Illustrator Hell

[tikimunster]

First, my "situation"; I am poor and getting poorer, so I finally get a good job doing a label design for a big company, and I have to use illustrator since the last four labels done by their printer have been in illustrator (the printer asks for file in it) so i have no knowledge and try to learn as i go along on my computer. i get the thing done, go to print samples for approval (laser print) and I get error messages every file, every time. I know its a vague question, but any ideas as to what is happening?

I have a main image that is made from photoshop clipping paths, colored using pain bucket tool in illustrator. I loaded the fonts I use, and even did a path for the type being used as the products name.

I think maybe convince the client that its good to go (with tiff export to view the proofs) and then make sure i spend some time with the printers layout person to "make sure the files will print" (or learn what I did or didnt do)

[jasoncross]

Illustrator rocks...sounds like a printer error of some sort...driver,etc...who knows.

[Stainboy Reinel]

Any other linked files? Hmmmm. Never had this one happen. Photoshop is usually just used as my glorified scanning window, though.

[Placardstudios]

Try to get rid of any unnecessary points, lines, etc. Sometimes these things can fuck up your output (usually with imagesetters, but I suppose laser printers might not like them either). Stray points seem to really confuse things. If you've got layers and layers of things that are hidden behind other things and don't need to be there, get rid of them.

I've used Illustrator almost every day for the last 7 years or so, but have never used the paint bucket tool, and don't know how it works or what it's used for. Anyone else use this?

I'd also make sure that the photoshop image is placed in your illustrator file rather than opened through illustrator (FILE -> place, rather than File-> open).

Illustrator is a great program, and I'd say the least troublesome for me for problems like this. It's great for doing things like the label you're working on. Don't give up on it.

If the printer lists a specific error, post that. It might help narrow down the problem.

[Stainboy Reinel]

I'd also make sure that the photoshop image is placed in your illustrator file rather than opened through illustrator (FILE -> place, rather than File-> open).

Yup.

I've never used the paint bucket tool, either.

[kozik]

always make sure your PHOTOSHOP file is saved as EPS, always INCLUDE the clipping path when saving, always PLACE file in Illustrator..should have no problem. Also the saved PHOTSHOP file should be the 'real size' when PLACED so Illustrator doesnt go insane trying to resize it.

I been doing combine illustrator/photoshop final prints for ever..never fails.

[Dusty!]

im amazed at how many of those tips i break on a regular basis.

[GIGART]

FreeHand rules!

[Jeph]

Freehand and Corel will ALWAYS be second class to Illustrator!!!

[Placardstudios]

yep. Illustrator is the bomb-diggity.