Skip to main content
Ken Nielsen
Ken Nielsen
Legend
February 22, 2020
Answered

What happens when you 'flatten artwork' for an Illustrator file - Is it rasterized?

  • February 22, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 4202 views

The file contains vector art and type - I want to send the sharpest copy I can to a offset printer and wonder before I convert the file to a PDF, which is what they want, should I save the file as a PDF without flattening or can I flatten it, I want to see it on one layer in its final state and do not want the PDF to be editable.... Am I going to be providing the best PDF to the printer either way?

TIA,

 

Ken

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Test Screen Name

Flattening (a term with many different meanings) cannot improve quality or sharpness, but will often make it worse. The PDF will be editable whatever you do, if you don’t trust your printer not to edit before printing, use a different printer. Setting document security may make it impossible for a print shop to process your file. Why do you care about layers, printing does not care?

3 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 22, 2020

Flattening removes transparency from the artwork by creating new non transparent objects trying to keep the appearance of the artwork.

Modern equipment (RIPs) can handle transparency very well, so there should be no need to flatten the artwork unless the printer asks for that because he has outdated equipment.

Press Quality should be a good starting point.

Ask the printer, he may want bleed, crop marks.

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 22, 2020

    It is best to ask the printer what kind of PDF they want.

      T
      Test Screen NameCorrect answer
      Legend
      February 22, 2020

      Flattening (a term with many different meanings) cannot improve quality or sharpness, but will often make it worse. The PDF will be editable whatever you do, if you don’t trust your printer not to edit before printing, use a different printer. Setting document security may make it impossible for a print shop to process your file. Why do you care about layers, printing does not care?

        Ken Nielsen
        Ken NielsenAuthor
        Legend
        February 22, 2020

        I appreciate the replies here, I'll take it then that I am probably best off to generat the PDF for the printer without flattening. I had de-selected 'maintain editing' when outputting in the PDF output dialog because it seems unnecessary to maintain editing when the printer is simply going to print from the file. I was thinking that that choice would keep a smaller file size. The things I do not know and only assume can come back to bite me. The last thing I want to do is degrade the file when supplying the print file to the printer.

        What is your work flow on this and have you had good results with it. I just need to know output setting and preferred method and preferences for high quality sheet-fed offset printing.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices