Is it okay to import a cmyk psd with a transparent background into Illustrator for professional printing?

[MissSparkles75]

I have an A4 artwork document I have set up in Illustrator, the artwork has all been created in Illustrator (and changed to CMYK ready for professional printing) but I have also placed a (300dpi CMYK) photograph with a transparent background into the Illustrator artwork and want to check that this is okay to go to professional print like this?

I normally set my artwork up in InDesign and place a psd or Illustrator ai into the InDesign doc and go to repro that way but I'd like to know if this way I describe above is also okay?

Also, I am sending this doc to my client (for future printing) and would like to know if it would be better to embed the photograph or just keep it linked and send the photograph along with the .ai or eps print ready file?

Many thanks for any help and advice on this.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

That's simple.

Export your PDF and then check that PDF in Acrobat. And then you will see if it works.

It depends on the export settings, so yes, of course you can totally do that, but you also need to make appropriate setting when exporting.

[MissSparkles75]

Thanks so much.

Can you elaborate on what you mean by making the appropriate setting? Are they setting(s) that need to come from the print house?

The artwork I will be sending is just for my client in order for them to get it professionally printed it at a later stage should they want to so I'm not in contact with their print house currently.

[macpawel]

Yes, you should receive some direction from your Print House

But in most cases your document should be right prepared. Just export PDF file and select profile mentioned by Print House

Check everything in Acrobat

Should be fine

pawel

[Ares Hovhannesyan]

AI prints transparency from white.

You can check file in Ai using "Show transparency Grid". from ""Vie"w Menu. Also you can check your document using viia "Flatten Transparency" from "Object" menu which helps to correct any artifacts. How to print and save transparent artwork in Illustrator

Some printers read image files  from original file so usually I am sending image as linked file.

In Ai you can use Package Option from File Menu and send zipped files to client for printing which includes images, fonts and info.

[jdanek]

Placing a transparent .psd file is perfectly fine, I do it all of the time.  You might consider sending a PDF to the client instead of the live Illustrator file.  You will retain ownership and copyright to the original file, but more importantly you will maintain the integrity of the original file.  Certain items to set in your PDF are "Leave Color Unchanged" and the appropriate resolution of the file for printing. I recommend Adobe's Print Publishing Guide book that covers many issues and terminology on proper file preparations for printing.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi there,

I would like to know if the steps suggested above worked for you, or the issue still persists.

Kindly update the discussion if you need further assistance with it.

Thanks,

Srishti