Saving Illustrator CS files to version 8, 9 or 10

[f***@adobeforums.com]

Is there a way to save down in the Illustrator CS version. Some of my printers are not up to speed yet and cannot handle my files from CS.
Jeanne Barnes
***@aol.com

[m***@adobeforums.com]

Under File/Export, you can expot to legacy Illustrator and other formats.
MJK

[N***@adobeforums.com]

I can't believe that Adobe created an updated version of such a universally used program without an easy-to-use file save into an older version. This has made my life miserable--many bureaus and printers are not up to speed on the latest version, and are depending on me to provide useable files. Help! Help!

[a***@adobeforums.com]

Using the Export option to save a legacy EPS file works fine, although text will no longer be very editable, and I've found it actually better to convert it all to curves first anyway.
This is annoying, but usable.
Otherwise, if they are just printing/separating the files, they should be able to place your Illustrator CS files into some other App, like Indesign or Quark to output them from. That is how I used to output most Illustrator files when I work in a bureau anyway.

[P***@adobeforums.com]

Using the Export option to save a legacy EPS file works fine, although
text will no longer be very editable




I've only found this to be an issue when I didn't save as a legacy EPS. When I backwards export it, it works just fine, with the text appearing as it should. No issues here.

[G***@adobeforums.com]

If the service bureau doesn't need to edit the text in your files (and really, they shouldn't - that's your job), they should be able to handle CS EPS files just like they do any other EPS files.

[D***@adobeforums.com]

Gary, I've been wondering just that. Can you help me understand why we have the legacy EPS option? Is the CS EPS architecture actually different than the EPS architecture of previous versions'? Or is the reason limited to the exact reason we have the legacy AI format, i.e., to enable editable type in the EPS?

Put another way, if I have an illustration with no type in it, is a CS EPS file precisely identical to a legacy EPS file? Or are there important differences beyond type?

Thanks.

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Since eps files can contain text, I assume to format is different, Doug.

[G***@adobeforums.com]

Try opening a CS format file, with no type, in Illustrator 10. So, for opening and editing, the format must be compatible with the application. For simple ripping, an EPs is an EPS. At least that's my understanding.

[J***@adobeforums.com]

I've been wondering just that. Can you help me understand why we have
the legacy EPS option? Is the CS EPS architecture actually different than
the EPS architecture of previous versions'?




The eps is the same. (unless someone in the know posts a contradiction)

A8 and earlier versions format were based upon postscript. (this is overly generalizing it)

A9+ is based upon pdf.(still generalizing)

When Illustrator saves a eps file, it writes extra data to it so that it can reopen and edit the files just as if it was saved as a AI file.

Thera are a lot of tangents I can go from here but take a simple CS document with a little bit of text and a drop shadow. Save as a CS eps file. (remember, this is a two in one file. A eps and the extra data Illustrator uses to reopen for a fully editable document)

Open this in AI 10 and you will receive an error message blah blah in cannot work. Create a black artboard and LINK place the CS eps file into Illustrator 10. Hey, it places fine and can be ripped as well. Not dupe the image on the same artboard and in the links palette, embed one of those images. What do you know, it embedded the eps and you can edit the elements. Text seems to break up similar to opening a pdf. In this case, Illustrator used the eps data to embed and not the extra instructions.

CS save for eps is actually better than any previous version. If the eps does not need to be editted, then those with previous versions of Illustrator have no need to open the files and only increase chances of problems occuring if they make it a standard practice to check the files and resave when resaving is not needed.

Other issues that require prepress to be able to go into files is due to older rips which cause them to do workarounds to produce the work.

[D***@adobeforums.com]

Jeez. Just excellent info. Thanks, JK.

Bottom line: really no reason to do an Export>Legacy>AI EPS EXCEPT if you WANT the recipient to open and edit? If you're preparing an EPS for PLACEMENT ONLY in a page layout application, AICS EPS works as well as the legacy format? (And all of this, whether there's AICS type or not!)

Do I have it?

[J***@adobeforums.com]

Yes

[D***@adobeforums.com]

Tell your wife she's the greatest.