I’m completely new to Illustrator & 2

[martiros]

I’m completely new to Illustrator & printing – I know very well Photoshop, VS.NET, ASP/Dreamweaver MX and MS Publisher but not vector graphics tools.
My supervisor asked me to create a full page color ad for RE/MAX catalogue and gave me specs from the RE/MAX printing dept.
Can you give me an idea how much this kind of job can cost and where to find a good tutorial/info on how to do it.

50% of the page is a small text. 30% are 2-3 samples of our product – a newsletter for real estate agents. The rest is colour logos and headings.

Specs:
EPS file (Illustrator)
CMYK
Create outlines or paths for all fonts
Embed all linked images
Fonts: Use only Adobe Type 1 (NO TrueType)

Thank you.

 

[HobbitK]

martrios ...
If you have all the graphics done already, then doing what you desire should only take a couple hours Max.
However, with NO experience it will take considerably longer for you to do it. Perhaps it may be more cost effective to send this one out to a small graphic arts business, while you take some time to learn Illustrator.
Cost depends on what the market will bear.

 

[martiros]

HobbitK,
Thank you for your advice.

The problem is that our manager has already contacted a couple of local graphic arts shop and was blown away by their prices - so this job is mine now

Any good online tutorials?

 

[HobbitK]

Martiros,
The best online tutorial that we have seen for Illustrator is at Adobe.com. They have hundreds of tutorials from very beginner to top expert stuff. It may take a little looking around, but what you need is probably there.
A little explanation for you on the specs provided.

CMYK = 4 color base. Cyan,Magenta,Yellow and Black. All colors are created with a blending of these.
Embed all graphics = HUGE File size. We have NEVER had this request from any print bureau we use. They actually prefer them placed and included on the CD or uploaded seperatly.
However, to embed them, during the Save process, choose "include linked files" from the dialog box.
Remember that once you do that, you cannot unembed them. I personally recommend that you first save the AI without including the linked files under one name, then save a copy with them embeded under another name.
Next, the following makes no sense to us ...

Create outlines or paths for all fonts
Fonts: Use only Adobe Type 1 (NO TrueType)

The process of creating outlines for the fonts is simple, just select all typed items, then under "Type" choose "Create Outlines". Remember that once you do that, the Type becomes uneditable. The Font is actually converted to a Vector Graphic. It can only be stretched or resized like any other graphic, or filled with any texture or image.
Since creating outlines from Fonts makes them graphics, the Spec of "Adobe Type 1 (NO TrueType)" does not make sense.
A picture is a picture is a picture!

Finally,(and this is just FYI), our company would do this for you at a price of about $250.00, not including printing costs. But we are NOT bidding on the job!

Good luck
HTH
Michael

 

[askIllustrator]

As far as cost goes... Someone told me this story once, i'll try to condense it. A man ran a factory for 30 yrs until he retired. One day the place shut down and he was called in for advice. He walked around feeling and listening to things, then he walked straight back to a corner and located a single pipe. He struck it soundly with his hammer and the whole place jumped back to life. They asked how much do we owe you and he said "That'll be $500"
They shreiked, "How can it cost so much to swing a hammer one time?" He replied, "It only costs five dollars to swing the hammer, it costs $495 to know where to swing it."

I always make sure they are paying for my knowhow as well as the time. The faster I get at things, the more my knowhow is worth.

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein

 

[martiros]

HobbitK,

thank you very much.

Exellent answer!

Your posting is very helpful.
I also give this type of answers to ASP, VB/VBA questions.
A star for you!!!