Opening PDF files in Illustrator

[David Milisock]

Honestly, I would venture to say that there isn't any issue doing this, but it's not the way it's "supposed to be done". I mean seriously, if opening a pdf in illustrator was such a big deal and created so many problems, why does it work out for so many people?

T​wo reasons come to mind, one they have the fonts and links, two they don't know the difference. I.E. they don't track or see the errors and therefore the increased costs.

 

[David Milisock]

To all Apple preview! You're kidding right?

 

[David Milisock]

Tim-Ellis, we see tremendous color shifts with Illustrator in the wide format world, gradient, transparency masks just are really an issue if you don't watch out.

 

[PricelineNegotiator]

David, it would be helpful if you edited your posts instead of posting multiple times.

 

[David Milisock]

David, it would be helpful if you edited your posts instead of posting multiple times.

I tend to reply to individuals ​that's why the individual posts

 

[shorty83]

shorty83 opening a PDF file in AI is asking for issues, if the file was saved with AI editing capabilities then you have a native file. You need fonts sometimes links it's BS in spades.

We just bought a CJV150-130 Mimaki with Rasterlik 6.6 and of course the morons who service it wanted us to install FineCut which is a CorelDraw and Illustrator plug-in not even knowing that EVERY FEATURE was built into the RIP. If I was that stupid I would have deserved to lose money. We dump PRINT READY PDF files from our servers to the RIP after all it's the 21st century.

Every time I turn around I find that industry leaders and technicians are living 25 years in the past.

I have no other option than to open a PDF in illustrator because we use Esko DeskPak for our workflow (preflighting, trapping and stepping plate files). So I guess I am living in the past, but have yet to have any issues with it. If I am missing fonts I have the customer send the fonts, or send a file with the text in outlines. Missing links? Have them send the links. I have never had any color conversion issues either. I prep the file, print a color accurate proof using fingerprint profiles and it works fine. I guess if I had the option to work off a PDF the customer sent I wouldn't cause I would have no time to teach myself how to prep a file in Acrobat.

 

[Joe]

Kodak also has a plug-in for opening and editing a PDF in Illustrator. I think the use of those plug-ins is an acceptable way of editing a PDF (high-end workflow plug-ins) though I'm not sure of Adobe's stance on it but obviously Kodak and Esko say it is fine.