Quite Imposing - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Updated: 25 July 2005.

This seeks to answer the questions you are most likely to have. The questions are:

What is the current version?
Does Quite Imposing work with Acrobat 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0?
What are my choices for upgrades and updates?
I can't find my plug-ins folder in Mac OS X! (NEW)
What is the difference between Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus?
Where can I buy Quite Imposing? Can I try it first?
Can Quite Imposing make separations? Handle spot colour?
How large an imposition can I make?
Can I impose any PDF file?
Can I impose PostScript, QuarkXPress documents etc.?
How do I set up colour bars and other press marks?
Can I impose to a standard template?
When I shift a page with trim and shift it does not print shifted. Why?
Why don't other programs accept the bleeds I define in Quite Imposing Plus?
Can I automate with AppleScript, OLE or DDE?
How do I upgrade to 2.0? (NEW)
Why do you spell "color" as "colour"?
The product package contains software for both Windows and Macintosh. Does that mean I can run both?
How do I...?

What is the current version?

The latest versions available for download are as follows:

Quite Imposing Plus, Windows 2.9 (19 August 2008)
Quite Imposing Plus, Macintosh 2.9 (19 August 2008)
Quite Imposing, Windows 2.9 (19 August 2008)
Quite Imposing, Macintosh 2.9 (19 August 2008)

Version 1 users who have not upgraded can also update to the last version 1 plug-ins (1.6c).

Does Quite Imposing work with Acrobat 4.0? 5.0? 6.0? 7.0?

Yes. Version 2.0 or later, works with Acrobat 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0.

What are my choices for upgrades and updates

We have now prepared a simple Question and Answer page to tell you what free and chargeable updates and upgrades are available to you.

I can't find my plug-ins folder in Acrobat 6!

In Acrobat 6 and above, the plug-ins folder is invisible. To install plug-ins you can use the Plug-in Manager, which is a standard feature of Mac OS X, but our latest plug-ins now come with installers.

What is the difference between Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus?

Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus are both plug-ins for Adobe Acrobat, and both are available for Windows 95/NT and Macintosh. Quite Imposing Plus includes everything in Quite Imposing, and adds more. See this list of features for more details. Quite Imposing Plus also supports additional plug-ins using its imposition features, though none are shipping yet.

Some people, including ourselves, use "Quite Imposing" as a generic term to mean either or both plug-ins. If you purchase Quite Imposing, an upgrade path is available to Quite Imposing Plus; please contact us for details.

Where can I buy Quite Imposing? Can I try it first?

You can buy from Quite Software or our resellers.

We want you to have the opportunity to try Quite Imposing and/or Quite Imposing Plus to make sure that they will suit your needs. You can download fully working plug-ins. In demonstration mode you can do almost everything, but impositions will be marked with an "X". If you would like to use the demonstrations to produce a "live" job as part of your evaluation, please contact us. It is usually possible to arrange for a temporary full license, with no charge or obligation.

Can Quite Imposing make separations? Handle spot colour?

Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus do not print or output files in any way. They simply create PDF files, already open in Adobe Acrobat. So the question really is - can Acrobat make separations? Can PDF files and Acrobat handle spot colour? The answer to this is a qualified yes - it depends on the equipment and other software you have. For users with large format devices, who need colour separations, or fine control over colour rendering to PostScript devices, we recommend they evaluate the separation features of Acrobat 6 or 7 Professional or the Crackerjack plug-in. Crackerjack can output spot colours as separations if they are correctly defined in the PDF file, and may be suitable for a wide range of other PostScript devices where more control over output is required.

Notice that Quite Imposing does not make it either easier or harder to output separations or handle spot - you need to establish that you can do this for PDF files with or without imposition.

How large an imposition can I make?

Acrobat 4.0 and 5.0 does not allow pages larger than 200 inches (5080 mm) square. Do not force Quite Imposing to make larger pages, for instance by adding margins around a maximum sized page. Quite Imposing does not limit the number of pages on a sheet.

It is possible, though rather awkward, to make larger impositions. Quite Imposing can scale pages down, so that you could make an imposition at 50% scale. Then, using the Crackerjack plug-in you could print the page at 200% scale.

Can I impose any PDF file?

Yes, you can impose a PDF file from any program, including PDF files made by merging pages from a variety of sources. The only prohibition is that you cannot impose pages from PDF files with any security options set (such as "do not print" or "do not copy"). This is built in to Acrobat.

Can I impose PostScript, QuarkXPress documents etc.?

No. This plug-in is for Acrobat only, and works only on PDF files. Of course, the above can both be converted to PDF using Adobe Acrobat Distiller.

How do I set up colour bars and other press marks?

You can define a PDF file containing "background pages" to be used when you impose. This allows you to make press sheets to your requirements, and impose onto them.

Can I impose to a standard template?

We made the decision not to include standard templates, not least because there is little agreement within or between countries as to what is standard. (The exception is 2-up booklets where there is at least some agreement.)

We believe that the features of Quite Imposing allow you to achieve most of the common impositions used today, and using manual imposition in Quite Imposing Plus you can do virtually any imposition, though this may be too labour-intensive for most purposes. The "remember last action" feature allows you to remember the settings used for a particular job. Users needing highly automated workflows will not like Quite Imposing, because it expects to have a person "driving" at all times.

We encourage you to try out the plug-ins and make your decision without expecting Quite Imposing or Quite Imposing Plus to be "just like" any existing system you have seen. Acrobat and PDFs make a new way of working possible - try it!

When I shift a page with trim and shift it does not print shifted. Why?

Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus both have a "trim and shift" function which allows pages to be shifted, trimmed, or expanded. But when such pages are printed they may not seem to shift.

This is because some programs continue to honour the original "origin" of the page, rather than the revised one shown on screen. We consider this to be wrong, though the PDF specification is ambiguous on what will happen.

The solution is comparatively simple, but requires an extra step. When pages are imposed, the shifting is always honoured, and the new page should always have an origin at the bottom left of a page. So you can impose "1 by 1" to resolve the issue. You require the following settings in the "n-up pages" function:

First page: remove unused space; place pages full size.
Second page: no margins or marks
Third page: size of sheets, maximum. Layout of pages, 1 by 1.

Why don't other programs accept the bleeds I define in Quite Imposing Plus?

Before Acrobat 4.0, the PDF file format defined by Adobe had no provision for bleeds, so we were forced to invent an extension to PDF. With Acrobat 4.0, there is a standard. Starting with version 1.2, Quite Imposing uses the new standard (while continuing to support the old one for compatibility), and it is now used by some other other software, including Adobe InDesign and Enfocus PitStop. If your other software does not accept these bleeds, it has not yet caught up with the new standard.

Can I automate with AppleScript, OLE or DDE?

The current release does not accept automation, except that the menu items can be automatically triggered by automation, using the standard mechanisms in the Acrobat SDK. If you wish to do this we will be happy to supply a list of the internal menu names. Note, though, that this form of automation does not allow any options to be specified, and all dialog boxes are still displayed.

Why is text missing in Acrobat 5.0?

This is a known problem in Acrobat 5.0, which affects text that is "fake bolded" or outlined. Quite Imposing 1.5a fixed this, but in certain cases could make the situation worse, and could cause text to go missing even in earlier version. Quite Imposing 1.5b changes pages to avoid this problem. Download now.

Is there a full bug list?

Yes, this page contains a list of almost all known bugs and serious problems. If you find a bug and it is not listed, please let us know! Bugs not listed are mostly those which are very difficult to explain.

How do I upgrade to 2.0?

This is a chargeable upgrade and can be purchased from ourselves or from one of our resellers.

You can download Quite Imposing 2.0 from this page. You will not lose any temporary or permanent license information you have entered. The downloadable version has all of the features of the version supplied on disk, and an updated on-line guide describing all the new features.

Registered users who are having trouble downloading should contact us on help@quite.com. We will e-mail you a copy, or post disks if you prefer. Make sure to quote your serial number, and whether you want the Windows or Macintosh version.

Why do you spell "color" as "colour"?

That's how we do it in Scotland!

The product package contains software for both Windows and Macintosh. Does that mean I can run both?

The answer relates to the software license; we hope this will clarify the meaning of the license. We are not supplying two licensed copies of the software, just one. You are allowed to install the software on more than one computer if and only if there is no possibility of the software being used on more than one computer at a time.

No possibility is not the same as probably not. Usually the only case where there is no possibility is where only one person will ever use the software, but may have to work on more than one computer. In an environment with a number of users of a number of computers, it is unlikely that you are allowed to install the software on more than one computer.

Note that Quite Imposing is considered to be in use from the time it is first used until that copy of Acrobat is closed down.

How do I...?

The manuals supplied with the product and available online include a detailed "How do I...?" chapter.

Back to the Quite Imposing Index

			Home page \| Products \| Support \| News \| Buy \| Contact You are here: Quite > Products > Quite Imposing > Support > FAQ

	Quite Imposing FAQ Introduction Features Download How to buy Support Upgrade Manuals		Quite Imposing - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Updated: 25 July 2005. This seeks to answer the questions you are most likely to have. The questions are: What is the current version? Does Quite Imposing work with Acrobat 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0? What are my choices for upgrades and updates? I can't find my plug-ins folder in Mac OS X! (NEW) What is the difference between Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus? Where can I buy Quite Imposing? Can I try it first? Can Quite Imposing make separations? Handle spot colour? How large an imposition can I make? Can I impose any PDF file? Can I impose PostScript, QuarkXPress documents etc.? How do I set up colour bars and other press marks? Can I impose to a standard template? When I shift a page with trim and shift it does not print shifted. Why? Why don't other programs accept the bleeds I define in Quite Imposing Plus? Can I automate with AppleScript, OLE or DDE? How do I upgrade to 2.0? (NEW) Why do you spell "color" as "colour"? The product package contains software for both Windows and Macintosh. Does that mean I can run both? How do I...? What is the current version? The latest versions available for download are as follows: Quite Imposing Plus, Windows 2.9 (19 August 2008) Quite Imposing Plus, Macintosh 2.9 (19 August 2008) Quite Imposing, Windows 2.9 (19 August 2008) Quite Imposing, Macintosh 2.9 (19 August 2008) Version 1 users who have not upgraded can also update to the last version 1 plug-ins (1.6c). Does Quite Imposing work with Acrobat 4.0? 5.0? 6.0? 7.0? Yes. Version 2.0 or later, works with Acrobat 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0. What are my choices for upgrades and updates We have now prepared a simple Question and Answer page to tell you what free and chargeable updates and upgrades are available to you. I can't find my plug-ins folder in Acrobat 6! In Acrobat 6 and above, the plug-ins folder is invisible. To install plug-ins you can use the Plug-in Manager, which is a standard feature of Mac OS X, but our latest plug-ins now come with installers. What is the difference between Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus? Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus are both plug-ins for Adobe Acrobat, and both are available for Windows 95/NT and Macintosh. Quite Imposing Plus includes everything in Quite Imposing, and adds more. See this list of features for more details. Quite Imposing Plus also supports additional plug-ins using its imposition features, though none are shipping yet. Some people, including ourselves, use "Quite Imposing" as a generic term to mean either or both plug-ins. If you purchase Quite Imposing, an upgrade path is available to Quite Imposing Plus; please contact us for details. Where can I buy Quite Imposing? Can I try it first? You can buy from Quite Software or our resellers. We want you to have the opportunity to try Quite Imposing and/or Quite Imposing Plus to make sure that they will suit your needs. You can download fully working plug-ins. In demonstration mode you can do almost everything, but impositions will be marked with an "X". If you would like to use the demonstrations to produce a "live" job as part of your evaluation, please contact us. It is usually possible to arrange for a temporary full license, with no charge or obligation. Can Quite Imposing make separations? Handle spot colour? Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus do not print or output files in any way. They simply create PDF files, already open in Adobe Acrobat. So the question really is - can Acrobat make separations? Can PDF files and Acrobat handle spot colour? The answer to this is a qualified yes - it depends on the equipment and other software you have. For users with large format devices, who need colour separations, or fine control over colour rendering to PostScript devices, we recommend they evaluate the separation features of Acrobat 6 or 7 Professional or the Crackerjack plug-in. Crackerjack can output spot colours as separations if they are correctly defined in the PDF file, and may be suitable for a wide range of other PostScript devices where more control over output is required. Notice that Quite Imposing does not make it either easier or harder to output separations or handle spot - you need to establish that you can do this for PDF files with or without imposition. How large an imposition can I make? Acrobat 4.0 and 5.0 does not allow pages larger than 200 inches (5080 mm) square. Do not force Quite Imposing to make larger pages, for instance by adding margins around a maximum sized page. Quite Imposing does not limit the number of pages on a sheet. It is possible, though rather awkward, to make larger impositions. Quite Imposing can scale pages down, so that you could make an imposition at 50% scale. Then, using the Crackerjack plug-in you could print the page at 200% scale. Can I impose any PDF file? Yes, you can impose a PDF file from any program, including PDF files made by merging pages from a variety of sources. The only prohibition is that you cannot impose pages from PDF files with any security options set (such as "do not print" or "do not copy"). This is built in to Acrobat. Can I impose PostScript, QuarkXPress documents etc.? No. This plug-in is for Acrobat only, and works only on PDF files. Of course, the above can both be converted to PDF using Adobe Acrobat Distiller. How do I set up colour bars and other press marks? You can define a PDF file containing "background pages" to be used when you impose. This allows you to make press sheets to your requirements, and impose onto them. Can I impose to a standard template? We made the decision not to include standard templates, not least because there is little agreement within or between countries as to what is standard. (The exception is 2-up booklets where there is at least some agreement.) We believe that the features of Quite Imposing allow you to achieve most of the common impositions used today, and using manual imposition in Quite Imposing Plus you can do virtually any imposition, though this may be too labour-intensive for most purposes. The "remember last action" feature allows you to remember the settings used for a particular job. Users needing highly automated workflows will not like Quite Imposing, because it expects to have a person "driving" at all times. We encourage you to try out the plug-ins and make your decision without expecting Quite Imposing or Quite Imposing Plus to be "just like" any existing system you have seen. Acrobat and PDFs make a new way of working possible - try it! When I shift a page with trim and shift it does not print shifted. Why? Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing Plus both have a "trim and shift" function which allows pages to be shifted, trimmed, or expanded. But when such pages are printed they may not seem to shift. This is because some programs continue to honour the original "origin" of the page, rather than the revised one shown on screen. We consider this to be wrong, though the PDF specification is ambiguous on what will happen. The solution is comparatively simple, but requires an extra step. When pages are imposed, the shifting is always honoured, and the new page should always have an origin at the bottom left of a page. So you can impose "1 by 1" to resolve the issue. You require the following settings in the "n-up pages" function: First page: remove unused space; place pages full size. Second page: no margins or marks Third page: size of sheets, maximum. Layout of pages, 1 by 1. Why don't other programs accept the bleeds I define in Quite Imposing Plus? Before Acrobat 4.0, the PDF file format defined by Adobe had no provision for bleeds, so we were forced to invent an extension to PDF. With Acrobat 4.0, there is a standard. Starting with version 1.2, Quite Imposing uses the new standard (while continuing to support the old one for compatibility), and it is now used by some other other software, including Adobe InDesign and Enfocus PitStop. If your other software does not accept these bleeds, it has not yet caught up with the new standard. Can I automate with AppleScript, OLE or DDE? The current release does not accept automation, except that the menu items can be automatically triggered by automation, using the standard mechanisms in the Acrobat SDK. If you wish to do this we will be happy to supply a list of the internal menu names. Note, though, that this form of automation does not allow any options to be specified, and all dialog boxes are still displayed. Why is text missing in Acrobat 5.0? This is a known problem in Acrobat 5.0, which affects text that is "fake bolded" or outlined. Quite Imposing 1.5a fixed this, but in certain cases could make the situation worse, and could cause text to go missing even in earlier version. Quite Imposing 1.5b changes pages to avoid this problem. Download now. Is there a full bug list? Yes, this page contains a list of almost all known bugs and serious problems. If you find a bug and it is not listed, please let us know! Bugs not listed are mostly those which are very difficult to explain. How do I upgrade to 2.0? This is a chargeable upgrade and can be purchased from ourselves or from one of our resellers. You can download Quite Imposing 2.0 from this page. You will not lose any temporary or permanent license information you have entered. The downloadable version has all of the features of the version supplied on disk, and an updated on-line guide describing all the new features. Registered users who are having trouble downloading should contact us on help@quite.com. We will e-mail you a copy, or post disks if you prefer. Make sure to quote your serial number, and whether you want the Windows or Macintosh version. Why do you spell "color" as "colour"? That's how we do it in Scotland! The product package contains software for both Windows and Macintosh. Does that mean I can run both? The answer relates to the software license; we hope this will clarify the meaning of the license. We are not supplying two licensed copies of the software, just one. You are allowed to install the software on more than one computer if and only if there is no possibility of the software being used on more than one computer at a time. No possibility is not the same as probably not. Usually the only case where there is no possibility is where only one person will ever use the software, but may have to work on more than one computer. In an environment with a number of users of a number of computers, it is unlikely that you are allowed to install the software on more than one computer. Note that Quite Imposing is considered to be in use from the time it is first used until that copy of Acrobat is closed down. How do I...? The manuals supplied with the product and available online include a detailed "How do I...?" chapter. Back to the Quite Imposing Index