CS5.5 saved down to Illustrator version 8

[mrsmsa]

We receive files that are PDF's created in CS5.5, and we need them to be saved down to Adobe version 8 or less. Our customer is saying that you can not save down to that version from CS5.5.

I know that the PDF can be opened in Illustrator, no matter what version, but we need it to come to us that way.

Anyone know if this can be done, and the steps to do it.

Thanks,

Peggy

[Stephen Marsh]

Can you please clarify:

Do you require a .pdf file from your client? If so, what PDF version level (PDF 1.4 etc) and or PDF/X compliance level (PDF/X-1A etc) is required?

Or do you require a .ai file?


Sincerely,

Stephen Marsh

[mrsmsa]

We require an AI or EPS file that is saved from whatever version or a PDF to a Version 8 file or less.

We have our diemaker telling us everyone can save down with a couple of clicks of the mouse. Our customer says that it is impossible to save the file from 5.5 down to Adobe Version 8. We are not that computer literate and only have an Adobe viewer, not the program. We are not sure who is correct. Any help would be appreciated.

Peggy

[rich apollo]

Illustrator version 8?! That is quite a bit behind the times. With Illustrator version 8 you can't use a PDF. You'll have to export an EPS file.

[chevalier]

It is likely a CAD system they are importing the file into. Most CAD systems will accept AI10 or PDF saved from Illustrator (do NOT "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities"). If this is a CAD system as I suspect you should try using the Export menu to DXF format (AutoCAD InterChange format) it is pretty much universally supported.

The DXF format makes the CAD operators life much easier.

[Al Ferrari]

Peggy,

This goes for both you and your die maker. If you stay in business, one day both of you will have newer software. Let that day be today! Why drag out the process? You don't have to upgrade every time there is a new version, but the entire industry changed from postscript to pdf a long time ago.

Al

[chevalier]

I had to make quite a few edits to my original post to get the language semantically correct. I also got DXF and DWG mixed up. The previous post is now correct.

[Shawn]

Hi Peggy

"Adobe Version 8 format" is a little unclear. Adobe makes lots of products. They could be looking for an Adobe Illustrator 8 file or an Adobe Acrobat 8 pdf or less. Those are two very different things...

Illustrator CS5.1 (the version that comes with CS5.5) can down save directly to Illustrator 8 in AI native format but not as a PDF. When you save as a PDF you have the option to include the AI file as part of the PDF by checking Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities. This will make it so the native Illustrator file can be opened and edited later in Illustrator, but this does not allow you to pick the version of Illustrator used inside the AI file.

Any PDF can be saved in Acrobat Version 8 or earlier, by choosing the Acrobat compatibility desired at the top of the save PDF window when making the PDF file.

Part of the confusion might be coming from where the PDF file is created. Is your client using Illustrator to create the PDF or is it coming from another program in the CS5.5 suite like InDesign? You can tell (even with Adobe Reader) by opening the PDF and checking under File - Properties and looking for the Application in the Description tab. You can also check to see what version of Acrobat compatibility the file was saved with.

If the PDF is coming from something like InDesign -- and your diemaker requires Illustrator 8 -- then your only choice would be to have the customer create a copy of the PDF in a PDF X standards based format that the diemaker can open.

Illustrator 8 is a pretty old program. My guess is that they just want a clean file from before Adobe introduced any transparency features. They should be able to open and get what they need from a non "Illustrator 8" pdf saved in Acrobat 4 or 5 format. Using Illustrator as a PDF editor is a dangerous practice, but if they just need to extract a die line it may work out.

Shawn

[Al Ferrari]

Shawn,

Your post contains a lot good info, but you are wrong on one thing: "Illustrator 5.1 (the version that comes with CS5.5)" can't be right. The Illustrator application that comes with the CS3 Suite is version 13. So the one in the CS5.5 Suite must be even higher.

Al

[Lukas Engqvist]

Normally to diemakers we save files as DXF. You can save from Illustrator to DXF, maybe you need to consider what format you want to import. CAD only does AI8 since it is not interested in transparency, and you want pure simple vectors. Even the DXF format has many flavours so, try to find some one who has CS5 and get their help to find the best bridge between illustrator and your tools.