text saved as gif not as good as corel draw?

[jrpatdlgs]

I have a web page that uses very simple text saved as gifs for rollover images that link to interior pages when clicked. The original text to gif work was done in Corel Draw -- 12 point arial, (c-60, y-40, m-0, k-40) in a 200 x 15 pixel bounding box. The corel gifs, when imported into the web page are nice and clean and in sharp focus.

Due to a software policy decision "upstairs" I must now use Adobe Illustrator to create the gifs. No matter what settings I try (Create Outlines, Stroke Weight, Fill options and Save For Web options) the gifs that Illustrator produces from Arial 12 point type are "fat" and "fuzzy". They are not crisp and clean like the ones produced in Corel Draw, are not the same apparent size and cannot be used on the web page without the difference being PAINFULLY obvious.

Am I doing something wrong (being new to Illustrator)? Or, is Illustrator that much inferior to Corel Draw? Any suggestions for a way to solve the "fat and fuzzy" problem will be gratefully received!

Thanks for your help.
John

 

[jimoblak]

Can you toss in the version of Illustrator you are using? There may be different methods for different versions.

Inferior? Except for two things that Corel has that Illustrator does not (envelope distortion/deformation and multipage documents), it is much better than Corel. You are not stepping down, unless it is something like Illustrator 3.

 

[jrpatdlgs]

Jimoblak, the Illustrator version is 10. Thanks for the response.

John

 

[jimoblak]

I missed the 'Save for web' that you mentioned. The 'save for web' feature is what should be used.

In this window, you will find 3 tabs on the right. You may have been neglecting the 'Image Size' tab. Uncheck the 'anti-alias' box and your text will appear as square pixels (not fat & fuzzy like my ex).

 

[jrpatdlgs]

Thanks Jimoblak. I'll fire it up and try it now. Congratulations on solving your own "fat & fuzzy" problem : ^ )

John

 

[jrpatdlgs]

Eureka! Thank you!

 

[bsquared18]

Curiously, trying your suggestion in Illustrator 9, I found that when I unchecked the anti-alias box the text became fatter than when the box was checked. For the main title on my site's home page, I used the text with the box checked, and it looks just fine.

Bill B.

 

[jrpatdlgs]

Another shining example of the fact that consistancy is NOT a hallmark of software companies -- especially big ones.

 

[askIllustrator]

Keep in mind that for years, Corel has been reverse-engineering AI's code and compiling it as their own because there are no copywright laws in Canada where Corel is based. It wouldnt be so bad if they would just steal the whole tool but you always get some convoluted hacked version. Did no one tell Corel that you can make a circle with only 4 points? Corel must use 7th grade geometry students to write its code because I have never seen anything more inefficiant or slow on the print side. Heres a big HIGH-FIVE for your company upgrading to AI, now you will see how many artists can hold a smile at work. BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

http://www.apple.com

 

[jrpatdlgs]

Now if Adobe could only hire some of Corel's 7th grade geometry students to set up some easy to use 3-d stuff.....

 

[askIllustrator]

HERE HERE!!! Could you imagine if Adobe and Alias|Wavefront put their heads together on a real-time 3D vector package!? BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

http://www.apple.com

 

[jimoblak]

Alias|Wavefront and Softimage have been hot potatoes in corporate hands. How about Adobe buying up Hash and marketing it?

Adobe could still hire some Corel employees... (

http://www.creativepro.com/story/news/18134.html)

...but why?