Multi-Ad Services has a staff of Technical Support Representatives that can help you with any technical questions you may have about the KARS web site. Some of the most frequently asked questions are listed below. If you still need technical assistance, submit your question or call technical support at (309) 690-4357 8:00am - 7:00pm CST.

Q. What system requirements must I meet to effectively download and use the art and images on the KARS website?

Q. How do I use the art I download from the internet?

A. In order to use or view the artwork from the Internet, a layout software program is required (Multi-Ad Creator, Quark Xpress, Adobe PageMaker etc). You will not be able to open the image by simply double-clicking it. Use commands such as, GET PICTURE, IMPORT, PLACE, INSERT, etc., to pull the art into your layout program.

Q. What is an EPS file?

A. An EPS file is an Encapsulated Postscript file. This type of file supports clipping paths of bitmapped images. It also provides clarity when sizing the image. EPS can be a vectored or bitmapped image. It is the most common file type.

Q. When I import an EPS image into my layout program, I get a message on my screen saying "Unknown File Format" or "Cannot Translate File Format". Why am I getting these messages?

A. In order to import EPS files, your layout program must have an EPS Filter. Re-install your layout software using the custom install option and choose to install the EPS Filters.

Q. When I print the separations for a 4-color eps/jpeg file, I only get the image on one plate. How do I get the 4-color separations to separate on 4 plates?

A. The eps/jpeg files separate only on a Level-2 Postscript printer or Level 2 Rip (the device that translates the images so they can be printed.)

Q. I am using America On-Line (or CompuServe) to download images from the internet. After downloading them, I can not get them to place into my layout program. What do I need to do?

A. All of the files for Macintosh and IBM-PC(clones) are compressed. For the Macintosh you will need to use StuffIt Expander and for IBM-PC(clones) you will need PK-Zip(or Win-Zip) to uncompress the files. These applications are shareware applications and can be downloaded from the Internet.

Q. When I place the image into my layout program, there is a black box that appears around the image, when I print it to my PostScript printer, it prints fine. What is wrong with the image on my screen?

A. If you are using a Windows based machine and are using older versions of some layout programs, you will see a black box around the images that you have placed. This black box is actually a "Clipping Path" that has been created in Adobe Photoshop. These "Clipping Paths" are used to create a transparent background on the EPS files, which is the only format that supports clipping paths. If you update your software to the latest version, the black box will now be white.

Q. When I print the image from my layout program, it prints bitmapped and is not very clear. What can I do to fix this?

A. To print out the images with the quality they are designed for, you need a PostScript printer to print the EPS(Encapsulated PostScript) files.

Q. Why do you use EPS files rather than TIF files or BMP files?

A. EPS files are the best format for designing page layouts. They can have transparent backgrounds, JPEG compressions (so the file size is one-third smaller) and can be either a "vectored" format or "bitmap" format.