Exported PDF & EPS files not efficiently editable by Adobe Illustrator or other programs

[Beck]

Hey everyone!

Hoping to get some pointers & help others who have to same problem! 

I work with a range of suppliers who use different programs. Recently, I've had one supplier have big problems trying to edit / adjust our finalised files with Adobe Illustrator. We usually supply PDF files and EPS for back up. This time, our supplier had to recreate the whole design on their end - which I definitely want to avoid! 

I can't recall us having this problem in Affinity Designer 1 where supplier had to recreate entire artwork. At times, suppliers have had to adjust our artwork slightly but all the files we supplied were editable for them. 

One supplier mentioned: "files have bitmaps on the front of the vector artwork" 

I've asked another supplier to try our files and they said: "All the PDFs are editable. We can move things around. Fonts are outlined so we cant edit the fonts. No issues were found in the PDF files. All the EPS files have a bitmap on the front of the artwork. We can still move things around but some parts are embedded into the bitmap so we are gonna miss those." 

Looking for advice on how everyone Exports Finalised artwork to be print ready (this project was a Truck Wrap/sticker) and also be editable with other programs too like Adobe Illustrator. 

I've opened my exported files in Affinity to see if I could pick up on anything. I noticed in both PDF & EPS file - white boxes show up on top of some elements and labelled as Curves / Masks. I'm wondering if this is the "bitmaps" our supplier is seeing on their end when opening in Adobe

Screen shots attached of the feedback given from supplier who had trouble. Also screen shots of what I see in my program when i open exported files. 

Finalised PDF & EPS if anyone would like to have a look! 

Settings I usually export for print: 

PDF - For Export, 300DPI, Dont export layers, CMYK, Allow Advanced Features checked

EPS - I use the standard settings, nothing changed 

Thanks!

[MISSION SOLAR] Vehicle Wrap 2022 _ Adjusted to Specs _ Sides.eps [MISSION SOLAR] Vehicle Wrap 2022 _ Adjusted to Specs _ Sides.pdf [MISSION SOLAR] Vehicle Wrap 2022 _ ELEMENTS.eps [MISSION SOLAR] Vehicle Wrap 2022 _ ELEMENTS.pdf

[Dan C]

Hi @Beck,

Sorry to hear you're having trouble here!

In order for me to investigate this further, I'm going to need a copy of the .afdesign file, before exporting - can you please attach a copy of this here for me?

Many thanks in advance

[Beck]

[MISSION SOLAR] Vehicle Wrap 2022 _ Adjusted to Specs.afdesignHey @Dan C!

No worries, thanks heaps! I've attached the af file below

[Dan C]

No problem at all, thanks for providing this for me!

I must admit I'm a little confused by the report from your supplier - as I have tried importing the PDF files provided in your original post, as well as exporting these once again from your .afdesign file and opening these in Adobe Illustrator.

For all PDF files tested, these elements appear as expected for me, with the text showing as 'Path' objects, the vector shapes appear as either 'Path' or 'Compound Path' objects and the background images are at the bottom of the layers stack and appear as 'Image' layers.

The 'Clipping Path' / 'Clip Group' shown at the top are due to using Artboards, when exporting to PDF and importing into Illustrator, this clip is applied so all objects remain inside the artboard area.

Therefore I'm not entirely sure what to suggest here currently, as the files appear to import as expected within Illustrator for me.

Can you please expand on the specific issues your suppliers are finding with these files?

[Beck]

On 2/10/2023 at 3:46 AM, Dan C said:

No problem at all, thanks for providing this for me!

I must admit I'm a little confused by the report from your supplier - as I have tried importing the PDF files provided in your original post, as well as exporting these once again from your .afdesign file and opening these in Adobe Illustrator.

For all PDF files tested, these elements appear as expected for me, with the text showing as 'Path' objects, the vector shapes appear as either 'Path' or 'Compound Path' objects and the background images are at the bottom of the layers stack and appear as 'Image' layers.

The 'Clipping Path' / 'Clip Group' shown at the top are due to using Artboards, when exporting to PDF and importing into Illustrator, this clip is applied so all objects remain inside the artboard area.

Therefore I'm not entirely sure what to suggest here currently, as the files appear to import as expected within Illustrator for me.

Can you please expand on the specific issues your suppliers are finding with these files?

Hey Dan!

Thanks so much for looking into this more. May i ask, on your end are you able to edit all the elements and move them around in Adobe Illustrator? I think one of the main issues was that they weren't able to grab each element and had to remake some of the elements. 

I will get more clarity from our suppliers to the issue! 

Thanks heaps! 

 

[Dan C]

No problem at all!

12 hours ago, Beck said:

May i ask, on your end are you able to edit all the elements and move them around in Adobe Illustrator? I think one of the main issues was that they weren't able to grab each element and had to remake some of the elements

Absolutely, though this does require a double click on the canvas within Illustrator, to open the 'Clipping Group' applied at the top of the layers stack, due to the use of Artboards in Designer -

 

I hope this helps

[Beck]

Thanks so much! Yes this helps a lot!

Is there anyway you could test this with CorelDraw as well? I just found out they are using Corel instead of illustrator. Hoping it's the same result!

[Dan C]

Absolutely, the following is the PDF opened in CorelDraw (using the app in trial mode) and I was able to edit the elements as expected - 

 
I hope this helps!

[Beck]

Hey dan! thanks so much! yes this does help alot !!