Expert: Amy - 7/7/2004

Question
Thank you so much for your very helpful and detailed answer. One more question? My document has many gradient fills. How important would you say rastering graphics is for printing?

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Followup To
Question -
Thank you for your time and expertise. I have and Ill. 10 document that when I save, it warns me that there are RGB images that may not separate properly. I went through my document and still can't find the RGB image, everything appears to be CMYK images. So now I am attempting to print separations in hopes that that will reveal the culprit. Unfortunately when i go to file, Separation Setup, the "separation setup" text is dim and not black like the other usable options in the file menu making it not usable and not an option. How can I make the Separation Setup option usable in my document? The document color mode is CMYK. Or is there a way to do a search for any RGB items? Thank you.
Answer -
Hi Sharee,

That happens a lot to me, as well, when there are no RGB images present whatsoever.

Sometimes copying everything and pasting it into a blank document corrects this.

I always use Document Info (under File) to better examine the contents... I have to say I can't ever remember finding an RGB image when I get this message. Most likely, everything will separate correctly - but checking the separations is another good way to check it.

Unfortunately, you can't PRINT seps unless you have a postscript printer or Adobe Distiller. If you choose Adobe Distiller as your printer, separation setup should become available. You'd print to Distiller from Illustrator and then print your resulting PDF file from Acrobat.

If you don't have Distiller, you can't print the seps but you can still make separation setup available - at least this way you'll be able to examine the plate list in Separation setup and make sure that the only plates listed are CMY and K.  To do this, you need to have a PostScript printer *driver* installed on your computer and selected as your printer in Illustrator - even if you don't actually have a postscript printer.  

HERE'S HOW-----------------------------------------
The Adobe Postscript Printer Driver is installable from your Illustrator installation CD - I think it's found in that first splash screen menu when the CD autoplays - install Adobe PS? - or something like that.

If you aren't near your installation disc, the same "generic" PS printer driver is available at http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=44&platform=Macintosh

You must download this and go through the installation procedure.

You'll also need to download and unstuff its matching PPD file at
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=141

Once you've unstuffed this little PPD file, you can place the file anywhere - just remember where you put it.

Then in Illustrator, go to File > Print Setup and choose the new [virtual] Adobe PS printer and click OKAY.

Then in File>Separation Setup, choose Open PPD and locate that PPD file you downloaded and unstuffed.

All your separation options will now be available to you.

Good Luck!

Amy  

Answer
Hi again Sharee!

Well, they say that blends show banding when blending one or two colors over a large distance. Like 50%M to white.  Or 25%M-25%Y to white. Or 30%M to 30%K.

If you make a gradient that uses all four colors, like from 20C-30M-20Y-3K to white, you will still get banding but each color bands in a different place, so together the banding is less noticeable.

I almost always got banding if I didn't rasterize, even though everything from version 9 up is supposed to minimize banding.

I always create my blends in PhotoShop, blur them slightly and add a tiny bit of noise, save them as EPS and embed them in the Illustrator document just to be safe.  I get very good results.

If you have a good print shop and can talk with someone who knows their technical stuff there, ask them if they get the good results with Illustrator blends.

I'm just paranoid about smooth, so I go the PhotoShop route.

Cheers
Amy