Editing PostScript Pictures

in the past (with Mac OS 7 through 9) it was possible to create EPS files from the Print dialog. I don't know why Apple stopped supporting this format...

We have found a problem in copying spectra to other applications such are MS Word and Powerpoint or Corel Draw. The problem is that it can not create high quality vectorial pictures which one could open, for example, in Corel draw and ungroup and modify it to be inserted in a paper or presentation. The solution that is given in iNMR help, i. e., creating a pdf file or copying to BBEdit produces images which one can not edit.

I have found a solution for the problem! It is possible to print the spectra as postscript files (in the print dialog box, pdf option, you have to choose "save pdf as postscript"). This postscript file can be opened by corel draw and ungrouped. The white background can be then removed (this is important for powerpoint presentations) and the color and thickness of the individual lines edited. Then it can be exported to any format, including EPS.

It seems that Word users are not happy with the solution above. The problem is the quality of the ChemDraw Pictures that deteriorates a lot. The reason is that those pictures are:

• PostScript
• wrapped by Quickdraw
• embedded into PDF
• inserted into Word's QuickDraw and
• passed on to the printer driver as PostScript again.

One of the 5 encapsulation mercilessly ignores the starting PostScript. There is, however, a solution, that requires an external application (Graphic Converter, available as shareware). You first generate the iNMR picture as PDF (from the Print dialog or from the Export dialog), then use Graphic Converter to translate it into true EPS.