Converting an InDesign project to Illustrator (.ai)

On Jan 21, 11:06 am, "Adam" wrote:

A project was created in InDesign, but the printer only accepts Illustrator.
Is there a way to transfer the project from InDesign to Illustrator (.ai) while keeping the spot colors spot and the process colors process? I know the text will become static (shapes instead of editable text) but I can live with that if I have to. However, the spot vs process issue is a big deal.
Thanks!

Give the printer a PDF file made from your InDesign file. If they can’t work with that, you’re dealing with the wrong printer.

Keith

keith wrote:

On Jan 21, 11:06 am, "Adam" wrote:

A project was created in InDesign, but the printer only accepts Illustrator.
Is there a way to transfer the project from InDesign to Illustrator (.ai) while keeping the spot colors spot and the process colors process? I know the text will become static (shapes instead of editable text) but I can live with that if I have to. However, the spot vs process issue is a big deal.
Thanks!

Give the printer a PDF file made from your InDesign file. If they can’t work with that, you’re dealing with the wrong printer.
Keith

I would convert all text to outlines first, then create a Press Quality ..pdf. Sometimes an unembedded font created wonkiness in InDesign pdfs

On Jan 21, 12:38 pm, Usenet wrote:

keith wrote:

On Jan 21, 11:06 am, "Adam" wrote:

A project was created in InDesign, but the printer only accepts Illustrator.

Is there a way to transfer the project from InDesign to Illustrator (.ai) while keeping the spot colors spot and the process colors process? I know the text will become static (shapes instead of editable text) but I can live with that if I have to. However, the spot vs process issue is a big deal.

Thanks!

Give the printer a PDF file made from your InDesign file. If they can’t work with that, you’re dealing with the wrong printer.

Keith

I would convert all text to outlines first, then create a Press Quality .pdf. Sometimes an unembedded font created wonkiness in InDesign pdfs

Very true about the outlined fonts. The RIP they use can definitely run into problems with embedded fonts. I know from experience ;(

Great advice.

gary in florida — colllllld brrrrr 🙂

keith wrote:

Give the printer a PDF file made from your InDesign file. If they can’t work with that, you’re dealing with the wrong printer.

A PDF file will properly separate SPOT layers from PROCESS ones?

What can you do with an AI file that you can’t with a PDF file? Besides editing content on the printing side, I mean.

Adam schreef:

A project was created in InDesign, but the printer only accepts Illustrator.
Is there a way to transfer the project from InDesign to Illustrator (.ai) while keeping the spot colors spot and the process colors process? I know the text will become static (shapes instead of editable text) but I can live with that if I have to. However, the spot vs process issue is a big deal.
Thanks!

Try just copying the Indesign doc into Illustrator.

Or why not PDF it.

Adam schreef:

keith wrote:

Give the printer a PDF file made from your InDesign file. If they can’t work with that, you’re dealing with the wrong printer.

A PDF file will properly separate SPOT layers from PROCESS ones?
What can you do with an AI file that you can’t with a PDF file? Besides editing content on the printing side, I mean.

Nothing Adam. That is why most printers nowadays really love PDF. Although if saved in the right manner, the PDF file can be opened and edited in Illustrator.

Just make sure you make a high res PDF (most of the times the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset is good enough). Spot colours will be preserved.

"steggy" wrote in message

Nothing Adam. That is why most printers nowadays really love PDF. Although if saved in the right manner, the PDF file can be opened and edited in Illustrator.

Just make sure you make a high res PDF (most of the times the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset is good enough). Spot colours will be preserved.

What about flexography and silkscreening, and the trapping (dot gain) associated with it? I was told PDF can’t handle that. If you can prove me wrong, I would *love* to switch to PDF permanently for all projects, and make it a company-wide policy.

Adam schreef:

"steggy" wrote in message

Nothing Adam. That is why most printers nowadays really love PDF. Although if saved in the right manner, the PDF file can be opened and edited in Illustrator.

Just make sure you make a high res PDF (most of the times the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset is good enough). Spot colours will be preserved.

What about flexography and silkscreening, and the trapping (dot gain) associated with it? I was told PDF can’t handle that. If you can prove me wrong, I would *love* to switch to PDF permanently for all projects, and make it a company-wide policy.

If you are using Adobe software to make the original documents, I do not think you have anything to worry about. The PDF just makes a 100% copy of your doc. To be completely safe you should get into Enfocus, to create Certified PDF’s. But to be honest: I have a professional studio and I always deliver the PDF’s right out from InDesign/Illustrator.

Mind you it would be a good idea to have Adobe Acrobat Pro in the house. With Preflight you can check the file before sending it to the printer.

Trapping is not an issue.

On Jan 21, 6:59 pm, steggy wrote:

Adam schreef:

"steggy" wrote in message

Nothing Adam. That is why most printers nowadays really love PDF. Although if saved in the right manner, the PDF file can be opened and edited in Illustrator.

Just make sure you make a high res PDF (most of the times the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset is good enough). Spot colours will be preserved.

What about flexography and silkscreening, and the trapping (dot gain) associated with it? I was told PDF can’t handle that. If you can prove me wrong, I would *love* to switch to PDF permanently for all projects, and make it a company-wide policy.

If you are using Adobe software to make the original documents, I do not think you have anything to worry about. The PDF just makes a 100% copy of your doc. To be completely safe you should get into Enfocus, to create Certified PDF’s. But to be honest: I have a professional studio and I always deliver the PDF’s right out from InDesign/Illustrator.
Mind you it would be a good idea to have Adobe Acrobat Pro in the house. With Preflight you can check the file before sending it to the printer.
Trapping is not an issue.

Good reco, Steggy. We do the same thing; generate PDF’s directly from InDesign — and preflights are a major thing (even when we’re outputting what we call ‘transitional’ books that fill the gap between commercial sheetfed production and school-start-dates). PDF workflows are wonderful once you get a grip on them.

gary in florida (brrrrrr!)

Self-meditating in Tampa, Florida USA schreef:

On Jan 21, 6:59 pm, steggy wrote:

Adam schreef:

"steggy" wrote in message

Nothing Adam. That is why most printers nowadays really love PDF. Although if saved in the right manner, the PDF file can be opened and edited in Illustrator.
Just make sure you make a high res PDF (most of the times the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset is good enough). Spot colours will be preserved.

What about flexography and silkscreening, and the trapping (dot gain) associated with it? I was told PDF can’t handle that. If you can prove me wrong, I would *love* to switch to PDF permanently for all projects, and make it a company-wide policy.

If you are using Adobe software to make the original documents, I do not think you have anything to worry about. The PDF just makes a 100% copy of your doc. To be completely safe you should get into Enfocus, to create Certified PDF’s. But to be honest: I have a professional studio and I always deliver the PDF’s right out from InDesign/Illustrator.
Mind you it would be a good idea to have Adobe Acrobat Pro in the house. With Preflight you can check the file before sending it to the printer.
Trapping is not an issue.

Good reco, Steggy. We do the same thing; generate PDF’s directly from InDesign — and preflights are a major thing (even when we’re outputting what we call ‘transitional’ books that fill the gap between commercial sheetfed production and school-start-dates). PDF workflows are wonderful once you get a grip on them.

gary in florida (brrrrrr!)

Please do not tell me it is cold in Florida…

And yes (to start a discussion) the whole Certified PDF (e.g. Enfocus) is puzzling me for years.

If and when things are well prepared in InDesign or whatever a good PDF does not give any trouble.

Sometimes I get a "Problem" warning I have no clue about, let alone solve it. Never ever did it give any problem for the printer and the end result. Make sure the colors are set right and the fonts are OK.