now, Quark has released most new features as XTensions before they take the radical step of building them directly into the program. However, the primary benefit of QuarkXPress 4.1 is the set of XTensions that it ships with. ![]() Quark also gave the scripting dictionary a significant boost, fixing bugs and giving new life to many older 3.x scripts (though you still cannot script many of version 4’s best features, such as lists and indexes). Quark fixed the most heinous problems-like the fact that XPress 4.0x assumed that any embedded path in a TIFF file was meant to be a clipping path, and that XPress 4.04 wouldn’t let you override the trap settings for text that already had multiple trap values. While version 4.1 hasn’t been released as of this writing, I was able to play with it and I’m pleased to say that it’s a reasonable step forward. (Or maybe it was the fact that Adobe InDesign just shipped.) Whatever the case, Quark is sending an upgrade to 4.1 free to every registered user of QuarkXPress 4, and that’s good news. Perhaps it was just out of the kindness of Quark’s collective heart. Perhaps it was the scores of people who still found bugs in XPress even after 4.04 was released. Perhaps it was the overwhelming number of people who complained that Quark charged too much for their 4.0 upgrade. ![]()
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