BITMAP PROBLEM

[petrab60631600]

Hello!

I would need a little advice 🙂

I created the vector file that contains transparency and gradients. I tried to upload for submitting to stock.

The problem is that contains bitmap. 

I expanded objects, I used the flatten transparency and still is detecing a bitmap.

I don´t know where is the problem...

I will be glad for you help.

Thank you. Petra

[Test Screen Name]

Why did you flatten transparency? That will often create a bitmap.

[petrab60631600]

Hi. 

As first I did not flatten, but showed me the message that it contains bitmap.

I was reading some articles, and I got solution, flaten transparency according to the procedure,

but despite of it is still contains bitmap. So I don´t know what to do.  

[Eugenio.NYC]

Before you flatten, did you moved the slider to 100% vectors?

[Monika Gause]

What exactly is in the file?

What kind of file exactly did you upload?

You know that in EPS (no matter which "version") transparency gets flattened? And if there are gradients affected by the transparency, you will get pixels. No matter where the slider is.

[Ton Frederiks]

"And if there are gradients affected by the transparency, you will get pixels. No matter where the slider is."

Not necessarily, it can create a new gradient.

[Ton Frederiks]

It creates new gradients, but it creates images when "Preserve Alpha Transparency" is checked.

[petrab60631600]

This is that problem 🙂 I used gradient + various blending modes. 

[Monika Gause]

That's a freeform gradient, right?

And you want to upload it where?

That kind of gradient is not supported in Illustrator 10 if that is what you are saving to. So it doesn't get rasterized, but isn't vector content either. If you want to be able to use artwork in Illustrator 10 (as is required by several stock companies), then you will have to stay with gradient meshes.

[petrab60631600]

Thank you very much for your advice, I understand now why it was not possible to upload.

[petrab60631600]

I have one more question. I created the object with the gradient mesh, I flatten transparency - vectors:100, line art: 300 ppi and gradient and mesh: 150 ppi, convert all strokes to outline and preserve alpha transp.

After that I see some scratches and weird lines. Did I make something wrong way? Thank you.

[Monika Gause]

Those are artifacts of flattening.

Can you please describe in detail what you want to use it for and which are the file specifications of that service?

Because if you want to upload it to a stock company, then you should not flatten it. Most probably the service is asking for an Illustrator EPS 10. Which means: there is an EPS and an Illustrator file combined in your file.

The EPS gets flattened automatically, the AI file should not be flattened, because then it's not editable anymore (and there will most probably be pixels in it).

So what you do is: set up an appropriate Transparency flattening preset (for the EPS) and leave the artwork unflattened.

Actually it doesn't matter that much what is in the EPS, because most people likely will never see it, because thy will open the file with Illustrator. People who don't have Illustrator won't have much fun with the EPS, because other than very simple symbols will be uneditable no matter how exactly transparency was flattened.

[petrab60631600]

Okey, thank you. And If I would like to print this file, what kind of procedure should I do?

[Monika Gause]

You will need to ask the print service provider about their file specifications. And then depending on the nature of the printing process and the equipment there are several different things you might need to do.

You maybe want to learn about how printing and prepress works, because this goes beyond what can be written in a forum post.