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saratogacoach
saratogacoach
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Drawing Straight Line angled path with no wavy distortion when scaled

Apr 12, 2012 5:04 AM

Hi,

 

I'm a beginner using AI CS5.5, and trying to add  straight lines to a drawing, using the line tool. They are angled about 30 degrees from horizontal, parallel to each other. Used 2pt and color for lines. Everything looks great in AI. When I export the drawing to PNG for insertion as an illustration into InDesign and scale down (45%) the drawing to fit the InDesign page, the once perfectly smooth and straight lines are wavy, almost zigzaggy, slightly distorted. Not a good result.

 

Is there a better way to draw straight lines that are on an angle in the drawing so that they are perfectly smooth, and when scaled retain their smooth straight look?

 

screenshot1.jpg

 

Any help appreciated.

 

Regards,

591 Views   4 Replies   Latest reply: saratogacoach, Apr 12, 2012 6:23 AM
 
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  • SRiegel
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    1. SRiegel,
    Apr 12, 2012 5:16 AM   in reply to saratogacoach
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    Save as a native illustrator file (.ai), and place that into InDesign. That way the vectors are maintained and the lines will stay smooth.

     
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  • saratogacoach
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    2. saratogacoach,
    Apr 12, 2012 5:43 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    Hi,

     

    Thank you for this suggestion. I just tried this, placing the AI file directly into InDesign, but unfortunately, this looked even worse. The straight lines were even more jagged.

     

    In Illustrator, these same lines are perfectly straight and smooth. Not sure why it's so challenging to get them to stay straight and smooth after placing the drawing?

     

    Any suggestions?

     

    Regards,

     
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  • SRiegel
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    3. SRiegel,
    Apr 12, 2012 5:46 AM   in reply to saratogacoach
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    It's just the screen view that is jagged. You will find when it prints it will be correct. To see a more accurate version on your screen in InDesign, select your object and go to Object > Display Performance > High Quality Display

     
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  • saratogacoach
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    4. saratogacoach,
    Apr 12, 2012 6:23 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    Hi,

     

    Thank you. Changing to high display made the view of the AI placed file much better! (The project is for a digital eBook, so printing is unlikely, and viewing on screen would be the primary way it is read.)

     

    Again, thank you.

     

    Regards,

     
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