Adobe Illustrator - Printing questions

Author

Printing questions

teka

2005-05-15, 7:14 pm

Hello,

I created a small ad, it is made up of already created vector
illustrations, of forms that I created in Illustrator and of type
created in Illustrator as well (no photos). I'm in CMYK color mode. I'm
new to Illustrator and to printing... so I have a few questions mainly
regarding preparing my file for printing.

1. The people who will print it said they wanted it in "Illustrator"
format. Does that mean .ai or .eps?

2. Before I print it, I'm guessing I have to flatten the artwork. Do I
have to set some things in the Flattener preview before? If so, what
settings do I have to put?

3. What other printing/document settings should I be aware of and make
changes to?

4. I know your work has to be done at 300 ppi for print.. but one of
the illustrations I inserted in my ad was a vector image but it said it
was 72 dpi. I'm not too sure what to do about this..

5. Is it OK to save as PDF for print as well? Do special precautions
have to be taken when you do?

Thanks for any help!

teka

steggy

2005-05-15, 7:14 pm

teka wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I created a small ad, it is made up of already created vector
> illustrations, of forms that I created in Illustrator and of type
> created in Illustrator as well (no photos). I'm in CMYK color mode. I'm
> new to Illustrator and to printing... so I have a few questions mainly
> regarding preparing my file for printing.
>
> 1. The people who will print it said they wanted it in "Illustrator"
> format. Does that mean .ai or .eps?

Both are fine.
>
> 2. Before I print it, I'm guessing I have to flatten the artwork. Do I
> have to set some things in the Flattener preview before? If so, what
> settings do I have to put?

For printing I do not believe that really matters, and EPS
is flattened.
>
> 3. What other printing/document settings should I be aware of and make
> changes to?

Besides the CMYK mode I can not think of one. Ow yeah it
might be handy to outline the text, so there will be no font problems.
>
> 4. I know your work has to be done at 300 ppi for print.. but one of
> the illustrations I inserted in my ad was a vector image but it said it
> was 72 dpi. I'm not too sure what to do about this..

The beauty of vector is it is resolution independant. Do not
worry, as long as you do not have rasterized stuff in your document.
>
> 5. Is it OK to save as PDF for print as well? Do special precautions
> have to be taken when you do?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> teka

PDF is fine also, but that really only should be done in a
certified way, like with PitStop. Depends on what art it is.
Try it four yourself and check in your Acrobat Reader. I
would just go for Illustrator EPS. To play safe it is always
advisable to make a color separated print on your own
printer, just to make sure the colors are set up OK.
--
steg

iehsmith

2005-05-15, 7:14 pm

On 5/15/05 10:04 AM, teka uttered:

> Hello,
>
> I created a small ad, it is made up of already created vector
> illustrations, of forms that I created in Illustrator and of type
> created in Illustrator as well (no photos). I'm in CMYK color mode. I'm
> new to Illustrator and to printing... so I have a few questions mainly
> regarding preparing my file for printing.

I'm not an Illustrator expert, but I'm might be able to give you some hints.

> 1. The people who will print it said they wanted it in "Illustrator"
> format. Does that mean .ai or .eps?

Either should actually work, but I'd normally lean towards EPS. When a
printer specifies a native file type I always ask why. My assumption is that
they may want the ability to open and edit in the native file. If this is
the case and they have good reason to do so, then EPS should work as well as
AI. Just remember to also include your fonts. You may want to outline them,
but again, there are instances when this can go wrong. Even if you embed
them in EPS, if they open it in Illustrator they will need them.
>
> 2. Before I print it, I'm guessing I have to flatten the artwork. Do I
> have to set some things in the Flattener preview before? If so, what
> settings do I have to put?

Have you used transparency, blends, drop shadows or the like? These things
can be tricky, and it depends on what app they'll import the ad into. It is
safer to let them deal with these things. I believe, if they import into
InDesign that flattening transparency isn't needed before hand. If they send
to print from Illustrator they can handle it. If they send to print from
Quark there are issues. Find out what they're doing on their end.

> 3. What other printing/document settings should I be aware of and make
> changes to?

Just make use that everything is CMYK. Not being able to see your ad or
knowing how your printer does things it's hard to say if you need to deal
with trapping and overprinting black. Again, ask the printer. Try to keep
your text on uppermost layers if possible.

> 4. I know your work has to be done at 300 ppi for print.. but one of
> the illustrations I inserted in my ad was a vector image but it said it
> was 72 dpi. I'm not too sure what to do about this..

This sounds very odd. True vector is resolution independent. What file type
was the image? I think I've seen this when to image contains
gradient/transparency blend. You might want to open that image in
Illustrator and copy/paste it into your ad; or perhaps better to flatten
transparency of applicable objects at highest quality and the resolution
needed by your printer. Don't assume that 300 dpi is the correct resolution.
If your printer is printing at 175lpi then you'd use 350dpi.

> 5. Is it OK to save as PDF for print as well? Do special precautions
> have to be taken when you do?

This is very dependent on your printers workflow.

The absolute best advice I can offer is to communicate in detail with your
printer's prepress department. If they are worth anything they will know
exactly what you need to do for optimum output in their workflow; prevent
you from doing things they would best handle; and help to educate you know
in that it will only save them headaches in the end.

If anything else I've said is incorrect I'm sure someone on the list will
correct me.

inez

Hecate

2005-05-15, 7:14 pm

On 15 May 2005 08:04:51 -0700, "teka" <tekahera45@yahoo.ca> wrote:

>Hello,
>
Along with the answers here, I suggest you read the answers you were
given in the Photoshop newsgroup.

--

Hecate - The Real One
Hecate@newsguy.com
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

steggy

2005-05-15, 7:14 pm

iehsmith wrote:
>
> On 5/15/05 10:04 AM, teka uttered:
>
> If anything else I've said is incorrect I'm sure someone on the list will
> correct me.
>
> inez

All the right answers Inez.
Sorry my clock was off!! Loads of people were mocking about
my Mac:(
--
steg

steggy

2005-05-15, 7:14 pm

Hecate wrote:
>
> On 15 May 2005 08:04:51 -0700, "teka" <tekahera45@yahoo.ca> wrote:
>
> Along with the answers here, I suggest you read the answers you were
> given in the Photoshop newsgroup.
>
> --
>
> Hecate

You mean that group that has been swallowed by the trolls?
Lets give it a try again...........
--
steg

PhontPhreak

2005-05-15, 7:14 pm

"steggy" <steggy2001@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:4287B804.4D305B0A@hotmail.com...
> teka wrote:
>
> Both are fine.
They are, but when they are placed in layout programs (received several
doc's in the past), xpress had problems with them

>
> For printing I do not believe that really matters, and EPS
> is flattened.
>
> Besides the CMYK mode I can not think of one. Ow yeah it
> might be handy to outline the text, so there will be no font problems.
>
> The beauty of vector is it is resolution independant. Do not
> worry, as long as you do not have rasterized stuff in your document.
>
> PDF is fine also, but that really only should be done in a
> certified way, like with PitStop. Depends on what art it is.
> Try it four yourself and check in your Acrobat Reader. I
> would just go for Illustrator EPS. To play safe it is always
> advisable to make a color separated print on your own
> printer, just to make sure the colors are set up OK.
A pdf can be certified, but still not good. Also colorized tiff's are still
a pain in the...:-)
> --
> steg

Steggy, which part of Holland are you from?

PhPh

steggy

2005-05-15, 11:15 pm

PhontPhreak wrote:
>
> "steggy" <steggy2001@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
> news:4287B804.4D305B0A@hotmail.com...
> They are, but when they are placed in layout programs (received several
> doc's in the past), xpress had problems with them.

XPress like any (better) lay out program has no problem what
so ever with Illustrator EPS. Describe please?

>
> Steggy, which part of Holland are you from?
>
> PhPh

Hahahaha The middle, Utrecht/Hilversum area.........why if I
may ask?

--
steg

steggy

2005-05-15, 11:15 pm

steggy wrote:
>
> PhontPhreak wrote:
>
> XPress like any (better) lay out program has no problem what
> so ever with Illustrator EPS. Describe please?
>
>
> Hahahaha The middle, Utrecht/Hilversum area.........why if I
> may ask?
>
> --
> steg

Ow i see, a Belgian confrere;)
--
steg

PhontPhreak

2005-05-15, 11:15 pm

"steggy" <steggy2001@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:4287D215.6610740@hotmail.com...
> steggy wrote:
mode. I'm[color=darkred]
mainly[color=darkred]
"Illustrator"[color=darkred]
several[color=darkred]
Sorry, i had to be more clear. I didn't mean .EPS but .AI files[color=darkred]
>
> Ow i see, a Belgian confrere;)
Well, not Belgian (Dutch), but i live in Belgium :-)
> --
> steg

steggy

2005-05-15, 11:15 pm

PhontPhreak wrote:[color=darkred]
>
> "steggy" <steggy2001@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht
> news:4287D215.6610740@hotmail.com...
> Well, not Belgian (Dutch), but i live in Belgium :-)

Ow OK, not a problem, still got Arizona and Brugge in my
soul and brains;)

--
steg

PS mu mail address just works for MSN

iehsmith

2005-05-16, 4:14 am

On 5/15/05 5:45 PM, steggy uttered:

>
> XPress like any (better) lay out program has no problem what
> so ever with Illustrator EPS. Describe please?

Steggy, QXP doesn't support transparency.

inez

Justcurious

2005-05-16, 7:16 pm

I can help a little, but most of these questions, I would think, you need to
ask your printer.

1. Illustrator usually means .ai
2. Not sure on this if you have to even flatten if you are using a .ai file.
If both you and the printer are using the same version of Illustrator I
would guess it would be alright. Ask the printer
3. Ask the printer
4. If the illustration is vector, open it in Illustrator and copy and paste
it into the document. don't "place" the vector.
5.Why are you saving as .pdf? Of course you can, but unless you need it,
why? If your printer can print from this, then ask them what precautions you
need.

I am a self taught Illustrator person, so anyone out there correct me if I
am wrong on anything.
"teka" <tekahera45@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:1116169491.055895.227380@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hello,
>
> I created a small ad, it is made up of already created vector
> illustrations, of forms that I created in Illustrator and of type
> created in Illustrator as well (no photos). I'm in CMYK color mode. I'm
> new to Illustrator and to printing... so I have a few questions mainly
> regarding preparing my file for printing.
>
> 1. The people who will print it said they wanted it in "Illustrator"
> format. Does that mean .ai or .eps?
>
> 2. Before I print it, I'm guessing I have to flatten the artwork. Do I
> have to set some things in the Flattener preview before? If so, what
> settings do I have to put?
>
> 3. What other printing/document settings should I be aware of and make
> changes to?
>
> 4. I know your work has to be done at 300 ppi for print.. but one of
> the illustrations I inserted in my ad was a vector image but it said it
> was 72 dpi. I'm not too sure what to do about this..
>
> 5. Is it OK to save as PDF for print as well? Do special precautions
> have to be taken when you do?
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
> teka
>

teka

2005-05-16, 7:16 pm

Thanks everyone, your replies were quite helpful!

I'm not saving as .pdf.. I was just curious about that.

Do you have to include fonts even if they are very common (ie. arial,
verdana)?
Is flatenning and merging the same?

Hecate

2005-05-16, 7:16 pm

On Mon, 16 May 2005 00:28:01 +0200, steggy <steggy2001@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hecate wrote:
>
>You mean that group that has been swallowed by the trolls?
>Lets give it a try again...........

Well, there are two of them ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
Hecate@newsguy.com
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

teka

2005-05-17, 7:16 pm

Hello again...
There is something I'm not sure I undersand. I was told that you
should always send the external artwork you inserted in your file as
well as the font to the printer, in separate files. I copied .eps and
..ai illustrations in my ad but after I inserted them, I modified their
size and sometimes their color. So what good will it do to send them
separately in their original file?

I was also told that if you flatten the layers, you don't really need
to send the external artwork separately. Is this true?

But I was told you still need to send the fonts even if your layers are
flattened. I'm not sure I undersand why if you don't need to send the
other stuff?

I was told a lot of things... ha ha. Can anyone help me with any of
this?
Thanks again!!

teka

2005-05-17, 7:16 pm

Hello again...
There is something I'm not sure I undersand. I was told that you
should always send the external artwork you inserted in your file as
well as the font to the printer, in separate files. I copied .eps and
..ai illustrations in my ad but after I inserted them, I modified their
size and sometimes their color. So what good will it do to send them
separately in their original file?

I was also told that if you flatten the layers, you don't really need
to send the external artwork separately. Is this true?

But I was told you still need to send the fonts even if your layers are

flattened. I'm not sure I undersand why if you don't need to send the
other stuff?

I was told a lot of things... ha ha. Can anyone help me with any of
this? Thanks again!!

steggy

2005-05-17, 7:16 pm

teka wrote:
>
> Hello again...
> There is something I'm not sure I undersand. I was told that you
> should always send the external artwork you inserted in your file as
> well as the font to the printer, in separate files. I copied .eps and
> .ai illustrations in my ad but after I inserted them, I modified their
> size and sometimes their color. So what good will it do to send them
> separately in their original file?
>
> I was also told that if you flatten the layers, you don't really need
> to send the external artwork separately. Is this true?
>
> But I was told you still need to send the fonts even if your layers are
>
> flattened. I'm not sure I undersand why if you don't need to send the
> other stuff?
>
> I was told a lot of things... ha ha. Can anyone help me with any of
> this? Thanks again!!

With XPress and such you always need to send anything used
with it. With Illustrator that is not necessary, if all is
vector (which I seem to remember was the case).
If you imported rasterized stuff I would add it.

Fonts need to be added, the solution is always to outline
the type (under the Type menu, do not give them an
outline:)) then it is not necessary anymore, because they
are converted to native Illustrator vectors.
TIP: keep the original file with the original fonts in case
it needs a change or correction.

The whole flatten story sounds a bit wild to me, but maybe
I am wrong.
--
steg

steggy

2005-05-17, 11:15 pm

Justcurious

2005-05-18, 7:16 am