Adobe Illustrator/ AI & EPS file questions

[mike boss]

Hey guys and gals I'm hoping I can get some help here and some great info.
I have downloaded the AI files for DK,DK JR, and DK3 which I plan (pending cost) to install onto my bar top machines.
A friends father does printing of vinyl decals on the side, however I don't think he knows what to do with the files.
Simply put he can print them and that seems to be about it.

The files are in AI (Adobe Illustrator format) he tells me he needs them in EPS.
Can AI files be easily converted to EPS ?
Will any file degradation take place ?
I know when printing photos etc 300DPI seems be an ideal is there something I should be aware of when preparing the EPS files ?

Lastly I would need the images die cut to follow the contour of the artwork. Do I need to do something pre-print to ensure they get cut out correctly ?
Or should the printer be able to easily do that ? Does the EPS structure have some sort of coding that aides in this process ?

Reason I ask so many questions is prior he was not able to give me a quote as I was not able to provide the correct art work. I had the AI files but he needed EPS.
I don't have a working copy of illustrator any longer. He told me the more work he has to do with the files the more it will cost me.
So if I could I'd like to provide the images to him ready to go (if possible).

I'm hoping the cost of this project is reasonable as I think it will add a great overall aesthetic to this project.

Thanks

[t3design]

You will need someone to open the files in AI or Freehand (or some other vector drawing program) or directly into Photoshop and then save them at the size you want as an eps file. In vector programs you set the output resolution before you save or export, in Photoshop you can set the resolution when you open the file and it will save at that resolution.

300 dpi is safe.

eps is just a file format. You need to know if they want RGB or CMYK files.

You are not going to get these die cut. Die cutting requires a die and is used for production. You will need them cut on a plotting cutter. This is the same kind of machine they use to cut out vinyl lettering and signage. In photoshop you can create a path (for cutting) and that path will be saved as part of the eps file, however, you need to ask them how they want you to save the cutting path. Worst case senario, you can place a light thin line around the art where you want to cut and cut it out youself with an art knife after they print it for you.

[Blanka]

300 dpi is safe.

EPS is a vector format too. So resolution independent. Stay away from these files with Photoshop.
You can export AI to EPS, but it is fun to know that AI is very similar to EPS, and PDF is very similar to EPS too, but a compressed variation. All files use postscript vector commands to describe shapes.
AI 1-8 are plain-text EPS like files. AI 9 and newer are more PDF like compressed formats. An old AI file can be converted to EPS by changing the header in a text editor!
AI and EPS are single-page formats. .PS is a multipage EPS for a specific printer. PDF is a compressed multi-page multi page size next level postscript file with all kind of raster compression schemes and even 3D objects nowadays.

[mike boss]

Thank you everyone for the help I'm going to mess around.
I'm going to try to get a copy of illustrator so I can make the required changes.
For now I'm just messing around in Photoshop.
I know how to open the image, change it from RGB to CYMK if needed. I can easily re-size it.
I noticed three kinds of EPS files however when trying to save it. Which would I use ?
EPS or EPS DCS 1 or 2 ?

However I have no idea what to do with respects to the path, or creating it, etc.
Any help on that would be great.

thank you

[mike boss]

I was wondering how would I upload to the forum an EPS file ?
Perhaps someone can tell me if what I have done is correct.

I opened up AI file in photoshop
Changed the resolution to 300 dpi
re-sized the image to what I needed (10x14")
changed the image from RGB to CYMK
saved as EPS file
opened the file and noticed that the background was white.
Clicked on the white area, right clicked and selected "MAKE WORK PATH"
I then selected 2 pixels.

I noticed that a thin black line was surrounding the image.
I don't know if what I did is correct, I'd love to be able to upload it so perhaps someone could tell me.

Thanks again

[Blanka]

No Photoshop!
Just open in AI, select all, group, scale to desired size, set colour space to your preference and export as EPS.

[t3design]

With all due respect, Photoshop is fine for what he is doing. The printer is not going to be a vector device and it has a limited resolution. It really doesn't matter what file type is used (other than the requirement to be able to read it) as the output will be raster at some maximum resolution. As long as the file is saved with as much (or higher) resolution as the output device the result will be a print at the maximum resolution of the print device. The file size might be high, but the resuult will be the same.

IF you are going to use photoshop to do this...make sure you set the resolution when you open the ai file. When photoshop opens the file it interprets the vector information and creates a raster image. It can do this at whatever resolution you choose, but once done, if you adjust resolution after that you can only reduce the size or resolution without loss. If you increase the size or resolution you are going to get a fuzzy image.

Working the whole thing in AI is a much better option, but if you don't have AI you can use photoshop and get where you want to go.

I did the side art for my cab completely in photoshop because it is photo realistic art and vector won't work for that anyway. Had them printed at MameMarquees and they are stunning. Of course, the files are over 1G PER SIDE 

Mike, did you find out what options they have for cutting out your decals?

[t3design]

When you open the

IF you are going to use photoshop to do this...make sure you set the resolution when you open the ai file.

Mike, this is the screen when you open an ai file in photoshop on a mac, should be similar on a pc.



Set the width and height to the size you need and the resolution to whatever your printer tells you is the highest resolution they can output.

Ask the printer if they prefer RGB or CMYK. It is 99.99% sure that their printer is outputting CMYK. The myth that RGB has 'more' colors is false if the final output of the file is to a CMYK device. If you feed RGB to a CMYK device you are trusting in that device's drivers to convert. Personally, I trust Photoshop much more.

You already figured out how to create and save a path.

Have fun!

[Blanka]

BTW: with EPS export from Photoshop: use ZIP compression, not JPEG. This prevents JPEG artefacts to show up in the big one colour shapes, and compresses equally well on these kind of images.
You could also choose to render 600dpi without anti-aliassing. It might print even smoother, yet because of the ZIP file sizes stay similar (no in between colours on edges).
If the AI is CMYK, then open as CMYK directly. It prevents some pure colours becoming mixed ones because of the double colour convert.

[mike boss]

People thank you once again for all the info and help.
I think I have figured this out and am now just waiting on a quote.
I should have mentioned prior I was using PHOTOSHOP CS2

Thank you T3DESIGN for posting that screen shot from PHOTOSHOP.
Mine was a lil different, but I got the jist of it.

This is what I did to the image. I believe I've done everything correctly.
I apologize if its a little redundant.

I opended the image and got a screen similar to the one T3DESIGN showed,
however I was unable to change the image size.
I set the DPI to 600 and  the color to CYMK

Once opened I reized the image to suit my needs.
The side art is for my bar top cabinets and can be no more then 10"w X 13"h
In the case of DK JR it was 13"h, if I set the width to 10" it would have been taller then 13".

I then increased the canvas size by about 1" all around.

Used the MAGIC WAND to select the empty area around the image and set the work path @ 2 pixels.
I noticed zooming in and following the outline of the image that @ 2 pixels the faint black line contoured very well to the image.

I then saved the file as an EPS file with the PREVIEW set @ TIFF 1BIT
and the ENCODING @ JPEG MAX

Soooo did I nail this ?
This should cut out properly @ the printer ?

thanks

I don't know how to add the image so that perhaps someone could open it up and take a look.

[mike boss]

I zipped the files and put them on Mediafire.
Should anyone want to take a look and ensure I have properly prepared them.
Thanks again

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ylnymnqz5dt/DK BARTOP.rar

[Blanka]

Not working. Cannot connect to server.

[RobbyMac]

If you run into issues, pm me  and you can send me the original ai file, tell me what size you need it and I will save it out as eps (via illustrator rather than photoshop).

[Blanka]

It works now. Server was down I guess.

[Blanka]

Just checked them. They do suffer from the JPEG and anti-aliased edges. Maybe you won't see it in print, but without AA and with proper compression you get even better print/filesize.

[mike boss]

Thanks Blanka & thanks Robby.
Even though two of these bar tops are for resale I don't want to cut corners.
I would rather these bar tops be something that people can display with pride.
And if in the end the quote I get on the side art is costly, I still might get the side art done for my bar top.
With that said I would like to have the images done and saved the best possible way, with the hope that it would
result in a better finished product.

Robby I sent you a PM.
I appreciate it very much.
Once I hear from you I'll get you all the specs, thank you!

[mike boss]

Thanks Robby,

email has been sent !

[mike boss]

I just wanted to publicly thank Robby for all his help with my side art.
I very much appreciate the help.
He didn't have to spend any time helping out a stranger and did so and I am very grateful.
It's funny I often tell people how I enjoy these forums, how I like to come on post and share info with people
who share like interests. It's really a special community.

Anyway for what it's worth I'm not waiting on a quote from the printer.

Thank you to all who helped out and for providing me with some new found knowledge.

[RobbyMac]

Thanks, but I really didn't do a whole lot.
Just opened the file in illustrator, found a few minor things/fixed em and saved them out as an eps.