i've got an AI file with a few masked images ...

i have to hand it off before i have final images, so i won't be able to scale all the rasters to the appropriate size prior to sending it to press ...

since i do all my image work in PS, i've never had to work with scaled rasters in AI (for a print project) ...

so my question is, provided the original images are of a high enough resolution, is scaling them in AI alone going to create any issues when it goes to print?

depends....... and this is the root of my problem with Illustrator, no one knows whether their graphics are raster or vector.

Are all your items in Illustrator drawn vector? If so, then scaling makes no difference. You just have to choose a vector-based output file type. If you have rasterized images in the AI file or used transparency or drop shadows, then you need to ensure the output is a multi-type format such as PDF at a high enough resolution to print at minimum 300 dpi...optimally 600.

Illustrator would be better off as a vector program.

Finally, you can Place your AI file in PS at an appropriate resolution and output a raster file there with enough resolution.

everything is vector except for a strip of masked raster images ...

what's going to happen is, i'm going to hand off the AI file to account girl... she's going to go on-site with client to get the final images for the ad (shoot is on saturday ... when i will be deep in the woods - in a tent - with spotty EDGE service if i'm lucky)

i've shown her enough to be able to swap out the masked images in AI and output to PDF, but there's no way she could handle scaling in PS and then import to AI ... and there's no way in hell i'm gonna ask the client's design team to do it.

this all could of course have been avoided if the client had remembered to book the photographer a month ago when we planned this ad, but hey - that's for the client bitching thread in WFG ...

so back to the main issue - scale photo/raster image in AI - yay or nay?

oh man, you're final output is AI?!!! Oh people, InDesign is a MUST!!

alright, I get ya now.....

If the raster image is externally linked, then you could safely have her replace the image beside the AI file in the folder and when it opened it would be the right size and resolution.

What version of AI you got?

AI is so bad for this.

And final question is, how connected are you to your printer? You have a good relationship? This is a case where having a good relationship with your printer is INVALUABLE!! LOVE YOUR PRINTER and all he/she can do for you!

i've output directly from AI to PDF since the 90's and it's never been an issue.

and external linking ain't gonna worky ... i mean it could, but i have no idea what image res the photographer is going to hand off, so there's no way to pre-scale the object.

Then practice showing her how to import and scale in AI before you leave. Tell her she can only scale DOWN and enjoy your trip.

Storm - just saw your final question from previous post - printer relationship solid - however, not solid enough to hold up printing of third party's entire magazine b/c i want to 'get back to nature' for a day or two

....not even close to what I was getting at.

In my defense you haven't really explained thing clearly so I jumped in trying to help and no matter what I provide to you I am wrong. My assumption was it was one page / one file because you can't do multi-page documents in AI as you know. So, how could I possibly know we're talking about a cover for a magazine? And this is still no reason to hold up that being printed.

Anyway, if we're getting back to your original post, my question about the printer was a simple question. It only required a simple answer with no assumptions on your part. The reason why I asked was because if it requires inserting a couple of new photos before it goes to final output then they could handle it much cleaner and nicer than your account person could. But you've got to have a good relationship with them to ask that favor. That's all.

I will not help you again.

I hope someone nicer will come along to help you soon.

originally posted by: Storm

....not even close to what I was getting at.

In my defense you haven't really explained thing clearly so I jumped in trying to help and no matter what I provide to you I am wrong. My assumption was it was one page / one file because you can't do multi-page documents in AI as you know. So, how could I possibly know we're talking about a cover for a magazine? And this is still no reason to hold up that being printed.

Anyway, if we're getting back to your original post, my question about the printer was a simple question. It only required a simple answer with no assumptions on your part. The reason why I asked was because if it requires inserting a couple of new photos before it goes to final output then they could handle it much cleaner and nicer than your account person could. But you've got to have a good relationship with them to ask that favor. That's all.

I will not help you again.

good lord, Storm ...

it's a once-in-a-lifetime scenario that is overly complicated - and frankly irrelevant to the issue at hand - and that's why I didn't go into expansive detail about account girls, photographers and the like to start with - i simply asked if scaling a raster image in AI was potentially problematic for a print job, as i've never been in this situation before.

you weren't ever 'wrong' - you were just trying to be helpful (as i've always found you to be) and offer alternatives - but unfortunately in this situation, alternatives aren't really an option.

but oh well ...

Scaling down a raster image in AI will not be a big deal. Mostly.

If you scale a raster image, you should go object>rasterize on it (you can choose at what dpi) , scaling raster in AI makes it look a little chunky, like scaling a raster object in Flash. Re-rasterizing it smooths it, and is basically the same effect as scaling it in p'shop. It will also reduce your file size - a 500x500 raster image will take up the same file size even if you scale it to 250x250 without re-rasterizing it.

Caveat: you may see pixel averaging which will mostly only be noticeable if you have text in that raster image. Same as in p'shop.

Also be sure that your raster image and your document colour mode are the same, and match the printer output mode.

FWIW you can actually do multi page in AI, you can edit a multi-page pdf in AI (one page at a time) and the multiple pages are preserved, since CS3 I believe. I've done whole catalogues like this.

If you actually want to output your whole document as a raster document, you can go file>export and save it as tiff (best option). You can also simply select the whole document, rasterize it, and save it as pdf. It won't downgrade the quality.

and the multiple pages are preserved ooh I'll have to try that.

As mentioned, scaling down shouldn't be a problem but if your girl scales up...well you know.

I got lost when you failed to mention the girl and then talked about PS. And I brought up the printer because I'm sure they can handle accepting an AI file with a couple images in a folder instead of a PDF one time.

thanks ari ...

it's pretty basic - no text overlay on image files - we're just gonna have to swap the holder stock images for the product shots from the staged shoot.

roger that on the printer output and colour modes ... but the rasterize step may just save the day

thanks again.

and no problem, storm - sorry if i seemed like an ingrate ... think we got our wires crossed somewhere - and fwiw, i'll still gladly help you anytime i can.

glad it seems you've got an answer to your question oregondave

and Storm, thanks for helping out...

Ari is real good at catching these questions and I try, without use of my old internet connection and time at work during the day, my participation in the design forum has fallen off terribly... though not for lack of interest

I'm always interested in helping out in any way I can... if you are ever in a pinch, send me a PM

Ari, in my book, you are _the Man _when it comes to illy questions

In garment design & production, illustrator is way more important than photoshop. Working in schmata for a few years increased my familiarity with illustrator substantially.

fwiw rasterizing before printing is also a really good idea if you are trying to print objects with super complex pattern fills, a lot of printers drop any patterns that are too complex. Plaid, for example, is a bitch.