Adobe Creative Suite 4 Printing Guide
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Note that, by default, bleed is not included when you choose the PDF/X-1a preset. Consider
starting with the PDF/X-1a preset, then setting the bleed value under Marks and Bleeds, and save
this custom preset for future use when you want to create a PDF/X-1a-compliant PDF including
bleed.
Including Bleed in PDFs
Bleed is not included by default
when saving an Illustrator file as a
PDF . Be sure to check the correct
options under Marks and Bleed .
Creating multi-page PDFs from Multiple Artboards
If the Illustrator file contains more than one Artboard, you have the option to save all Artboards
in a multi-page PDF, or choose individual Artboards to include in the PDF. Illustrator assigns a
number to each artboard; to view Artboard numbers, choose the Artboard tool and the numbers
are displayed in the upper left-hand corners of all Artboards.
Artboards to PDF
Choose All, or select the Range
option . To select discontiguous
Artboards, separate with a
comma . For example, choosing
the Range option and entering
“1-2,4” would include Artboards 1,
2, and 4 in the PDF .
Illustrator files with multiple Artboards can be saved with any type of PDF preset, including
PDF/X-1a. Each page in the resulting PDF will be the dimensions of the artboard. For example,
an Illustrator file containing a business card, a letterhead, and an envelope will produce a three-
page PDF containing three different size pages.
Opening Illustrator PDF Files in Illustrator
Adobe PDF files created from Illustrator, and saved with the Preserve Illustrator Editing
Capabilities option checked, can be safely opened in Illustrator because the Illustrator file itself is
embedded in the PDF.
However, it is not recommended that you open other PDFs in Illustrator for editing, regardless of
the originating application. A very simple PDF, with no live text or transparency, may survive the
trip. But with most files, you risk losing font embedding (if the necessary fonts are not active on
your system), and you may inadvertently change objects, losing fidelity to the customer’s intent.
