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Illustrator EPS to PageMaker in PMS spot 1

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PeggyBjarno

Technical User
Nov 28, 2003
1
US
In our small print shop we consistently have problems with printing to our ABDick "Direct-To-Plate" from files which were produced in Illustrator. While there are almost as many different problems as there are instances, we'd like to be able to tell designers exactly how to produce, colorize and save their files for printing to the PostScript device in spot PMS colors. A SIMPLE explanation.
Problems include: images coming in as CMYK; only part of the image coming in; the image will often (OFTEN!!) appear on the plate as very VERY low resolution screens.
We see similar issues with PhotoShop, but add to the above the issue of "fuzzy" screened images when a PhotoShop eps is placed into a PageMaker document.
This is a terrific forum, with impressive members -- hopefully someone can help!
Thanks,
Peggy
 
My very first thought is: *Are the links all updated?* PageMaker doesn't warn you when you print (like Quark) if links are broken or missing, which would result in bitmapped images.

I also print to an ABDick direct-to-plate and I haven't had any problems with Illustrator files or PageMaker. When the designers colorize something in Illustrator, they have to make sure the swatch color they're using is set to be a spot color, not a CMYK mix - by double clicking on the swatch and selecting Spot instead of Process from the drop down menu. Or they can go into their Pantone swatch library and find the PMS color they want. I always use Pantone Uncoated in every program to make sure I don't end up with 2 versions - PMS 357C and PMS 357U will print on separate plates.

Also, if an eps image automatically adds a CMYK color swatch to your PageMaker document and you need to make it a spot color, you have to change it in the Illustrator file, not in the PageMaker color palette. Then you have to replace everything in the eps that used the process color with the new spot color. Pain in the @ss. So, best off to have the designers use spot colors to start with, especially if they get into gradients and such... I've had to fix this problem MANY times... I feel your pain!
 
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