Placing Jpeg in AI for business card

[HDDP]

Hi All

This is my first post. I am a brand new Illustrator CS2 user. I created a logo in AI. I want to place a jpeg as the background. Do I open my logo then place the jpeg and send to back? Does that create two layers or two objects on the same layer?

Then my question is How do I size it? the book that I've been reading says that a card is 252 pts by 144 pts. I can scale the logo to fit in that size rectangle but how do I resize the jpeg to fit exactly?

Next, can I work in a larger size and then resize it all to proper business card size or do I have to do all of my work in the smaller size?

Lastly, how should I save it to be sent to an online printer and feel confident that it will print properly?

If I have asked to much for one post forgive me. I don't normally post to forums so I might need schooling on proper etiquette.

HDDP

 

[itchybug]

Do I open my logo then place the jpeg and send to back?

That sounds good. Generally, placing has a higher success rate than copying/pasting a raster image into Illustrator, although both ways work.

Does that create two layers or two objects on the same layer?

It would create 2 objects on one layer, but there is no problem with giving the jpeg its own layer, and it may be easier, because by locking that layer you won't accidentally mess with the jpeg.

Then my question is How do I size it? the book that I've been reading says that a card is 252 pts by 144 pts. I can scale the logo to fit in that size rectangle but how do I resize the jpeg to fit exactly?

252/144pt is 3 1/2" by 2". The printer is going to want a 300 dpi (dots per inch) raster image, because anything lower than that will give you a reduced quality image, with pixelated edges. This means, that ideally your jpeg should measure 1050 by 600 pixels.

If the image dimensions are larger than that, you can simply use the scale tool to reduce its size (and therefore the resolution will increase), or clip the region you wish to use by placing a rectangle over the image, selecting both and going to Object>Clipping Mask>Make.

If your image is smaller than 1050 by 600, you are better off resizing the image in Photoshop first Photoshop is better at dealing with raster images. Upsizing an image and re-sampling it is an acceptable way to enlarge raster images a little bit. Use the "Bicubic" option. If your jpeg is, say, 100 by 50 pixels, all bets are off.

Next, can I work in a larger size and then resize it all to proper business card size or do I have to do all of my work in the smaller size?

You can work at any size with vector images, and scaling a raster image won't resize its pixel dimensions in Illustrator, so provided that your raster image is the right size, you can work at any scale you please.

Lastly, how should I save it to be sent to an online printer and feel confident that it will print properly?

In *.ai format, but saved in a zip file, or as an *.eps, or as a *.pdf. Make sure you outline all the fonts (Select all type, then Type>Create Outlines), make sure you embed the placed image (or send along the original file). Embedding is safer, but it makes the file size bigger. If the jpeg is linked, it will have a blue "x" across it when selected.

HTH

Bert

 

[dropkickmurphy]

Don't forget the bleed! If your card has something running off the edge, dont have the image/graphics cut off right were the cut would be. You want 1/8" extra space around your card with your images/graphics bleeding past where the cut will be.

and keep all your content and info which you dont want cut off within 1/8" safety of your cut..

Cyan = Bleed
Black Dotted line = Trim
Magenta = Safety

Other bits would be work in CMYK, Raster and Vector. I prefer sending stuff as PDFX1a but thats me.

Personal nitpicking etiquette kind of things for me would be avoid el-cheap-o 1000001 Free True Type fonts. TIFF over JPG for working files. ZIP compression over JPG on PDF unless its needed for file transmission, then on distill converting to JPG once and not compounding the lossiness. If your doing many of the same cards with different info it might be beneficial to layout the card app like inDesign or Quark. Still use Illustrator for your vector work, and Photoshop for your raster but then bring them all together in the layout app. Maximize the ability of all the programs for what they are best at. That would more benefit you and your time, you start getting a AI file for every person who has a card and a Outlined version and Non outlined version starts getting silly. Also if you needed to change one common element on all the cards some time down the road and if they are all saved as individual files = pain in the arse. Layers in one AI file for variable content is annoying too I find. Im just rambling now, I better stop before I go on an all out tirade lol.

Cheers,
Dropkick Murphy
______________________________________________
Alcohol & Tobacco Quality Assurance Specialist

http://www.bancomicsans.com