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AI drop shadow effect

hi guys,

i am totally new to digital print and i need some advice from you here.

alright here is my little info:

OS: Win 7 64 bit Ultimate Edition
Software: Illustrator CS5.5
Machine: VS420 (updated to latest version)
RIP : Versaworks (updated to latest version)

i created a new doc with CMYK mode and added a drop shadow effect using AI, all colors assigned with roland spot color. Flatten the whole artwork and saved as eps (refer to image attached)

sent to VW and the print result was bad on the effect area. it looks like washed out! (refer to image attached # flatten transparency)

Any ideas what is going on? thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Catalyzer on March 16, 2012 at 9:36pm

here is the print result,

Buth Method : better than yesterday test result black is darker but hard to see the effect.

Josh Method : didnt change to RGB. use Max Impact on VW and the result look pretty good!

Normally when adding some effect like drop shadow/blur need to do flatten transparency in order to get rid of the weird box.

I dont know why there is no bounding box around the effect when the transparency/effect object is not flatten. Can anyone explain this?

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Permalink Reply by Josh Duncan on March 17, 2012 at 11:27am

If you're looking at my file I sent you, I clipped out the weird edges that are caused when adding certain effects in Illlustrator. Also, I typically print directly from Illustrator to VersaWorks so I rarely flatten anything, I just adjust my print dialog settings for the best results.

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Permalink Reply by Catalyzer on March 17, 2012 at 7:29pm

Ya I saw the weird edges.

Is there any tutorial on how to send artwork directly from Illustrator to VersaWorks?

I always save as eps,send to VW and print from there.

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Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on March 17, 2012 at 8:41pm

I don't have time to explain - but something to try - when working with effects you might want to try to use RGB instead of CYMK or Roland - you do need flatten the effects or change to a bitmap and then print.

Also you are using the Roland library you might want to in Job Settings - QualityTab - Color Management Settings - properties tab - Simulation Target Profiles - RGB - Roland SignRGB and the CMYK - to Roland SignCMYK

It has been my experience that CMYK does not handle effects well - if you make it a bitmap then you are straight printing.

To print directly to Versaworks - you send your files - to Input - A or Input - B - folders are located in the Versaworks folder and are placed there on install. You set the qualifications in the Queue Settings.

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Permalink Reply by CYW on March 17, 2012 at 9:27pm

Interesting Irv, I had no idea you could print directly by sending files to those A or B input folders

Is there an advantage to bypassing the eps export?

Not looking to "fix something that ain't broken", just curious

Lady Di

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Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on March 17, 2012 at 9:44pm

Lady Di, I have so much VW and VC knowledge locked in my brain and now no way to let it out - so it just runs out recklessly. Well I keep both the A&B on my desktop and just randomly drop things there and watch them go. So you ask are there advantages. There are if you set the parameters.You can have it auto gang jobs and print, you can have it start printing at a certain time, Great if you are using one media and have your queues set so helps automates. That is all I can think of now.

Oh a thought - You know in Job Settings the tab that says Job Management - we normally do not use - well in there you can see all of the things you can do - You notice that it is greyed out - right - but if you open the queue - you can set it up in there and when you drop the files in - you would step back - shake your head and then say in your (make up your favorite actress) voice - WoW!

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Permalink Reply by CYW on March 17, 2012 at 10:13pm

Squealing in my favorite 'When Harry Met Sally' Meg Ryan voice
"WOW"!!!!!

Such an incredible resource, such an incredible mind to waste.......
don't get me started, my dear (incredible) man
xoxoxo