In Adobe Illustrator, you can save or export your artwork as a PDF file, and this process essentially "flattens" the document into a single, editable PDF file. Here are the steps to save or export a
flattened PDF in Illustrator:
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Remember, flattening is irreversible. Always keep a backup of your original Illustrator file before making significant changes or exporting to a different format. If you need to maintain the ability to edit the content in the future, make sure to keep a copy of the original Illustrator (.ai) file. You must have your EID at the beginning of every file you submit. We will not release any incorrectly named plots. EX: EID_filename |
Step-by-step guide
- Open the Illustrator file that you want to flatten.
- Make sure you have reviewed your layers and merged or rasterized any layers that need to be flattened. Flattening will combine all visible objects into a single layer.
- Press `Ctrl + A` (Windows) or `Command + A` (Mac) to select all the elements on your artboard.
- Go to the "Object" menu, click "Flatten Transparency".
- Check “Convert All Text to Outlines” and “Convert All Strokes to Outlines” in the Flatten Transparency dialog box.
- Uncheck “Preserve Alpha Transparency” and “Preserve Overprints and Spot Colors.” ”
- Select "High Resolution" or "Medium Resolution" based on your preference. This will flatten the artwork by merging overlapping objects and reducing transparency.
- After flattening, go to the "File" menu, select "Save As," and choose "Adobe PDF" as the format. Follow the prompts to save your file.
- In the PDF save dialog, you may encounter additional options. Ensure that the settings meet your requirements. For example, you might choose the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset for print.
- Click "Save" to save the PDF file with the flattened artwork.
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Remember, flattening is irreversible. Always keep a backup of your original Illustrator file before making significant changes or exporting to a different format. If you need to maintain the ability to edit the content in the future, make sure to keep a copy of the original Illustrator (.ai) file.
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