create outlines question

[eltonpruitt]

After you create outlines on the text prior to exporting to a TIFF file, do you save your AI file then, after creating the outlines, or leave it as it was before the outlines?

I don't quite understand the whole deal with creating outlines of the text, as is probably evident from my question :blink:

thanks,
Elton

[Kep!]

If you are exporting as a TIFF, you do NOT need to create outlines at all.

Outlining a font turns the font into a vector...that means it's a shape, not a font...this is useful if you have to send an EPS or an AI to a client but they don't have the fonts you use, or more likely you don't want to send them the fonts due to licensing restrictions.

Creating a TIFF, on the other hand, is flattening the entire file into a single graphic (bitmap) and therefore it doesn't matter if you have them outlined or not, they're no longer editable either way.

SO! If your final output is a TIFF, don't outline. If you're final output is an EPS or an AI, DO outline, but save it under a different filename so you can still edit the original if need be.

[Jason Arthur]

I set up a folder with sub sub-folders for each book I work on. I know...overkill, but I like to be prepared for worst case scenarios.

For example:
Primary folder:
LOADED

subfolders:
ai (where I save the un-outlined version in .ai format
pdf (unless the publisher wants tifs)
tif (unless the publisher wants pdfs)
originals (this is where I put the artwork files that I'm lettering on)
web/proofs (low res version of the page using "Save for Web")

I save the original un-outlined .ai file in the ai folder. Then I create outlines and save all my other file types, usually starting with Save for Web to generate a low res version of the page for proofing (I size it at 690 pixels wide by whatever the height is proportionately). Then I make a tif file by choosing FILE - EXPORT and depending on the publishers specs I'd save it either 300 or 400 dpi and always with LZW compression in MAC format.

For pdf's I just do FILE - SAVE AS and make the pdf that way, but I delete any unused template items first (balloons on the side, etc...)

The reason I go ahead and do create outlines before exporting my tif file is because the Save for Web version sometimes needs the outlines created in order for the text/balloons to appear dark enough to read for proofing. Also, some creators don't know what file format they need during the lettering stage, so I save both pdf and tif and for the pdf I need outlines.

-- J

[eltonpruitt]

Thanks Jason and Kep for helping me get a handle on that!

[Kep!]

Good point JA! Folder management is a HUGE part of speed. I usually do it:

NAME OF BOOK (script goes here)
----LetteredPages (AI goes here)
----------Art (art...duh)
----------Webready (proofs / web show for advertising)
----------TIFFs (final exports)
----------PDF (final exports (depending on client)

I find keeping the ART and WEBREADY folders under the lettered pages folder speeds up my time quite a bit.