Expert: Tom Rouze - 6/10/2005

Question
Tom,

I made my own patterns such as criss-cross lines and diagonal lines.  I just made the lines within
the area of a perfect square and dragged them into the swatch/patterns palette.  The seams
show both on-screen and printed unless I move all the patterns into the correct positions prior
to printing.  Of course, the next time I open the file, the patterns will have moved back into their
original place.  When I print, I make my Illustrator .ai file into an Illustrator .pdf and I print the
pdf from Acrobat.  While moving the patterns every time before making the .pdf is annoying,
what's even more annoying is when I place a map (with patterns) into InDesign, the patterns
never maintain their correct positions so I have to bring my Illustrator pdf into Photoshop and
flatten it and then re-save it as a Photoshop .pdf and it becomes a huge file that is less resolute.  
Then I place this Photoshop .pdf into InDesign. Thus, every time I have to update a map, it
becomes a huge chore that I'm sure Adobe did not intend.

Thanks again for your help and responding so quickly,
Gloria

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Followup To
Question -
Tom,

I've been working with Illustrator CS for over a year now making
large university wall maps.  My main issue is that when I make a
pattern, sometimes seams will show (like the edges of the
pattern box).  So, I go to "Object" -> "Transform" and then click
"Move" and then I change the position to get rid of the seam by
checking only "Patterns" in the "Options" portion of the window.  
While this works fine while I'm viewing it, once I save and re-
open the file, the patterns have shifted back into their original
position.  It has become very tedious b/c I either have to
constantly shift the patterns or make them so large that they
cover the entire 32 inch map.

Any helpful hints to save me from this constant effort would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gloria
Answer -
Hi Gloria,
Are there specific patterns that you are using or just  standard that come installed with CS? If so
which ones?  I think I know what you're talking about but I want to try to duplicate it and work
from there. I have run into similar situations with some Designers when using placed images in
illustrator.
When you say that seams will show, do you mean on screen or when printed.  If printed how are
you printing them?  
Let's start here.

Thank you,

Tom

Answer
Hi Gloria,
Sorry I didn't get back sooner but my company was closed mon and tue.  I just got caught up yesterday.
I haven't had a chance to try to duplicate your problem yet.  Would you email me an .ai file with the pattern swatch you're talking about?  That might be the quickest thing right now.
My email printspecialist2003@yahoo.com

Thank you,

Tom