Exporting PDF with cropmarks

[Alan_Sargent]

I've got some artwork and  need to make a PDF with cropmarks from Illustrator 10.

I add cropmarks using Object/Cropmarks/Make and that looks fine.

But I can't get them into a PDF.

If I "Save as PDF" or "Save a copy", the result contains everything EXCEPT the cropmarks.

(Oddly enough PDF is not offered as an "Export" format.)

I can create a PS file with Print command, and distill it, but that's rather tedious.

Failing a way to export cropmarks, is there a simple way to convert them into normal lines, or do I have to redraw them by hand?

[Junk Mailer]

Are you sure the artboard/physical size of the page is large enough

so that the crops aren't left off the page? if they are outside the

artboard, they will not print, nor will they appear in your pdf.

-JM

[Alan_Sargent]

Junk Mailer:

Are you sure the artboard/physical size of the page is large enough 

so that the crops aren't left off the page? if they are outside the 

artboard, they will not print, nor will they appear in your pdf.

They're fine, they print. The job and cropmarks are well within the defined page. See attachment.

shunithD:
When saving as pdf there's an in the left panel: 'Marks and Bleeds'. You have several option there under  'All Printer's Marks'. Check 'Trim Marks' and you're all set to go... You might want to experiment with the other options as well.

No, not in my version (10). I only see those mentioned under "Separation setup".

[shunithD]

Alan Sargent wrote:

No, not in my version (10). I only see those mentioned under "Separation setup".

Not sure about Version 10... but couldn't have changed that much..

Your AI file:

Save As

Choose PDF from the file save options

PDF save dialogue opens

Choose the quality of the PDF files from the drop down at the top of the dialogue panel

In the left panel of the dialogue panel / window there are options... look for the 'Marks and Bleeds' (or similar)

In the options there, should be under 'All Printer's Marks', choose / select 'Trim Marks'

That'll include the crop marks... Maybe the interface has changed a bit since version 10, but if you explore the options under the PDF saving panel, am sure you'll find them. Alternatively, try the Help...

Edit: Further, i see from your attachment, that you have a bleed. You can set that under the "Use Document Bleed Settings'... make it about 3-5mm on each side... otherwise you'll get the crop marks without the bleed...

BTW... how are you creating the crop marks? Hopefully the very base of the page (bottom-most layer) has a base colour to which you have added the crop marks from the menu?

If none of the above works, wait for Jacob to come around... he still uses version 10

Edit 2: If you see it under "Separations", check it there and see...

[Alan_Sargent]

shunithD

Choose PDF from the file save options

PDF save dialogue opens

Choose the quality of the PDF files from the drop down at the top of the dialogue panel

In the left panel of the dialogue panel / window there are options... look for the 'Marks and Bleeds' (or similar)

No, there is no "marks and bleeds" in the PDF dialogue.

Further, i see from your attachment, that you have a bleed.

The artwork, bleed and the cropmarks are well within the document page.

The artboard is Tabloid, 11x17", the artwork is a little over 9x12"

BTW... how are you creating the crop marks? Hopefully the very base of the page (bottom-most layer) has a base colour to which you have added the crop marks from the menu?

Create a box, Object/cropmarks/make.  I added a white bottom layer, still no cropmarks on the PDF.

To reiterate: I can only get cropmarks in a file created via the Print dialog, not any of the "Save" options.

[shunithD]

Alan Sargent wrote:

I've got some artwork and  need to make a PDF with cropmarks from Illustrator 10.

When saving as pdf there's an in the left panel: 'Marks and Bleeds'. You have several option there under  'All Printer's Marks'. Check 'Trim Marks' and you're all set to go... You might want to experiment with the other options as well...

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

Alan,

As Shunith says.

In 10 you have to File>Print>Acrobat Distiller, or to use Filter>Create>Trim Marks before File>Save As>Adobe PDF to get it right with PDF. You may print Crop Marks directly from an Illy document if you have a PS printer (driver).

Note that Crop Marks are closer together than Trim Marks and therefore more likely to be included in the final print.

To get them even closer together, you may create the marks as paths.

This was part of a period of transition from Trim/Crop Marks to Crop Marks/Area.

[Alan_Sargent]

Thanks Jacob, "Trim" marks work in save-as PDF.

One "interesting" thing that happened while I was doing that: I duplicated the layer where I had the cropmarks, then with that active I did "release" and got back the rectangle, then used that to create equivalent trim marks.

That's all good, but not only have the original cropmarks disappeared, even the rectangle they were created from, that layer is completely empty.

I don't need them now, but I don't like them just disappearing.

I reverted and did it all again just to be sure I hadn't accidentally deleted them, but got the same result.

[Jacob Bugge]

Alan,

One "interesting" thing that happened while I was doing that: I duplicated the layer where I had the cropmarks, then with that active I did "release" and got back the rectangle, then used that to create equivalent trim marks.

That's all good, but not only have the original cropmarks disappeared, even the rectangle they were created from, that layer is completely empty.

You can see the following in the Layers palette.

When you change a rectangle to Crop Marks, it may disappear, and yet it may not: sometimes, a copy is made so that you have both Crop Marks and rectangle.

If the original rectangle disappears, the Layer becomes empty, and if you copy it you just create another empty Layer. If you apply Object>Crop Marks>Release, the original rectangle will reappear in the selected Layer, whether original or copy, so you have one empty layer and one layer with the copy rectangle.

If the original rectangle is copied, the Layer contains it, and if you copy it you create another Layer with a copy of the rectangle. If you apply Object>Crop Marks>Release, the original rectangle will reappear in the selected Layer, whether original or copy, so you have one layer with one rectangle and one layer with two.

Who says there was no thrill in the old days?