Hello-
I am trying to do color separations on a file in Illustrator CS2. Everything i've read says to first convert to PMS colors then to go File -%26gt; Print and choose PDF or Post Script File as the printer option then choose separations as the option. Unfortunately, Adobe PDF is not listed as a choice. There is an Adobe Post Script File choice but Illustrator won't let me select it.?I have Acrobat Reader v8 installed on my PC and can Save As adobe PDF.?Do I need some other plugin or product??I've done a lot of research on the web and can't find the answer to this - I'm hoping someone here will know.
Thank you!
Laura
Need to do color separations - Adobe...Let me try to help you
1. You don't need to convert to PMS colors necesarilly, Illustrator separates all colors involved in your file, cmyk and PMS..
2. Under File/print you need to choose the settings I show you in the picture attached, so you have to choose some PPD and save, this give you a postcript file (.ps), wich you can see with the Preview app, or use distiller to see it with acrobat reader.
This is one way, but you say you can't select any option??if you clik under Printer or PPD, you can't select anything?
Are you on a Mac or Pc, What operating system?
What are the separations intented for?
if possible you can upload the file?
Need to do color separations - Adobe...Hi Mario - Thank you so much for the terrific image. What your image shows is exactly what i am trying to do (i have a PC and am using illustrator CS2). However, the option of Printer: Adobe PostScript File is listed in the drop down box but Illustrator doesn't let me select it.?As a result i can't select PPD: Adobe PDF and Mode:Separations as you have in your image.?I'm not sure if this is a software install issue or if i need another program (I have Acrobat 8 installed on my machine), or if i'm just being dumb.?I asked a techie (familiar with PCs but not with illustrator) to look at it and he couldn't figure it out, so i'm hoping this is an illustrator specific issue. Do you have any ideas why I can't select Printer: Adobe PostScript File even though it is listed as a selection option?
Thank you!
Laura
a post script to my last reply: i'm using an education version of illustrator CS2, i wonder if that matters. Also, i am doing color separations as i have the file going to a screen printer (onto t shirts) and they require a file with color separations.
thanks!
Laura
kukulaura wrote:
i'm using an education version of illustrator CS2,
Hi Mario -
I do have Photoshop licensed (CS2) and it's also an education version as i got it when i was a student.?Here's what Adobe says about the education version (from their website):
#What is the difference between the Educational and Commercial versions of Authorware?
The Educational version has the same feature set as the Commercial version. However, the Educational version packages pieces with a splash screen that appears at the end of each presentation that reads ''non-commercial version''. The Help files are the same in both versions.
So, my version should be fine to do color separations...sigh.
Laura
p.s. i took a look at the open source downloads you sent me, but i'm not very technical and i'm not sure how i could use them to fix my problem (i understand that i would have to open my file in another program and do color separations there, but not sure how to go about it and how time consuming it would be. I am fairly proficient in Photophop CS2 however).
Ok, I was thinking you could use free software like InkScape and gimp instead of Illustrator and photoshop?to do your jobs....but may be later
I reallky don't know how to fix the problem with illustrator but you have photoshop, may be with it you can solve the situation for now.
here you can see a tutorial on how to do separtaions for screen, and do some google reserch for more..
http://www.photoshop911.com/tutorials/screen_print_seps/index.html
Please upload the file you're working on (if not too heavy) to se how complex is....
hello,
if you're still there...
i've been doing sep's for way too long, and regarding you're comment about: ''how time consuming it would be'',
sometimes the most direct way, given software/output limitations, is to actually created separated art within illustrator, on layers.
Each layer being a b%26amp;w version of each individual color (traps, gradients, registration marks, and whatever included.
It's really archaic and time consuming, especially with complex art, but it works.
It also kind of forces you to keep your creations simpler in terms of effects and filters that rarely translate easily to print.
You'd then save out eps's of each individual layer/sep.
You should definitely check out some of Mario's suggestions though.
m
MacKwak wrote:
hello,
if you're still there...
i've been doing sep's for way too long, and regarding you're comment about: ''how time consuming it would be'',
sometimes the most direct way, given software/output limitations, is to actually created separated art within illustrator, on layers.
Re. Separations.pdf:
Been there, done that . And even in these days of HiTech it is still sometimes the only way of doing things.
For example some rips still can't cope with coloured greyscale tiffs set to multiply one on top of the other.
Black and white separations each with its own register marks was the only way to go - and this was only about a year ago.
I started on Illy88 donkey's ago - no way to work in preview mode, no pathfinder, no compounds.
People rushed out to buy Illy5 as soon as it came. It was a real wow (and I still occasionally use it)
Mario Arizmendi wrote:
You made me to remember about 8 years ago, when working with Illustrator 3.2 and very limited Rips, all the tricks I had to use.
Yeah Steve
what a days, a lot of work and headeaches...
By the way, I can see an eror in the swatches picture in the step 10, but you have the general idea of the method...
Cant' remember exactly, may be 10 years, or 15?.... in that beautiful and littel Tinny Mac....
laura?
Are you still there?
Hi - I'm still here!?You have way more experience than i do in this area, i'm going to ask Adobe Support and see if i get anywhere there, otherwise, i will try to recreate the file in Photoshop and see if i can do it there. Thank you for all the links and information you've sent me - they were really useful and interesting!?I'll chalk this up to my love/hate relationship with my computer...