How can I export pdf/ai from Adobe Illustrator that is not editable?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
July 26, 2020
2 replies
7839 views

How can I export pdf/ai from Adobe Illustrator that is not editable?

I want to send my file for printing and I don't want to give the original file.
I tried exporting as high quality print without editing capabilities, as well as illustrator default and custom without editing capabilities, but there seems to be a problem with the design.

Can anyone help please?

Thanks in advance!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Kurt Gold

There are a couple of "security" mechanisms that you may use to "protect" your drawings from being stolen by snoopy rapscallions (see the Security section in the Save as .pdf dialog or, in case you have it, in Adobe Acrobat).

That kind of pseudo protection may work sometimes.

Similar requests have been posted here many times. I'm always wondering why so often there apparently is some cause of distrust when delivering files to print providers that do you a favour with their craft.

Kurt Gold

Correct answer

Community Expert

There are a couple of "security" mechanisms that you may use to "protect" your drawings from being stolen by snoopy rapscallions (see the Security section in the Save as .pdf dialog or, in case you have it, in Adobe Acrobat).

That kind of pseudo protection may work sometimes.

Similar requests have been posted here many times. I'm always wondering why so often there apparently is some cause of distrust when delivering files to print providers that do you a favour with their craft.

S

steve246158093ev2

Participant

Don't know about favors. I pay good money for printing. And I generally trust the printers hear in the USA that I work with. But sometimes to make a project more affordable one may have to outsource abroad to companies that will steal and sell your designs in a heartbeat if you make it easy for them.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

Well, I understand, Steve, but in the end that's just some kind of occupational hazard. Professional or semi-professional snatchers will almost always find a way to outfox the common security measures.

Thieveries may happen in any business. Just take a look at product piracy that is an issue worldwide.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

Wanderella,

As Lutz said in your other thread, there is no completely safe way.

Maybe the closest you can get is to export in a raster format that supports CMYK (instead of RGB) at an adeaquate resolution for print (ask the printer), use the (most) relevant optimization (Type or Art).

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