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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS2
User Guide
To change the PPD file
When you print to a PostScript printer, PostScript file, or PDF file, Illustrator automatically uses the default PPD
(PostScript Printer Description) for that device. You can switch to a different one to suit your needs.
1
Choose File > Print.
2
Select one of the following from the PPD menu:
•
A PPD in the bottom section of the menu that corresponds to the current output device.
•
Device Independent. This option is only available if you are printing to a PostScript file and are not using a specific
PPD related to a printer.
•
Other. Lets you select a custom PPD, such as one provided by your service bureau for use with the specified
printer. The PPD’s file name corresponds to the printer’s or imagesetter’s name and model, and may display a .ppd
file extension (depending on how your system is set up). Navigate to the PPD you want, select it, and click Open.
Note:
Certain PPD features commonly found in imagesetter PPDs won’t be accessible from the Illustrator Print dialog
box. To set those printer-specific features, click Setup (Windows) or Printer (Mac OS) in the Print dialog box.
Printing long, complex paths
If you are printing Adobe Illustrator files containing overly long or complicated paths, the file may not print and you
may receive limit-check error messages from your printer. To simplify long, complex paths, you can split them into
two or more separate paths. You can also change the number of line segments used to approximate curves and adjust
the printer resolution.
Keep the following hints in mind when splitting paths:
•
Illustrator treats split paths in the artwork as separate objects. To change your artwork once paths are split, you
must either work with the separate shapes or rejoin the paths to work with the image as a single shape.
•
It’s a good idea to save a copy of your original artwork before splitting paths. That way, you still have the original,
unsplit file to work with if needed.
To change the number of line segments used to print vector objects
Curves in artwork are defined by the PostScript interpreter as small straight line segments; the smaller the line
segments, the more accurate the curve. As the number of line segments increases, so does the complexity of the
curve. Depending on your printer and the amount of memory it has, a curve may be too complex for a PostScript
interpreter to rasterize. In this case, a PostScript limit-check error can result, and the curve won’t print.
1
Choose File > Print.
2
For Printer, select a PostScript printer, Adobe PostScript® File, or Adobe PDF.
3
Select Graphics on the left side of the Print dialog box.
4
Deselect Automatic, and use the Flatness slider to set the accuracy of curves.
A lower setting (toward Quality) creates more, smaller straight line segments, more closely approximating the curve.
A higher setting (toward Speed) results in longer and fewer line segments, creating a less accurate curve, but
improving performance.
To split paths for printing
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Do any of the following:
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To split a stroked path, use the Scissors tool
.