offset printing RIP problem

[lancenthusiast]

I have a very high resolution PDF file that I created in Illustrator. I've brought it to 2 different offset printing companies and they haven't been able to properly RIP the image from the PDF to make the plate. It has apparently been crippling their computers. In the Illustrator file that I created I used an extremely thin line stroke of .15 per line and there are hundreds of these lines all the same thickness in the 11in x 17in image. Does anyone have any ideas how it might be possible to RIP this file properly or how the file could be slightly altered to make it possible to RIP?

Any Help Would Be Appreciated,

 

[Blue Velvet]

A .15pt stroke will barely hold up on press, depending on lpi, stock etc... you might be advised to bump that up to .2pt, the finest I'd ever dare to go with a solid on coated stock on a litho run. Gravure might be different.

If time was of the absolute essence, I'd rasterise the whole thing at 1200-1800ppi and FTP or bike the huge file on a CD over to them. If it wasn't, I'd look more closely into the file to see if I could reduce the number of points in certain areas... I'd see what areas could be flattened and I'd lower any transparency resolutions to 150-250ppi. I'd also create my PDF using Distiller.

I've moved this thread into the Design and Graphics forum, by the way.

 

[Z.Beeblebrox]

Have you tried submitting the original Illustrator file to the press in non-PDF format?

 

[brisbaneguy29]

You should never use a PDf created by exporting it from Illustrator. ALWAYS create a postscript file and use distiller. If distiller can create the PDf from the postscript file, a RIP will have no issues.

I create and send about 10 ads a week to publications all over Australia. I have never had a problem with "RIPing" the file or reproduction issues.

If your illustrator file has "issues", distiller will not make the PDF. You will get an error.

And as a bonus, the PDf will be half the size!