BDF Format?

Eirebear

Hi folks, trying to help a relative out here with a poster for some charity thing or other.
The printer has asked him for a BDF file......anyone got any idea what this is and how i save the image as one?

melekalikimaka

sure it wasn't Pdf?

Eirebear

lol no, thats what i thought at first too, so i saved it as a PDF and sent it too him.....

The actual document is 57 x 87cm so its a big motherfecker, the PDF version of it is around 2MB....the alarm bells kinda started ringing when i noticed that!
I have this information on it.
which makes it look like it is some relation to Bitmap....i dunno its all french to me..
ubject: BDF - Adobe Glyph Bitmap Distribution Format



Type: Bitmap font

Extension: bdf

Version: 2.2

Compression: None

Color Depth: 1-bit

Maintainer: Adobe Systems

Specification: ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/DeveloperSupport/TechNotes/PSfiles/5005.BDF_Spec.ps



BDF is an ASCII-based file format used to store Adobe screen fonts as

human-readable data. The BDF sister format, ABF, stores the same font data

using a binary format.



This format was previously known as the Character Bitmap Distribution

Format, but was renamed to the Glyph Bitmap Distribution Format to bring

the format's name into agreement with current industry terminology.



The specification for the BDF format is:



Glyph Bitmap Distribution Format (BDF) Specification (Version 2.2),

Adobe Developer Support, 22 March 1993, P/N LPS5005.



This document available via FTP as a Tech Note in PostScript format, or as

hardcopy when obtained directly from Adobe (see the PostScript section for

information on how to contact Adobe Systems, Inc.).

whyulittle

Is he printing off the same machine that he created the file on?

Eirebear

whyulittle wrote: »

Is he printing off the same machine that he created the file on?

Nope, the file was created on my computer.

whyulittle

Well sounds like whatever font or set of fonts you used, aren't on his machine. It's like when you create some Word Doc with a snazzy looking font, and then when you go to print it off on someone else's machine, it shows up as TNR because they don't have the font installed on their machine.

Not sure how to go about fixing it in this case with Adobe fonts though. Maybe ask over in the Digital Art & Design forum.

Eirebear

whyulittle wrote: »

Well sounds like whatever font or set of fonts you used, aren't on his machine. It's like when you create some Word Doc with a snazzy looking font, and then when you go to print it off on someone else's machine, it shows up as TNR because they don't have the font installed on their machine.

Not sure how to go about fixing it in this case with Adobe fonts though. Maybe ask over in the Digital Art & Design forum.

Ahh got you....
Thanks for that, ill send him the files and see what happens with them.
If they dont work well go from there.
Ill try DA&D in the morning.
Cheers

minikin

Hi eirebear,

no printer will ask you for a "bdf" file.
Pdf is what he means - pdfs embed all fonts used.

2mb isn't unusual for a large poster if it's vector graphics or if you're using heavy jpeg compression.

1. what application did they use for layout.
2. how did they create the pdf - free convertor???

If you want, send the file over and I'll run it through the rip to see if it throws up any errors.

Eirebear

Cheers Minikin, turned out he was after a PDF after all, i was a little confused due to the file size (the PSD is 228MB), which led to me confusing the guy I was doing it for....
He went to the printer this morning with the BMP image and asked him again about it...he replied "I meant PDF!".

Ah well ye live and learn eh?

Thanks for your help everyone!