PhantasmSepsPDF script
The "PhantasmSepsPDF" Adobe Illustrator script was developed by Nathaniel V Kelso (www.kelsocartography.com/scripts/) specifically for Phantasm CS Studio and Publisher users. The idea is thanks to a customer of the professional plugin.
PhantasmSepsPDF allows users to quickly and easily generate pre-separated PDF files. By using the PDF layers feature, these files allow users of even the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (download here) to view any combination of inks used in a document.
System requirements
- Adobe Illustrator CS3 to CS5
- Mac or Windows
- Phantasm CS Studio or Phantasm CS Publisher
Download and install
Click here to download the script. Open the ZIP file to find the script file.
To install the Adobe Illustrator script, please follow these steps:
- Quit Illustrator, if running
- Locate where Illustrator is installed. On the Mac, on the Illustrator icon on your dock and select . In Windows, follow .
- Open the folder.
- Copy the script file into this folder.
- Re-start Illustrator.
Benefits and notes
By using this approach, the following benefits may be gained:
- The script is free and is very simply to operate; a few clicks and you're there!
- It is possible to provide customers with artwork where they may view any combination of ink used in the document (separations) without the need for Adobe Acrobat.
- By default, Adobe Acrobat and the free Reader version do not display overprints correctly. Pre-separated artwork using Phantasm CS Studio or Publisher removes this issue, ensuring that your customer will see all technical aspects correctly.
- The output mimics final printed output very well. Transparencies are flattened where necessary, but leaving as many vector objects in-tact as possible, allowing zooming-in on detail.
- The original artwork is not immediately accessible, further securing your ownership.
Please note the following:
- Due to processes required to produce fully separated work (see this features page for further details of what this is about), resultant file sizes — and therefore rendering time — is increased.
How to use the script
To demonstrate the process and benefits of using the script in combination with Phantasm CS Studio or Publisher, the following is an example sequence. It is possible to download original Adobe Illustrator files (compatible with Illustrator CS3 and above) along the way; these files do not require Phantasm CS Studio or Publisher to view.
The first stage is creating the original artwork for print. The document has to be in CMYK color mode...
Using the button in the panel/palette window (shown above), fully separated artwork is produced...
Note: at this stage, it is possible to specify printer's marks from the panel/palette. If enabled, they will be present in the final PDF.
The script is called upon (note that it was first installed, a process described earlier in this document)...
Following the selection of the script from the menu, a warning window is displayed stating that the script does not check to see if a file of the same name already exists in the chosen location. Click on this message; it is possible to cancel the process in the next dialogue window.
You will then be presented with a standard "Save as" file dialogue window. Choose the file name you wish to save as (include the extension if you wish) and where you wish to save the file. Then select if you wish to proceed, or if you want to halt the script.
The script will then process the PDF (this may take a short while, no process indication is given), revert back to the fully separated artwork file and then automatically load the PDF. The PDF will display in your default PDF viewer — it is advised that this is Acrobat or Acrobat Reader in order to view the separations layers...
Note: at this stage, it is possible to specify printer's marks from the panel/palette. If enabled, they will be present in the final PDF.