So you’re getting a little fancy with your designs and you want to layer various levels of transparent objects? Well sometimes Adobe® InDesign and Illustrator can get a little sassy and not print correctly. Follow these guidelines for creating accurate transparency output.
Native Illustrator (.ai) files are fine to use in your layout, but avoid Illustrator .EPS for transparency or blending usage.
Native Photoshop (.psd) files are also okay to use. Use a PDF only if it contains Photoshop-created vector elements; then you should save as a Photoshop PDF at the highest version to maintain correct transparency.
Convert spot colors to CMYK for process printing.
If you are truly printing spot colors and CMYK, do so cautiously when incorporating transparency effects.
If working on a CMYK document, make sure your Transparency Blend Space is set to Document CMYK.
Before sending your file to us, rasterize it to keep the transparency effect. (Be sure to keep your native file in tact for any revisions.)
Quick Tip: Rasterize gradients in vector art for quicker processing.