Expert: Ken Black - 11/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: I use Illustrator CS3 on a mac OSX (Leopard).  I often have to print to pdf, specifying all printers marks and bleeds.  I was using the print dialog box happily for a long time until SUDDENLY it no longer produce the right output for full page sizes - even on old files that worked before.  What I get now is the correct output appearing in the print preview window, but the pdf file that results shows only the center of the document filling up the whole space.  I was told to try the 'save as pdf' instead or 'print', and I did that, but despite specifying printers marks and bleeds, it produces a fine pdf image with NO printers marks or bleeds.  I'm enclosing an image of an older file with the original output from Illustrator to pdf via 'print' and the one I get now.  I thought it might be a corrupted driver, so deleted the driver and used Acrobat 'repair'.  No change.  Can you help?  BTW, it still does fine on smaller than 8.5x11 documents, e.g. business card size.  Whatever the size, I always set the size to 'custom' to accommodate the bleed.

ANSWER: Hi Jessica,

I'm pretty sure this has to do with the page bounds set in Illustrator.
Set your output sheet size (size of paper to print on including marks such as 9.5 x 12 for 8.5 x 11 finished) in the print setup. Then, go back into your document and select the page bounds tool and click outside of your document margins, you should see an outline around the outside of the document. Next, return to your print settings or export as a pdf.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for responding.  Problem is (see left version in image I sent you) it worked fine up to this week.   made NO changes in that document, either in Illustrator or the saved pdf print box.  I set up the illustrator page at say 8.5 x 11.  Then I extend the backgrounds for the bleeds.  Then I go to print pdf and click on all printers marks and bleeds (usually 9px).  Then I go back to 'general' and change the pdf page size to 'custom'.  That's it.  It always worked fine.  Doesn't work now.  And as you can see, it's not just capturing what's inside the page boundary - it's only capturing about a 4" square in the center, but filling the page with it.  I'm attaching an image of what the print preview box looks like before I hit 'print'.  Note the marks and bleeds are all visible.  Is it not possible that there is a driver issue?  In which case, how do I get a new one.  adobe.com is no help.

Answer
I really don't think it is a driver issue, although software can do strange things. Have you done any recent updates?

I am trying to replicate the problem you are having.

One other thing you could try is -

After you have built the document with bleeds, use the crop area tool or set a box at your trim edge and select object -> crop area and set the crop manually. That may at least force the print output to recognize the document size.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com