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| 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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