Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : printing problem...
MikeTheVike
08-10-2006, 07:26 PM
I created a 3.5x5.5 piece in illustrator. I placed a .tiff background into the illustrator file, and the rest of the piece is flat vector shapes. We just got a proof back from the printer. The text and vector shapes look fine, but the raster background looks pixelated and blurry. Its a digital print, is this normal? i figured a digital print could produce more detail than it did... Its almost like the printer didn't like the tiff embedded into the eps file or something and printed it strangely...Thansk for any help!
Logo-Mechanix
08-10-2006, 07:32 PM
What resolution was the tiff?
MikeTheVike
08-10-2006, 07:45 PM
What resolution was the tiff?
300dpi
jimking
08-10-2006, 07:48 PM
Sounds like it did not embed. Don't embed the tiff, supply the printer the tiff and let them link it instead.
MikeTheVike
08-10-2006, 08:27 PM
Sounds like it did not embed. Don't embed the tiff, supply the printer the tiff and let them link it instead.
if I used FILE/PLACE, doesn't that embed it?
jimking
08-10-2006, 08:31 PM
It should, but it looks like it lost it some how. Take the file you supplied them and drag it to your desktop, open the file and check the links pallet and see if it says anything.
jimking
08-10-2006, 08:39 PM
Correction, placing the graphic does not embed. You can embed from your links pallet. Select graphic, click dropdown menu from links pallet and select embed. It sounds like the printer had no graphic to link to. They should have caught it but never opened the illy file to check in the first place.
MikeTheVike
08-10-2006, 08:41 PM
Correction, placing the graphic does not embed. You can embed from your links pallet. Select graphic, click dropdown menu from links pallet and select embed.
When I click the graphic, the embed option is greyed out, so I guess it does embed when you place...?
MikeTheVike
08-10-2006, 08:44 PM
oh snap, the image was at 100dpi, but was like 24"x36" and I stretched it down to fit the 3.5x5.5 size...think that could be it?
jimking
08-10-2006, 08:46 PM
If it's greyed out it must be embedded. In your links pallet do you see a thumbnail of your graphic? And do you see a symbol to the far right of your thumbnail that looks like box with a small triangle in it?
jimking
08-10-2006, 08:51 PM
oh snap, the image was at 100dpi, but was like 24"x36" and I stretched it down to fit the 3.5x5.5 size...think that could be it?
You wouldn't think that would be a problem, it being reduced- ups the resolution. But it could be. I would reduce the size while increasing the res in photoshop and place the graghic without embedding it, just link it. Tell the printer to make sure of the link and get another proof.
MikeTheVike
08-10-2006, 08:53 PM
If it's greyed out it must be embedded. In your links pallet do you see a thumbnail of your graphic? And do you see a symbol to the far right of your thumbnail that looks like box with a small triangle in it?
yes
MikeTheVike
08-10-2006, 09:03 PM
You wouldn't think that would be a problem, it being reduced- ups the resolution. But it could be. I would reduce the size while increasing the res in photoshop and place the graghic without embedding it, just link it. Tell the printer to make sure of the link and get another proof.
cool man thanks!
MikeTheVike
08-14-2006, 03:22 PM
Just an update for you guys...turns out it wasn't a problem with the file at all, it was just a limitation of the digital printer. I sent a version that had a vector pattern background and it came out the same...thanks everyone!
PrintDriver
08-14-2006, 04:39 PM
it was just a limitation of the digital printer
Huh?
MikeTheVike
08-14-2006, 05:36 PM
Huh?
Whatever type of digital printer they used couldn't print the level of detail I had in the background...otherwise the vector background version would have come out crisp. Not a huge deal, i was more worried about color, and that came out perfect
PrintDriver
08-14-2006, 10:29 PM
Time to find a new printer. That is a new one on me.
Unless it was a lower end printer/plotter printing on vinyl.
You sure it was pixellated and not corsely halftoned?
jimking
08-14-2006, 10:31 PM
Time to find a new printer. That is a new one on me.
Unless it was a lower end printer/plotter printing on vinyl.
You sure it was pixellated and not halftoned?
Agree.