Im struggling with creating print jobs with BITMAPS in Illustrator

[Sealyspeak]

I have just started to do work freelance and have found that sending the images to print in illustrator that contain any photos A NIGHTMARE!!!!

Even when saved as PDF the file size is MENTAL!! HUGE!! What are the rules?

People say indesign is the way forward? Smaller file sizes with bitmaps is it?

Also, I created an A3 PDF that was 38mb, an A2 that was 5.3mb (which I have no idea how I did this). Both had Photos scaled to size.

An A3 image should be smaller than that if saved as PDF? Can you save files as a flat piece of artwork that cant be edited in Illustrator (like a JPEG fLATTENED IN PHOTOSHOP?

I have loads of questions, and very little knowledge! Please, I need help!!

Thank you ever so much!

 

[jmgalvin]

You can link images - using File menu/place. This is the same as Indesign would do by default.

The relulting Ai file size will be meuch smaller but you have to keep all teh linked images in an appropriate folder so you don't lose the link.

If you Place (embed) or paste a raster into Ai and reduce the size, the raster's file size will not reduce (its apparant resolution will increaxe) because resizing in AI does not resample the image (similar to rezising in photoshop without the resample box checked).

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[mitmont]

Sealy,

I'm doing similar things including images. The original method I used was a single layer with everything crammed into it. Size of the print is 40" x 28". When I got into CS2 the printer was able to handle the file as an AI. I was working with copy/paste images, file size at the end was 300MB. The speed was slow however the printer was able to open and print the file. I was using the trial version and everything worked fine. I got 2 docs out at the same size. When my CS2 Trial ended and I downloaded the latest version yesterday I have had nothing except issues of one kind or another. Are you using the latest , paid for version?

Dave

 

[cannuck3]

Talk to the people doing the printing for you.They sould be very knowledgeable on what they need,