High resolution PDF for printing ?

[Hanswurscht+]

In Illustrator I am trying to export a banner for printing. The requirements are: 30x72in, CMYK, >300ppi, PDF.

The problem now is that if I want to save my file (preset: 30x72in, CMYK) as a PDF I can not set the ppi number.

Normally i should get around 12.000x28.000 pixels.

But it exports the document always with 2160x5183 pixels.

If I try to preset the document with the pixel number from above it doesn`t work, because it is to big.

What can I do to get around this problem ???
Thank you

[Monika Gause]

Is there any pixel artwork in your document?

When the specifications are in inches, then why do you care about pixel sizes at all?

[John Mensinger]

There is no artboard-wide resolution setting in Illustrator. If you did place one or more raster elements on the artboard, their respective (effective) resolutions will be honored, subject to whatever downsampling, if any, is applied by the PDF preset invoked at Save.

Furthermore, if you're designing for print, you should forget about pixels as a unit of linear measure.

[Test Screen Name]

The software giving a size in pixels is incorrect. Because PDF files don't have one. For some reason, some software likes to fill in a number even if it is made up nonsense.

[jdanek]

"The requirements are: 30x72in, CMYK, >300ppi, PDF."

A banner at 300ppi?  Here's what I do:  Set the document size to 25% of 30x72 ( 7.5 x 18 ); place the image using 300ppi at the reduced size > Set the Rsster Resolution to "High" > Save As PDF ( High Quality Print ).  Tell the geniuses at the print lab to enlarge the file 400% in the RIP.

[Hanswurscht+]

to Monica Gause: No I don't, I use vector graphics. But I am confused by the Requirements.

to John Mensinger/Test Screen Name: So If i save it as a simple PDF it is scalable ? Would be nice.

to jdanek: These are the specifications for the file I have to send. They don't say more than this.

Okay, as a conclusion: I can save my vector graphics as a PDF and they are scalable for them to the right size of 72x30 inches ?

[Monika Gause]

Hanswurscht+  schrieb

to Monica Gause: No I don't, I use vector graphics.

So no drop shadow, no outer glow, no Photoshop effects?

Pure paths?

In that case, see Test Screen Name's answer.

[Test Screen Name]

Yes, vector graphics are scalable. Some effects have a resolution, so you should set that. Otherwise, you just create your PDF at the size (in inches) needed. Don't try to set any value in pixels ANYWHERE in Illustrator, even though it lets you! Make sure you designed in CMYK. In an ideal world, they will tell you WHICH CMYK PROFILE to use, otherwise your colours could be wildly off.

If you add raster graphics they will need to have an EFFECTIVE resolution to meet their needs. But if you don't, you can ignore that requirement.

[Hanswurscht+]

Okay, I knew that vectors graphics themselves are scalable , but I didn't know that they are also saved as a PDF.
So now I can send it to the Printing service and they can scale it to the right size.
Maybe I misunderstood the meaning of a PDF. But if it now works I am content.
Thank you all for the fast answers! It was very helpful!

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

A pixel in Illustrator is the same as a point, which is the same as 1/72 of an inch.

That means that 2160 X 5184 px is the same as 30 X 72 inch.

If you create your document at that size (and keep in mind raster effects an images), your PDF should be fine.