Create a border on each A4 page from a large file - Dress making pattern

[georgie_7126]

hi,  Im creating an A4 pdf dress pattern, that will go over many A4 pages. I know how to print and tile etc, however, i need each A4 page to have a 1.5 cm border. Can you please advise how to do this? 

Thanks, Georgie

[Monika Gause]

And entering 15 mm for the overlap does not work?

[georgie_7126]

hi Monika, thanks for ur reply. No, it doesn't work, and not only that. There is 1.5 cm border at all...Im still stuck on it. See screenies.  =0 )

[Ton Frederiks]

Does this border have to be added to the A4 page or has the boarder fall within the A4?

If it has to fall within, you may be able to use multiple 180 x 267 mm artboards with a 15 mm bleed and 0 mm spacing.

[georgie_7126 · Accepted solution]

hi @Ton Frederiks , I got there in the end. It worked when I created the document on the "Print" tab. I used normal A4 dimensions and then created the document with -30 spacing and 0 bleed I believe. It's working great now!  Problem solved. Thanks so much for your assistance, you really helped me get on the right page.  Wishing you all the best. CHeers,Georgie

[Ton Frederiks]

Hi Georgie, good to hear it works for you now!

[Ton Frederiks]

Give the artboards a negative spacing of -15mm to have them overlap. Like this:

[georgie_7126]

hi Tom, thanks, this sounds good. Can you tell me how to do it?

You have created 72 artboards right?  I have a few, see below. I will do some research on how to convert this to the required number of A4 pages, and represented as Artboards.

[georgie_7126]

[georgie_7126]

hi Tom 

thank you again for your comprenhensive answer. The instructions were very clear, I was able to follow and replicate.  It seems the solution is almost there, but I ran into a couple of problems.

1.  By following the steps, the end product was a pdf for each single A4 page, however, it should be a continuous document.  When i did control p to print as a singular doc, the 10 x 10 cm square is to scale, which is great.

2. The border should be visible. See example from another pattern designer.  Perhaps I didn't make this clear.

3. On the continous pdf, there isn't a margin present.

On this file, the dress pattern should fit into A4 page minus the 15 mm ( on each side), so the 180mm x 267mm as you originally mentioned.

The use case is that the home sewer would be able cut off one horizonal and one vertical 15 mm margin on each A4 page, to be able to glue the pattern together.  And it should be all perfectly to scale.

I really appreciate your help Tom, would you be able to assist me further?

I feel like the answer is close and perhaps I have not explained perfectly.

[georgie_7126]

furthermore, here is a screenshot of the ouput.

[Ton Frederiks]

That looks like it is almost there, I wonder where the gaps come from.

Can you show screenshots of the document creation part? Does it have a Bleed of 15 mm?

As for creating the PDF, do you use Print?

It is better to use Export for Screens, it should give you an option to create a single file containing all pages.

Which Illustrator version do you use? The latest update 29.6 contains a bug preventing that. 29.5.1 or earlier does it correct.

[georgie_7126]

Thanks for your detailed reply Ton. I started using Illustrator 2 weeks ago, I assume it's the most recent.  Ill retrace my steps to see where it's gone wrong. Will revert back shortly.

thanks again =))

[georgie_7126]

hi Ton, 

See attached screenies of the document set up. Looks ok from your side?

I see what you mean re not possible to export as a single file (with export for screens) with the updated version I have. Ill download the correct one.

However, with the solution you're proposing is it possible to have a visible black border at the 15 mm with the option you're suggesting?

[georgie_7126]

I look forward to hearing from you when you have a moment and thanks in advance for your help Ton.

[georgie_7126]

hi Ton,

I seem to have the version of illustrator that you recommend using. see attached screenie.

Are you able to help me further?

kind regards,

georgie

[Ton Frederiks]

That is the correct version, don't update yet to a newer version, it has some problems with creating a single file in Export for screens and some bleed problems.

If you want a visible black border, create a rectangle for that border with no fill and the stroke size you want.

Position it where you want on the first artboard.

Cut it and choose: Edit > Paste on All Artboards

[georgie_7126]

Hi Ton,

I followed the instructions for the cut and paste on all artboards, that's a great feature.  When i clicked into each A4 page, I could see the black border was there.

I still can't export to screens tho. Pls see attached screenies.  Could there be something else im doing wrong?

I changed the save location to a folder connnected to my desktop. Should it be something else?

thanks heaps,

Georgie

[Ton Frederiks]

Hi Georgie, we are getting there, butI wonder where the gaps come from that I see in your screenshots. I don't see them in my example. Are these multiple small files or is it a large object?

It may be easier if I can have a look at your file.

Can you share the document?

I see that it is a cloud document. Can you go to https://www.adobe.com/files/

Click on the 3 dots in the preview of your file and select Share.

In the Share window click the cog wheel for Settings and make sure that People with a link can Save a copy.

Click back on Settings and copy the link.

You can share the link here on the forum or send me a private message with the link.

[georgie_7126]

Thank you so much for looking into this Ton. 

Please see below link:

https://illustrator.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:911f92d7-b77d-4ce9-8382-e4964994af85

Thank you again. 😃

Georgie

[Ton Frederiks]

Hi Georgie, this looks like all separate files. Do you have the design as one large single file?

(and I don't have edit access).

[georgie_7126]

Hi Ton, Sorry i missed this msg. Ill look into is asap.

[georgie_7126]

https://illustrator.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:911f92d7-b77d-4ce9-8382-e4964994af85

you should be able to save that file.

[georgie_7126]

hi Ton, I saw ur msg about all the single file and how you want the file as one single file.  Below is screenie of how it appears in AI.  I have day off today, i will do some job apps and then Ill get onto following the instuctions from the start again to see where i have potentially gone wrong.

thanks in advance for the help. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear you don't give up. You can save your file on your desktop as a regular .ai file (now it is a cloud .aic file) and attach the file here after you changed the .ai extension to .pdf (it is strange, but these forums do not allow .ai files, but .pdf they do).