separation setup grayed out in file menu (PPD file selection)

[myatia]

Hi,

I'm trying to do separations, but the option is grayed out in Illustrator 8. I'm pretty sure that I need to select a PPD file, but I don't know how to do this. The Illustrator manual says to do so, I need to select File > Separation setup, which I can't do because it's grayed out. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Misty

 

[askIllustrator]

Once you get to sep setup, click on Select PPD then navigate to c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\... and if the printer has been installed, its .ppd should be here. Alternativley you can do a search for *.ppd on my computer to locate the that matches your postscript printer before you go into sep setup. "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein

 

[myatia]

I can't access File > Separation Setup at all; it's greyed out. Is there somewhere else I'm supposed to set this?

Misty

 

[askIllustrator]

If you hit ctrl+p to bring up the print dialoge you should be able to click on the separations setup button and on that window theres a select ppd button. Do you have a postscript printer currently installed to that machine? "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein

 

[myatia]

That's grayed out, too. Hrm. Maybe the printer I have attached to this machine isn't postscript. Can't I do color seps without having a ps printer installed? All I'm going to do with the separations is send them to the guy at the print shop. I am able to print out color-separated PDFs using print to Distiller; however, someone specifically requested color separated Illustrator files. Do you have any more advice for me?

Misty

 

[askIllustrator]

If all they want is the file just make sure all the swatches used in the art are spot colors and send it to them. You should still be able to get to the separations setup even if you dont have a PS printer installed so that is kinda odd. You cant choose a ppd of course but at least the setup window should appear. You might wanna ask at

http://www.adobe.com's

forum, some developers check that board quite often. "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Einstein