Preparing Illustrator 9 and later files for use in Prinergy

• When you save a file, include the document fonts to ensure you don't have to add the fonts in Prinergy. If you choose not to include document fonts, you must set the font search path in Prinergy.
• Handling DCS files should be largely unnecessary. Copydot images should be saved as PDF in TIFF Assembler Plus and then placed into Illustrator. Contone images with spots can be saved from Photoshop as PSD, TIFF, or PDF and then placed in Illustrator. If, however, DCS files still need to be placed in Illustrator, you must create a low-resolution placement file from the DCS using an image sampler. Place the .samp file in the Illustrator file, and refine in Prinergy using a refine process template with OPI.
• Ensure any die lines are stroked with a unique spot color and are set to overprint. If this isn't done, the settings can be corrected in Prinergy, but it is more efficient to correct in Illustrator.
• Ensure varnishes are filled and/or stroked with a unique spot color and are set to overprint.
• Save your file as an Illustrator EPS Level 3 using the following settings in the EPS Format dialog box:
  • Compatibility-8.0
  • Preview-8-bit IBM PC
  • Under Options, select Include Placed Files, Include Document Fonts, and CMYK PostScript. Clear Include Document Thumbnails.
• Illustrator 9 and later is capable of outputting PDF 1.4 (native transparency), and PDF 1.5 (layers), both of which Prinergy handles well.
  • Native transparency can be useful because of its increased quality and smaller files. Enable Native transparency in the Save PDF dialog box by selecting Compatibility: Acrobat 5 (PDF 1.4). Alternately, selecting PDF/X-4 from the Standard list in the Save PDF dialog is another good starting point for creating good PDFs for Prinergy's use. Check the other panels in the dialog box to ensure that other settings are appropriate for your environment.
  • Layers are useful only if you are preparing files for use with Layered PDF Versioning jobs. Enable layers in the Save PDF dialog box by selecting Compatibility: Acrobat 6 (PDF 1.5), and then selecting the Create Acrobat Layers from Top-Level Layers check box.
• These settings can be saved as a preset in Illustrator. For more information about transparency, see About transparency support. For more information, consult the Illustrator online help.

It may also be helpful to set the document size to be equal to the dieline:

1. Open the PDF in Acrobat.
2. With Pitstop, select the outer extents of the dieline.
3. Activate the Pitstop Artboard tool.
4. From the Artboard Presets menu, select Fit to Selected Art.
5. To then add bleed, go to File > Document setup, and enter the bleed amount.
6. Save the PDF and bring it into Prinergy.

Preparing Illustrator 8 files for use in Prinergy

• When you save a file, include the document fonts to ensure you don't have to add the fonts in Prinergy. If you choose not to include document fonts, you must set the font search path in Prinergy.
• Handling DCS files should be largely unnecessary. Copydot images should be saved as PDF in TIFF Assembler Plus and then placed into Illustrator. Contone images with spots can be saved from Photoshop as PSD, TIFF, or PDF and then placed in Illustrator. If, however, DCS files still need to be placed in Illustrator, you must create a low-resolution placement file from the DCS using an image sampler. Place the .samp file in the Illustrator file, and refine in Prinergy using a refine process template with OPI.
• Ensure any die lines are stroked with a unique spot color and are set to overprint. If this isn't done, the settings can be corrected in Prinergy, but it is more efficient to correct in Illustrator.
• Ensure varnishes are filled and/or stroked with a unique spot color and are set to overprint.
• Save your file as an Illustrator EPS Level 3 using the following settings in the EPS Format dialog box:
  • Compatibility-8.0
  • Preview-8-bit IBM PC
  • Under Options, select Include Placed Files, Include Document Fonts, and CMYK PostScript. Clear Include Document Thumbnails.