Adobe Illustrator

HOME > HELPCENTER > PREPARING_ARTWORK_FILES > APPLICATIONS_GUIDELINES > ILLUSTRATOR | Adobe Illustrator | Topics: 1. Using a Template in Illustrator 2. Create Guidelines and Boundary Box 3. Adding Images 4. Convert Text to Outlines 5. Show Hidden Font Characters 6. Set Black Text to Overprint 7. Convert to CMYK Color Mode 8. Delete Template 9. Save as PDF

1. Using a Template in Illustrator

Open Template Download Template for your desired product Open in Illustrator (New>Open) Does your artwork have bleeds? PsPrint requires .125" bleeds on all four sides of your artwork (i.e., 4"x6" postcard image with bleeds would have dimensions of 4.25" x 6.25" in your artwork file.) If your image has a white border on all four sides, bleeds are recommended but not required. If your image is not white on all four sides, you MUST include bleeds in your files. More information about bleeds.

Does your artwork have borders? The cutting process for printed materials has a mechanical tolerance of about .0625 or 1/16 of an inch. When using a border in your artwork, it is essential that your design use at least .25 or 1/4 of an inch of white space from your border to the cut line to maintain a symmetrical appearance.

2. Creating Guidelines and a Boundary Box

Create Guidelines Make sure you are on the layer labeled "My Artwork" Show rulers - (View>Rulers) Click on the rulers and drag a guideline to the specified marks. This will help you line up your text/images to our template guides. Note the instructions included in the template

Create a Boundary Box Make sure the stroke and fill are transparent. Choose the rectangle tool Create a box with the proper dimensions of your entire artwork plus .25" for bleed

3. Adding Images

Adding an Image Place your hi-res file (File>Place) Check the resolution of your file and make sure it's set at 300 ppi Determining resolution in Illustrator.

What is Resolution? For an image to print properly, the image must be at least 300 pixels per inch (PPI) at the final output size. DO NOT try to change from a low resolution to a higher one by increasing the DPI in your imaging program. More information about resolution.

4. Convert Text to Outlines

Convert All Text to Outlines All text within files must be converted to outlines with the outline set to zero to eliminate the need for fonts. Edit>Select All Type>Create Outlines

5. Show Hidden Characters

Show Hidden Font Characters You must make sure there are no hidden characters in your artwork. Every font field ends with an infinity symbol . If there are symbols in your artwork without any type before then delete those type fields or make sure those fonts are outlined. Type>Show Hidden Characters

6. Set Black Text to Overprint

Set Black Text to Overprint Filter>Colors>Overprint Black Unselect Stroke Select Include Blacks with CMY

7. Convert to CMYK Color Mode

Convert RGB file to CMYK Filter > Colors > Convert to CMYK

What is CMYK color mode? The color mode of submitted files must be CMYK. If your files are submitted using any other color standard, such as RGB or Pantone, they will be converted to CMYK. Conversion from one color standard to another may cause colors to shift. More information about CMYK color mode.

Does your artwork contain gradients? Gradients are commonly used in printing and in most instances produce good results. Gradients can be represented in a file as a mathematical equation (Vector) or rendered by the

8. Delete Template

Select and Delete Template Layer Click on template layer labeled "DELETE THIS LAYER"and delete. * Note the instructions included in the template

9. Save as PDF

To flatten transparency and outline the fonts please use the instruciton below. How to check if my font/object dropped out.

Select All (Ctrl A / Cmd A) Object > Flatten Transparency

Adobe Illustrator How to Convert Text to Outlines When using Adobe Illustrator how to (and when to) convert text to outlines for press-ready vector artwork is essential knowledge. Fonts can cause problems when sending artwork to press. If you've used a typeface that your printing house doesn't have, the document will print incorrectly. This is why you'll find that fonts within most vector logos (containing text) will have been converted to outlines, or paths. This effectively means that the text is no longer text - it has become a graphic, and the text cannot be altered. Converting text to outlines is very easy in Illustrator. The "PRO" text in the graphic shown below (left) has a blue line underneath it. This shows that the text is made up of a typeface, not a graphic. The little blue square at the left end of the line indicates that the text is ranged left. If the type were centred, the little square would be in the middle of the line. It's good practice to keep an editable copy of your document as an AI file before you convert text to outlines and save the file as an Illustrator EPS file. This is so that you can come back and edit it non-destructively later, instead of having to recreate the artwork with text again.

To convert text to outlines, go Select/Select All. It doesn't matter if other graphic elements are selected. Go Type/Create Outlines. The text will become outlined and can't be edited as text (see the image above right). Now, as you can see, the line beneath the text has gone. The text characters now have editable paths, or outlines, around them - they are no longer text, but vector graphics, and can be edited as such. If you want to know more about working with Adobe Illustrator files, visit: Adobe Illustrator How to Prepare a Vector Image for Press

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