Template help

[Amadarwin]

I am embarking on my first template. F! was kind enough to loan me one of his old ones and while I've been mixing and matching, adding and subtracting, I now have an alright looking template.

Now, usually when I start lettering, I just file>place the image and most times it fits within the dimensions I've specified when I initially go file>new. Now with the template, how can I ensure that when I file>place, the image will hit the live area properly with little muss or fuss? On a different layer even?

Thanks in advance.

[Jason Arthur]

Well, since I broke down and bought Adobe Creative Suite CS2 I always check the artwork in Photoshop first (making sure that the page is relatively close to 6.875x10.5-ish).

Then open my template and choose the artwork layer. File>place. Violá.

-- J

[Amadarwin]

heh, that's what I get for asking questions before testing it out. :blink:

Thanks.

[cyxodus]

Another thing you can do is embed a placeholder image in your template that is the sized at 495 pt x 756 pt (6.875x10.5-ish). Then relink (links window > relink icon) that image to the page art. That will give you a nice fit every time.

[Amadarwin]

oooh, explain!

And would I do that in the art layer?

[Kep!]

Another thing you can do is embed a placeholder image in your template that is the sized at 495 pt x 756 pt (6.875x10.5-ish). Then relink (links window > relink icon) that image to the page art. That will give you a nice fit every time.
VERY nice solution for most art!

A related Question: How is everyone placing art guidelines to ensure the eps gets overlayed correctly? I struggle with this when i have to provide just a lettering layer (mercifully, less and less) and I'm rarely happy. What are you all doing?

[cyxodus]

I really haven't run into this yet. I've been handing in 450 dpi tiffs.

[cyxodus]

oooh, explain!

And would I do that in the art layer?
I'll do a flash tutorial that explains this.

[Jason Arthur]

VERY nice solution for most art!

A related Question: How is everyone placing art guidelines to ensure the eps gets overlayed correctly? I struggle with this when i have to provide just a lettering layer (mercifully, less and less) and I'm rarely happy. What are you all doing?

I'm following Todd Klein's advice and putting little registration marks along the edge of the top left panel and bottom right hand corner of the bottom right panel. These are on their own layer (with that layer set to "Do Not Print")

A little more work (like 3 seconds), but that way the pre-press/production people can line up your lettering flawlessly with the high res artwork.

-- J

[Amadarwin]

how do you do that? Sounds like a great tip.

[fro]

VERY nice solution for most art!

A related Question: How is everyone placing art guidelines to ensure the eps gets overlayed correctly? I struggle with this when i have to provide just a lettering layer (mercifully, less and less) and I'm rarely happy. What are you all doing?

Recently I've worked with a printer that accepts InDesign layout files - which is great, because rather than even having to export a .eps, InDesign will import the .ai lettering files perfectly placed according to the artboard size, avoiding the problem.

If I have to send lettering-only .eps files, as part of my 'Final Export' ritual I have an action that creates an invisible rectangle the size of the artboard. In my (admittedly limited) experience this causes Quark and InDesign both to perfectly place the .eps file - they both recognize the invisible object as a boundary, but it doesn't print or cause any hassle down the road for production (so depending on what else is happening with the file you may be able to avoid the "Do Not Print" layer entirely).

The action looks like this:
Invisible Border
1) rectangle tool (set to the artboard measurements)
2) set color (to default fill and stroke)
3) set color (stroke to none)
4) set color (select fill)
5) set color (fill to none)
6) alignment (horizontal align center - with "align to artboard" checked on the align palette)
7) alignment (vertical align center)

Steps 2-5 reset the box's color and stroke to default to ensure that any previous settings won't cause Illustrator to have a cow when you try to set the colors to 'none'.

Did that make sense? :)

[Jason Arthur]

how do you do that? Sounds like a great tip.

Open your template and go to your layers Palette. Click the "Create New Layer" button and name it Guides. See the check marked boxes below the area where you name your layer? Make sure that "Print Layer" is turned OFF. You can also have this layer locked by default too.

Now (with the layer unlocked) get your pen tool and set your stroke to .75 black with OVERPRINT STROKE turned OFF (in your attributes palette). This just further assures that the registration guides will not print. Zoom in close on the edge of a panel and make a pen line, about 3/4ths of an inch long up the side of the upper corner. Click when you hit the corner and then continue the line to the right another 3/4ths of an inch, essentially making a backwards 7 (except at a perfect 90º angle).

Now, what I do is keep one pre-made in my template (actually 2... one for the upper left corner and one of the lower right hand corner).

I only use them on jobs where the employer requests lettering-only .eps files though. Otherwise, like most of you, I prefer to work with the high-res artwork and send in fully assembled and finished .tifs.

-- J

[Kep!]

Recently I've worked with a printer that accepts InDesign layout files - which is great, because rather than even having to export a .eps, InDesign will import the .ai lettering files perfectly placed according to the artboard size, avoiding the problem.

If I have to send lettering-only .eps files, as part of my 'Final Export' ritual I have an action that creates an invisible rectangle the size of the artboard. In my (admittedly limited) experience this causes Quark and InDesign both to perfectly place the .eps file - they both recognize the invisible object as a boundary, but it doesn't print or cause any hassle down the road for production (so depending on what else is happening with the file you may be able to avoid the "Do Not Print" layer entirely).

The action looks like this:
Invisible Border
1) rectangle tool (set to the artboard measurements)
2) set color (to default fill and stroke)
3) set color (stroke to none)
4) set color (select fill)
5) set color (fill to none)
6) alignment (horizontal align center - with "align to artboard" checked on the align palette)
7) alignment (vertical align center)

Steps 2-5 reset the box's color and stroke to default to ensure that any previous settings won't cause Illustrator to have a cow when you try to set the colors to 'none'.

Did that make sense? :)
BRILLIANT! I've never heard of this working as a boundary. OUTSTANDING sir, thank you!

[Kep!]

Open your template and go to your layers Palette. Click the "Create New Layer" button and name it Guides. See the check marked boxes below the area where you name your layer? Make sure that "Print Layer" is turned OFF. You can also have this layer locked by default too.

Now (with the layer unlocked) get your pen tool and set your stroke to .75 black with OVERPRINT STROKE turned OFF (in your attributes palette). This just further assures that the registration guides will not print. Zoom in close on the edge of a panel and make a pen line, about 3/4ths of an inch long up the side of the upper corner. Click when you hit the corner and then continue the line to the right another 3/4ths of an inch, essentially making a backwards 7 (except at a perfect 90º angle).

Now, what I do is keep one pre-made in my template (actually 2... one for the upper left corner and one of the lower right hand corner).

I only use them on jobs where the employer requests lettering-only .eps files though. Otherwise, like most of you, I prefer to work with the high-res artwork and send in fully assembled and finished .tifs.

-- J
Also very cool! This works too. VERY nice solutions from you both.

I've been using crop marks, but that doesn't seem to be enough, I'll be adding one of these to my normal export from here on out!

Is there any reason not to just put either of these solutions on a bottom layer and have it as a permanent part of the template?

[fro]

BRILLIANT! I've never heard of this working as a boundary. OUTSTANDING sir, thank you!

No problem :) We've probably all spent more than enough time pissed off at Quark for being crazy...glad to share.

Is there any reason not to just put either of these solutions on a bottom layer and have it as a permanent part of the template?

Haha, I didn't even think of that. Good idea!

[Kep!]

I love it when the synergy of this forum kicks up!

[Jason Arthur]

Is there any reason not to just put either of these solutions on a bottom layer and have it as a permanent part of the template?

Mine is a part of my template (has been since I started doing work for Dark Horse/Jill Thompson).

cheers,

-- J

[F!NCH]

If I have to send lettering-only .eps files, as part of my 'Final Export' ritual I have an action that creates an invisible rectangle the size of the artboard. In my (admittedly limited) experience this causes Quark and InDesign both to perfectly place the .eps file - they both recognize the invisible object as a boundary, but it doesn't print or cause any hassle down the road for production (so depending on what else is happening with the file you may be able to avoid the "Do Not Print" layer entirely).When deleting all the extraneous layers and objects from my template prior to saving as an EPS, I just leave the bleed guide and turn off the stroke. Instant bounding box. It's the same principle.

[Amadarwin]

Do you actually delete, or just remove the offending eyes? I was under the impression removing the eyes was just as good.

[F!NCH]

I delete everything except the bounding box and the objects I want to print. Reduces the risks of a problem. The important thing to remember is to Save As before starting to delete things.

[Kep!]

When deleting all the extraneous layers and objects from my template prior to saving as an EPS, I just leave the bleed guide and turn off the stroke. Instant bounding box. It's the same principle.
MORE BRILLIANCE!

[Amadarwin]

I think I've learned more today than I have in the past year. Thanks, gents.

[sarge]

Kep, can you sticky this? This is like going to template class!

I've been on the DW boards for about 5/6 years since I first started attempting to creat comics. Although I've gotten quite alot from advice and working with other creators, this forum is hands down to most informative, open and helpful. Maybe its because I'm just starting to get into lettering and know so little or maybe its because you lettering guys are about the coolest freely giving people on the boards. Thanks.

[Jason Arthur]

You forgot to mention how dead sexy we are too.

-- J

[Kep!]

And have you tried the cheese balls?