Non-jagged straight lines

[Cruz-A]

Hello all, hope you are doing great.

I'm working on an image of an equipment for a technical brochure. I have to add vector straight lines to show different measurements from one point to another, for example width, length, so on... After editing with Photoshop I save as jpg and then I place the image in InDesign, where I have the rest of the document. I'm having so much trouble because when I export from InDesign to PDF these lines look jagged or pixeled. How can I get rid of that jagging? Does it have to do with how I save it or is it a feature I can change in Photoshop?

I already used the anti-aliasing option, I have also defringed the lines and removed matte from selection and none of these work.

Would any of you have an idea on how to get a perfect, beautiful straight line? I really appreciate!

 

[Tom Mann]

The resolution (in ppi) plays a huge factor in stair-step artifacts (aka, "the jaggies").

Since it sounds like you have hit many of the obvious things, simply increasing the resolution may be the only thing you need to do.

T

 

[watloves]

I don't know if I am answering this right.
But when I use vector lines or even a brush tool.
I hold the shift button while click the mouse and it automatically keeps it straight.

If you're talking about the auto shapes. I don't know why but if they aren't either straight vertically, or straight horizontally then it becomes jagged.

You can do this straight from indesign too I believe.

I hope I answered this right.

-watloves

 

[Cruz-A]

Hello, thank you very much for your replies!

I actually have the image set to 300 dpi. Most of the lines, actually all of them, are inclined -neither horizontal nor vertical.

 

[ALB68]

Try this in your Acrobat reader Preferences
> Preferences (ctrl+K)/Page Display

and turn on:

v smooth text
v smooth line art
v smooth images

Then the edges won't be jagged.

 

[Tom Mann]

I think the only way we can help you get to the bottom of this is if you could post small versions (ie, just one page each) of the problematic files as they make their way from being a PSD to a JPG to an InDesign to a PDF file. I have all of these programs and will be happy to look at them.

Cheers,

Tom M

 

[Cruz-A]

Thank you Alb68 but I don't think it has to do with the display settings... Besides I will eventually share the document with others and I can't guarantee they will have the same settings as me.

Tom, these are samples in PSD and PDF. Then the only thing I do is to convert to JPEG in Photoshop, and place that image in InDesign. And well, then from INDD to PDF...
I highly appreciate!

 

[ALB68]

I saved your PS file from CS6 and these lines aren't jagged. Yours definitely are. Is it possible that your version of PS is rendering differently as a PDF?

 

[Tom Mann]

Larry (ie, ALB) hit the nail on the head: The loss of resolution, and consequent "jaggies" occurs somewhere between your PS file and your EPS file, but is vastly less for me (using PS CS6).

Below are three screen shots: One is of my photoshop screen, two are of my Adobe Acrobat Pro screen. Hopefully, the caption make it obvious which is which.

HTH,

Tom

 

[Tom Mann]

PS - if you post ALL of the steps of this image on the way from PS to EPS, not just two, we'll probably be able to narrow it down even more.

T