Illustrator User -- dealing with vector output to suppliers

[snarkette]

Hi all -- I have a couple of questions I haven't found answers to, hoping you can help.

I work in film and television and often have to send out files for vinyl cutting or packaging. My suppliers are having a hard time getting accurate results when I save an "outlined" text file as a pdf for them to rip and cut vinyl. It's simple in illustrator, and the convert to curves in designer seems to do what I want, but my suppliers have problems reading the pdfs.

The other issue I have is... say I make a box with a heavy stroke, make it a dotted line and then convert the path to shapes and expand the stroke. The whole dotted line box stays as one item, rather than each "dot" separated. Any ideas about this? I know each program works differently but I take vector images apart alot to make them custom and I'd rather not have to duplicate a gazillion little boxes just to get a dotted box that I can cut out of vinyl or laser out of plexi.

I realize this may have been solved elsewhere, but I'm working atm and would love the benefit of those more experienced. Thanks in advance.

[Lee D]

Once converted to curves and expanded if you switch to the Node tool you can adjust each one, however they still one layer. However you can use the Divide option, you will then have indivdual curves, it may be a workflow that works for you.

[snarkette]

Ahh, thanks that works for sure! I think of divide in the illustrator way -- it's kind of like release compound path I guess. Unfortunately I'm usually working so it's hard to do the experiments to get what I want. Appreciate your help. And I'm working with a supplier to work out best file practices and I think I may be able to *whispers* ditch Illustrator all together!