Why are my rounded rectangles distorted?

[Guest]

When I use the Rounded Rectangle shape on the Tools Palette, it is getting distorted in the PDF. The other shapes look good. I'm attaching a sample.

I'm using FrameMaker 8.2p277. To create the PDF, I do File>Print and select Adobe PDF as a printer. On the PDF Options, I have selected the same joboptions that I've been using.

I double-checked in Distiller and I do not have "Convert gradients to smooth curves" or "convert smooth lines to curves" selected. Those settings have caused trouble in the past.

What else should I check?

Thanks,

Cheryl

[AxialInfo]

gee, Cheryl, do you know how many folks would LIKE to get that effect ??

Sorry, sorry ... just kidding, couldn't resist.

I've never, ever seen anything like that.

For those who may not be able to download the PDF, here's a screenshot of "Cheryl's Amazing Effect":

Could you save this FM file as MIF and attach it, too? Maybe there's something in it that might give an indication of what's gone wrong. It's a long shot, though.

What line measure are the rounded rectangles -- the top one that looks right compared to the others?

I notice that you're outputting as PDF version 1.4, have you tried outputting to a later version like 1.5 or 1.6?

[Shlomo Perets]

When using Distiller 7 and 8.0, FrameMaker's rounded rectangles are warped when distilled with the "Convert smooth lines to curves" option (Advanced tab, turned on by default in the "Standard" and "Smallest file size" settings). This option was modified in Distiller 8.1/9, so even if turned on, it no longer produces this effect with FrameMaker rounded rectangles.

Shlomo Perets

MicroType * http://www.microtype.com
FrameMaker/Acrobat training & consulting * FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers/Assistants

[Guest]

OK. I stumbled upon the answer. When creating a PDF by choosing the Adobe PDF printer in FrameMaker, I had to:

1. On the Print Document window, select Setup button. That opens the Print Setup window, where I choose the Adobe PDF printer. Then I click Properties, which opens the Adobe PDF Document Properties window. On that window, the Default Settings shows "Standard". If I click the Edit button next to that, it opens the Standard - Adobe PDF Settings window. If I drill down on "Advanced" I can see that "Convert smooth lines to curves" is selected. So then I cancel out of that window, back to Adobe PDF Document Properties. On that window, I select my own joboptions for Default Settings, which I know does not have "Convert smooth lines to curves" selected. Click OK twice.

2. Now, back on the Print Document window, I select PDF Setup. I make sure that my own joboptions is selected from the list and I click Set.

Now, the file is generated properly and my rounded rectangles look perfect:

If I omit either of those steps, then my rectangles are distorted. I think they look like worms that have been stepped on:

To answer the others who responded to my posts:

Sheila, I'm attaching a MIF file, just in case you're still curious.

Shlomo--My Distiller is version 8.1.3.

Thank you for your time.

Cheryl