ai or psd?

[lizonil]

Hi designers... I always design in ai these days. A CH might want the files sent to him in an unflattened psd format. I can easily put my ai files over but will it affect them? I am hoping that they will stay as vectors if unflattened and therefore can still be enlarged... is this correct? And... what is the standard size to send a logo in once it is finished if the client hasn't specified a size. Should I enlarge it before sending it on? I am good at designing, that's the fun bit... but the print process can sometimes be a bit tricky for my brain!! Cheers, would really appreciate your thoughts. Liz

[sharie]

Hi there

it is a little tricky when it comes to this.....

you can take each element from the AI file and drop into a photoshop file, doing this converts the dropped object/element into what is called a vector smart object. You can enlarge that file to an extent but it will never look as good as enlarging a pure clean vector file.

Dropping a file from AI into a photoshop, making it a vector smart object will give you limited editing to the layer until it is rasterized.

If the ch is asking for a psd file of the design you can do this but ALWAYs ALWAYS save the original AI file. If you drop the AI element into photoshop file, your ch will have a psd layer file of the logo, you need to decide though to leave the element as a vector smart object or rasterize the layer......... if the layers are left as vector smart objects the files can be enlarged with out too much quality loss but this is complicated for contestholders because most do not know how to use photshop.

Most of the time when a ch wants layers they are really asking for the logo in a different file than the text, some though do want each element of the design in own layer

Not sure if any of this helps...it might be a good idea to read up on what a vector smart object is and the drag and drop process from AI to photoshop ( I always have both programs open when I work up a design).

[lizonil]

Thanks for your reply Shari, it was really helpful. I have another question... the ch wants to know whats the best size for the web. I have always sent large files to clients so that they can resize them down themselves but always keep the large file in case they need it for a large banner or poster etc. But I have seen a client put one of my logos onto facebook as his avatar and the text looks as though it has water around the edges (to me its noticeable because I know what it should be like). Now he could have done something to it himself of course, but maybe the res is too high for such a small pic. Do you have any insight. What size would you use for a typical website banner or avatar in cm and what res? I am sure there is a place to ask such questions, so I am sorry this is in the wrong place but this part of the forum seems the most active! Thanks again Shari for your help. Liz

[lizonil]

Hi Shari, here is a link to his facebook page where he actually has a lot of the designs up and they all appear the same with this weird watery thing around the edges. It obviously is something he has done... any ideas why this would happen?

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...3097672&type=3

[lizonil]

OMG... so sorry, it was because I was looking at it on my husbands laptop and his computer is obviously a bunch of poop!! But I would still be interested in finding out what a good web size is in cm and res. Cheers and have a good Sunday all! Liz

[sharie]

Hi there

This is what I do.....

I send the ch an internet sized jpg with res of 75, if the ch asks for a facebook avicon I go ahead and size that as well avicons I think are 100x100 I size this small from the vector file not the raster files. So open the vector file in photoshop and size then as you open the vector file.

Sending the ch the eps allows them to size themselves but many do not have or know how to work photshop or other programs, I find they have viewing programs that come with the computer or sample programs that come with cameras. I send the ch several different file formats even including a png file as that file is transparent for the ch that can't open the eps/vector files I send the png file in several sizes, one size being the height of a standard banner size, another size for email signatures, letterhead size/business card size then a larger 7 inch or so size. A large 10 in tiff files and jpg file is sent as well I send tiff because tiff files do not lose quality after time like jpg files do. jpg files will lose information over time of being opened and saved while tiff files do not.

I have found way too many clients/contestholders just do not have the programs or know how to work the programs for the vector files. I Always tell the ch the eps/vector file is your most import file, even though they may not be able to open to work that file, the vector file is the one to keep in safe place, it is the file to send to printers or is the file you can edit if you get or have the programs.

I know I send way too many files but I find it saves me time later on, so the ch is not coming back to me I can' t open or I need this size and so on......

[lizonil]

Thanks again for that Shari, it's very helpful. I was thinking I might be sending too many files, so it's good to hear you do that too. I will start adding a png too. I have explained that even though they can't read the vector or metafiles, they should keep them safe for a graphic designer or printer. Thanks for taking time to reply, I really appreciate it. Kind regards, Liz : )