Aurea Media :: Graphic Guidelines

PLEASE NOTE: When creating graphics in illustration programs such as Adobe Illustrator for outputting to an imagesetter or platesetter, it is extremely important that the person creating the illustration have a thorough understanding of the details of imaging in a prepress environment. There are complex problems that can occur at output if paths are set up improperly, colors are indicated incorrectly, or other elements are constructed improperly. Trapping issues can also present problems if not addressed. The more complicated the illustration, the greater the probability of problems at output, and therefore the greater need for expertise in creating files.

2. Place any graphics you need to import. Before placing images in Illustrator, the images should be checked for the following:

All placed art should be in TIFF or EPS format
The resolution should be at least 300 dpi
The color mode of the TIFF/EPS should be either Monochrome (bitmap mode), Grayscale or CMYK. The CMYK mode is used for color figures and Grayscale/Monochrome for black & white.
Crop and size images properly before importing so that masking, scaling or rotating is not necessary while in Illustrator.

Go to the Place... menu (File->Place...) and navigate to the TIFF or EPS file that you wish to place. Do not select Link so that the file will be embedded.

3. Do all editing and assembly.

Assemble any panels so that each figure consists of only one file.
Create the figure at 100% of print size so that no scaling is necessary.
Make sure that any and all imported graphics are in proper color format (Here's how you find out!) RGB files, which will not output correctly, may not be detected until output.

4. Create Outlines. This eliminates the requirement of sending CPC fonts. Start by selecting everything in the document (Edit->Select All). It is important to select everything in the document before creating outlines. There may be text out of plain sight in the document. Next create outlines (Type->Create Outlines). There isn't a significant quality loss when converting text to outlines.

5. Cleanup the Illustration. After creating your figure, stray font instances, paths and other unwanted information may be present, but not visible. To remove these unwanted items: from the menu bar select (Object->Path->Cleanup ...)

6. Check the Document Information Choose (File->Document Info->Objects). Be sure you have no RGB Objects nor Linked Images.

If you have Linked Images, change them to Embedded Images. To do this go to Window->Show Links

2. Select the options shown below.

In the EPS Format box, set the Compatibility to Version 10.0 and the Preview to Macintosh (8-bit Color) or Macintosh (Black & White). Under Options check Include Document Fonts and CMYK PostScript. Under PostScript select Level 2. If Include Linked Files is available, you have not changed your Linked files to Embedded files. See 6. Check Document Information.

2. Select the options shown below.

If the figure is basically line art, set the Resolution at 1000 dpi, if it is a combination of scans, text and lines, set the Resolution at 600 dpi. Select LZW Compression and choose the Macintosh Byte Order.