Hi, all,
purpose of this thread is to collect all the numerous tips & tricks and posts in this forum regarding quality.
Better quality often is the opposite of smaller files (like with PDF export, the more you compress the smaller the file and less the quality). If you look for file size optimization please read here.
Optimizing for quality:
1. Presentation size
If you only use vector elements, the size of the presentation layout does not really matter. When using pixel elements such as images, remember that they will have to be enlarged or reduced when viewing fullscreen on different devices.
You get the best image quality if images can be displayed 1:1, so if possible use the same presentation resolution as the viewing device.
2. Pictures (general)
When QuarkXPress cannot see the picture (so Usage shows "Missing") then Interactive Designer embeds the preview (lores) into the SWF. So make sure QuarkXPress sees the pictures (Usage shows "OK") then the pictures have a much higher quality (hires).
3. EPS and PDF
When you have vector elements in EPS or PDF format, have a look how it is being rendered. You can improve the quality by using the "Create" options for EPS (in QuarkXPress preferences). Still, EPS and PDF are being converted to bitmaps.
In order to load them as vectors, use Freehand or Illustrator or a command line tool to convert them to (static) SWF. Then load them as SWF objects and see, whether the quality is better.
See also here: http://forums.quark.com/p/16724/70564.aspx#70564
4. JPEGs
If you have created your own, optimized JPEGs, then don't load them into QuarkXPress (via Command+E) as Interactive Designer will always touch them when exporting. If you want them to be displayed as you created them, load them at runtime using the "Object/Display Image" action.
5. Colors
As screens normally show RGB, convert all QuarkXPress colors to RGB to already see in authoring how the export will look like. This is especially true for black, as CMYK-Black isn't the darkest possible color (Registration would be).
See also here: http://forums.quark.com/p/16640/70092.aspx#70092
6. Fonts
QuarkXPress supports cubic shapes whereas the SWF format only supports quadratic shapes. Therefore certain shapes might not look exactly as they look in authoring. As this will be more noticeable in text box objects with "embed fonts" on, as each glyph shape is converted to SWF format quadratic shape, try to avoid text box objects (leave them as basic items) or test whether you need to have the "embed fonts" switched on.
7. Video
Use the FLV option instead of SWF-Video (in the video object settings). FLV has a much better quality than SWFV.
Enjoy!
Matthias