Crippled pdfs from ai

[r***@adobeforums.com]

Here’s the deal...
99% of my packaging printing is done in Hong Kong.
I submit an Illustrator file w/ fonts converted to outlines.
I also submit a lo-res pdf in a folder named soft_proof_pdf for visual reference.
However every once in a while they print from the pdf and it looks awful.
How can I bullet proof this to keep it from happening?
I tried to make a stamp in Acrobat that says proof on it but if you open the resultant pdf into Illustrator (which the printer might do) the stamp is gone.
The art for the stamp in Acrobat is a png.
Password protection in Acrobat is too cumbersome and has its pitfalls.
One solution is to export my .ai file, with text on top of the file that says “Proof – Do NOT Print” as a .psd then open it into Photoshop and save it as a pdf from there but it’s kind of a funky clunky extra step workaround.
Does anybody have a more elegant solution to my situation?
Oh yeah, the printer knows they aren’t supposed to use the pdf for print and switching to a new printer is NOT an option.
I just want to cripple/birthmark my pdfs so they won’t get used for print.
Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[J***@adobeforums.com]

Password protect the pdf. When saving to pdf, select security in the pdf save dialog and set the desired settings.

[S***@adobeforums.com]

I always use screenshots when I just want to show the look of things.
Use Preview Grab and save as jpg. Name files thus produced as ..._shot.jpg

[Scott Falkner]

If you send two files there will always be the risk that some fool prints the wrong one. Whilevthere's no such thing as "foolproof", there I'd "fool resistant". Send one file only.

[J***@adobeforums.com]

I second that. If they need to see what it looks like, give them a hardcopy proof along with the .ai file.

[S***@adobeforums.com]

I've never had any trouble with a jpg shot to show what things look like. Just be careful to name the file properly and have the it small enough so that even an idiot would never dream of trying to print it :-)
You can even embed the shot into a READ ME text file so that you can do all your explaining in writing as well.

[r***@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Steve! Your solution is the path we're going to try. John - Hard copy would be nice but file uploads are electronic via a windoze server and on super quick turns, plus FedEx expenses add up too fast over the course of a year especially w/ the number of projects involved. Thanks again, this forum is a great resource!