Without a doubt, the most important thing about a computer illustration is the ability to open it and edit it again and again. Compatibility with other software is important as well. You need to have the ability to bring your artwork into other applications, such as a page layout program. Illustrator does all of this, and more. With version 7, Illustrator is now completely cross platform, working identically in both Mac OS and Windows environments.
We all know how important it is to share, and this hour we focus on things such as:
When you save a file, you can choose between three different format options: Illustrator, Illustrator EPS, and Acrobat PDF. Each of these can be opened directly in any version of Illustrator and will retain the most information for future editing.
If your work will be done completely in Illustrator, then saving it in Illustrator format is best. The file will take up the smallest amount of disk space, it will open and save the fastest, and it will always be fully editable.
To save a file in Illustrator format, choose Save As from the File menu (see Figure 20.1). After giving your file a name and clicking the Save button, you are presented with a dialog box where you can specify what version of Illustrator you want your file saved in (see Figure 20.2). This is for compatibility purposes, and you should keep your file in Illustrator 7 format if possible.
Just A Minute: Keeping your file in Illustrator 7 format ensures that any features specific to version 7 remain intact in your file. The capability to include URLs in an Illustrator file, for example, is only available in version 7. If you were to save your file in version 6 format, any URL information in your file would be lost (more on URLs in Illustrator in Hour 23, "Web Graphics").
Choosing Save from the File menu.
The Illustrator Format dialog box lets you ensure backwards compatibility with previous versions.
If you need to open your file in other programs, then you want to use the Illustrator EPS format. EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is a widely supported format. PostScript is a printer language created by Adobe that is built into many of today's printers and imagesetters. In order to print an EPS file, you must have a PostScript printer or a PostScript interpreter.
If you're not sure whether you have a PostScript printer, look for the Adobe PostScript logo (see Figure 20.3). Because PostScript must be licensed from Adobe, PostScript printers tend to be more expensive than those without PostScript. If you paid under $500 for your printer, it probably is not PostScript. You can use a PostScript interpreter, which is software that runs on your computer and that enables you to print PostScript files to a non-PostScript printer, but they tend to be very slow. Two such programs are GCI StyleScript and Freedom of Press.
The Adobe PostScript logo.
Because an EPS file will be brought into other programs, you can choose to have a preview file embedded into the EPS. When you place the EPS into another program, the low-resolution preview enables you see how the file will look.
To save your file in Illustrator EPS format, choose Save As from the File menu and name your file. From the Format pop-up menu, choose Illustrator EPS and click the Save button. Illustrator then presents you with the EPS Format dialog box (see Figure 20.4). Here you can ensure compatibility with previous versions of Illustrator and choose to enclose placed images or fonts within the EPS file, as well as specify previews for viewing on either IBM PC or Macintosh.
The EPS Format dialog box gives you control of file settings such as previews.
The PDF format (Portable Document File) was developed by Adobe so that you can view documents, in their correct form, on any platform. Using the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can view a PDF file on DOS, Macintosh, Windows, or UNIX. Because PDF uses PostScript technology as its base, you can open and edit a PDF file directly in Illustrator as well.
PDF files are good in several instances. If you're showing artwork to a client and they have a different system than you, all they need is Acrobat Reader to view it. PDF files can also be viewed on the World Wide Web with a Netscape Navigator plug-in called PDFViewer. Both Acrobat Reader and PDFViewer are free and available at http://www.adobe.com. PDF files can also be combined into multipage documents that can aid in making presentations.
To save your file in PDF format, choose Save As from the File menu and name your file. From the Format pop-up menu, choose Acrobat PDF, as shown in Figure 20.5, and click the Save button. If the PDF file will be viewed on a Windows or DOS machine, make sure you include the file extension of .PDF in the name (FILENAME.PDF).
Choosing Acrobat PDF from the Format pop-up menu in the Save As dialog box.
As we mentioned earlier, Illustrator can export files in many different formats. Some are for placement in other illustration or paint programs, others are for high-end proprietary systems, and still others are for use on the World Wide Web. Some are vector formats, some are bitmap, and some, like EPS, can support both within the same file. Each format has its strengths and its weaknesses, which are discussed in this hour.
To export a file to any of these formats, choose Export from the File menu (see Figure 20.6) and choose a file format from the Format pop-up menu (see Figure 20.7).
Choosing Export from the File menu.
Choices from the Format pop-up menu in the Export dialog box.
Based on what platform you have, all of the formats listed here may not be available to you. There are also file export formats that are available as plug-ins for Illustrator that are not listed here. Some are on the Illustrator CD, and others may be released on Adobe's web site (such as a FreeHand plug-in that enables you to open FreeHand documents in Illustrator).
The TIFF format (Tag Image File Format) is a raster format that is supported both on the Macintosh platform and on the Windows platform. The TIFF format is widely supported and can be used in just about any page layout and paint program. Its format also has an option to use the LZW compression scheme, which makes for smaller file sizes without compromising detail.
When you choose to export your file as a TIFF, Illustrator presents you with the TIFF Options dialog box (see Figure 20.8). Here you can choose a resolution for your image as well as select a color model (RGB, CMYK, or Grayscale). If your image is intended to be viewed onscreen, select the Anti-Alias option to ensure there are no jaggy edges in your final image. You can also choose to include an ICC Profile (for color management) or LZW Compression. Finally, specify a byte order for the platform the file will be used on.
The TIFF Options dialog box.
The GIF89a, JPEG, and PNG formats are primarily used for files that will be viewed on the World Wide Web. All raster formats, these formats specialize in compressing information, which makes for small file sizes that can be transmitted quickly over modem phone connections. For more details on these formats, see Hour 23.
The PCX format is a bitmap that supports up to 24-bit color. It is primarily used on Windows machines and is actually the native format of PC Paintbrush--a paint program popular on the Windows platform. Upon exporting a PCX file, Illustrator prompts you with a dialog box where you can specify what resolution the file should be (see Figure 20.9)
The Resolution Options dialog box.
The Windows Metafile Format (WMF) is a vector file format for the Windows platform. It is supported by most Windows applications and does not require a PostScript printer to print. The quality of the image is questionable, though, and may not be desirable in all situations. It is best to run a test before using it on any particular image.
BMP means bitmap (literally--"bitmap image" means the same thing as "raster image") and is a standard format on Windows and DOS platforms. Besides prompting you to specify what resolution you want the image to be, Illustrator also prompts you with the BMP Options dialog box, where you can indicate Windows or OS/2 compatibility as well as bit depth and compression (see Figure 20.10).
The BMP Options dialog box.
Amiga IFF, TGA (Targa), and Pixar are formats specific to proprietary graphics systems. PixelPaint is a Mac OS paint program. Whether it's 3D, animation, or full motion video, Illustrator has the capability to export to these programs, giving you the ability to create complex and exact elements in a comfortable environment before bringing them into high-end graphic systems for processing and enhancement.
Illustrator is not an island. We learned how important it is to be compatible and cross platform. We also learned about a whole lot of file formats and that each one has its strengths and weaknesses. Now we can use Illustrator together with other programs such as QuarkXPress and Photoshop, giving us unlimited creative capabilities in our quest for the ultimate design. You should be fairly comfortable with Illustrator by now as we begin the final stretch--just a few more hours. Hang in there! You're doing great!
EPS -- Encapsulated PostScript. A standard cross-platform image format based on the PostScript printer language. An EPS can contain vector images, pixel images, or both.
PDF -- Portable Document File. Created by Adobe, this format was created to become a standard file format that could be viewed on any computer.
Acrobat Reader -- The application necessary to view PDF files.
TIFF -- Tagged Image File Format. A compression-capable format that is a standard on both Macs and PCs. A TIFF is a raster file.
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