Distiller, Acrobat? .prn ? Graphics conversion ?

[Parangles]

Does anyone here know about converting files from one format
to another that would be acceptable to a huge printer at Kinkos, Office Max etc.?
I am trying to convert an image in a genealogy program (which is
showing as a large image split up into 16 letter sized pages) to a single large image about 36" wide by 45" deep. ( You're supposed to paste the 16 pages together but thats just going to be a mess)
I have tried with Kinkos File Prep software, and lots of help from a long thread I started on a computer/genealogy newsgroup, but it won't work.
The basic problem is amalgamating the image from 16 pages to one page. Any ideas ? I've tried everywhere except here.
They say I have to pay $400 for software to do it.
Cheers,
Chris.

[David_Jones]

Probably too basic a question, but can't the program output to a single page?

I realise that the quality might be an issue, but if you could get it to generate a single page output at, say, 2400dpi (or more), then get a printer to run it off for you?

David.

[Parangles]

Yes David, that is the problem. Kinkos is a major office printing place in the USA, which has a branch in all the malls/shopping plazas. Their software-conversion program only produces the upper right hand corner of the total image. Ie about 1/16th in my case. That is it. I need to get it all into one image.
I envy you guys - its must be summer down there now.
Cheers,
Chris.

[audiyoda]

If you have Adobe Acrobat installed on your system you can print to a file using Distiller or PDFWriter and then import the graphic from that document using Adobe Photoshop 7 (File--> Import--> PDF Image...). I'm not sure, but I don't think PS 6 will import graphics from a .pdf document -- I know PS 7 will. The graphic will be huge, but PS 7 will allow you to easily scale the printout to whatever size you want.

-Craig

[Parangles]

Thanks audiyoda, I don't have any serious graphics programs
and don't want to buy any. This is just a one time thing.
I think I can get the Kinko File Prep to work if I compromise on the size. Can you tell me what these 'post script' settings mean:
a) optimise for portability ADSC
b) encapsulated post script EPS
c) archive format
d) speed

Default is 'speed'- will any change in setting help me get the 16 pages to merge into one page ?

Can you recomend a site with some basic graphics tutorials ?

Thanks,
Chris.

[Parangles]

Problem solved - see below: a pasted copy of my last post on soc.genealogy.computing newsgroup.
Thanks to all of you here. Chris.


" Success !! My chart fits on 3 ft by 4 ft with 12 pt . names
and I just got it printed beautifully at Kinkos for $2.95.
I will cross the bridge of how to get larger sizes printed when I get more names. Probably by downloading the printers driver from the Xerox site. Here how I got it done at Kinko's , 6 sq. ft , extremely sharp printing on their Xerox Synergix 8850 printer. In their file Prep software, change all 'margin ' settings (8 of them) to 0.00, Set 'Paper' to 'AO extra'-35'' x 49'', Auto select tray, Layout -1 up, Orientation- Portrait, Unprintable area-0.00,
uncheck 'print overlap', Select 'print continuous forms', and then print to Kinkos which you had installed previously as a 'printer' with their downloaded software or from free CD in stores. You must see the chart, in the Kinkos file format, on your screen, without any dotted lines, and some large dimension (29 x46 in my case) showing on the bottom right of your screen, otherwise you haven't got it right. Be glad to answer any queries - email me direct, as I'm sure most here are bored with this topic by now.
Thanks to all of you for the ideas and encouragement."