PLEASE NOTE: When creating graphics in illustration programs such as Adobe Illustrator with the intention of 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 an abundance of 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 your illustration becomes, the greater the probability of problems at output, and therefore the need for more expertise and experience in creating the files.

On this page

- Saving and Exporting Graphics

- Creating Outlines

- Checking Document Info

1. 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 250 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.

It's ok to scale your images down in Illustrator however scaling up will compromise the quality of your image.

Go to the Place... menu (File ->Place...) and navigate to the TIFF or EPS file that you wish to place. Use the following options for placing your TIFF or EPS files.

Use the required templates for your graphics. (Be sure you are using the US Templates if you are ordering from the US and Canada Templates if you are ordering from Canada)

Assemble any panels so that each face or pannel consists of only one file.

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.

3. Create Outlines (Convert text to paths). 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 quality loss when converting text to outlines.

4. Cleanup the Illustration. After creating your graphic, 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 ...)

Press OK. This will aid in easier processing of your files.

5. Save the graphic. Bring up the Save As dialog box ( File-> Save As ) and select the format Illustrator EPS as shown:

6. Select the options shown below. In the EPS Format box, set the Compatibility to 8.0 and the Preview to 8-bit Macintosh. Under Options mark Include Placed Files (if available*), Include Document Thumbnails, Include Document Fonts and CMYK PostScript. Under PostScript select Level 2.

* You will only have the option to Include Placed Files if the following are true, A, you have placed images in your document; B, you have placed images and chose to link them instead of embedding them. Please embedded your images in your Illustrator files.

1.  In Illustrator choose (File->Document Info). Next choose Objects under the Info drop down menu as shown. Also check info for the Linked Images and Embedded Images sections to ensure that RGB type images are not listed.

2.  Your documents object info should read similar to the box below. You should focus on the RGB Objects and make sure Illustrator lists RGB Objects: NONE.

• When preparing grayscale figures, you would want just Grayscale Objects and NOT CMYK or RGB objects.

• When preparing CMYK figures, you would want just CMYK Objects and NOT RGB objects. (Grayscale objects are allowed.)