Curious Mass Layer Phenomenon

[Sally]

I am curious if anyone would know what would cause an illustrator file to do this. I've received a couple files from clients that had large amounts of sequentially numbered layers. Such things as 1-45 or even a set that was numbered 1-1500. Every single text object was on it's own layer. Has anyone else run across this or know what causes it? It's not a major problem, just something annoying I'd love to squish. Maybe even politely explain to a designer, you know this way of saving a file? STOP THAT! :P

[JoePixel]

Are you sure you didn't have the "Layer" turned down? If you had the base layer turned down then each graphic or group will appear as it's own layer within the "Base Layer"

If I ever run into a designer who has multiple layers and I notice it, I will then just flatten the layers in the options fly out-menu of the layer box.

As for having that many layers, what kind of a designer does that? I find it hard to believe that any designer can keep track of anything over 50 layers, and that is if they label all the layers correctly.

Yeah right.

[beermonster]

i think the artwork has possibly been grouped and then "released to layers"

[Sally]

Thanks for the replies! I'll check out both the flatten layer option and release to layers. It is definatly not the layer being turned down hehe.
The first set of files we got in that were literally 1500 I wrote off as probably an export gone wrong from some manner of software. The 2nd two sets, I learned today, are 2 different clients but it was the same designer. Ah HA! Not one of our cleaner ones. The files are like a history lesson in how they were built. 17 designs. The first set that arrived was nearly perfectly sequential- 1-45 with objects grouped in various layers. As the designer moved on, they started moving up the numbers and renaming them as UPC, NLEA etc. But if you turn down the layers you can find the rest of the numbered ones. Then even some more numbered layers nested under that and finally the individual bases.
I usually tidy up files as: Our Die layer, Printing Marks, Text, Misc Graphics, Background image. For most files I can just unlock and unhide everything, select all and use the selection point in the layers palette to move them onto one layer so I can watch what they do.
This set, unhide revealed a nice hodge-podge of thrown away design ideas. Boxes. text. Ghosts. The layers weren't turned off mind you. These were HIDDEN objects ontop of working layers. And when I export them using the Esko .EPF option it busts 2-3 of the layers back out upon importing into Packedge.
And again, it RE-numbers them sequentially.
Now that I think of it, I wonder if I've also just received my first CS2 files...

[beermonster]

sally?from what i can gather you are in packaging?same as me.

Illustrator has proved itself really good at this, barring a few things that would make it superb!

the exercise you are going through is what we here call "simplifying". I see stuff made so complex sometimes and we have to simplify it. I end up with some elements on seperate layers as yourselves - you get to know what to put where with experience. I usually have a seperate layer for traps depending on the complexity of the sheet, the colours etc.

The die layer or cutter guide for us is always the upper layer. This can contain white boxes for ink/varnish free areas, marks, station numbers and stuff?or that can be on its own layer.

with complex layouts i tend to have one station per layer?easier editing?and with board that creeps on press, editing traps in specific areas of a sheet is easier.

As for the many many layers?well i'm sure it's the release to layers function. I'd flatten it, but remember to have the view set to "overprint preview" in case the desighner has tried to be clever?

[Sally]

We here refer to simplfying as: Open job, turn on preview, see enormous amounts of complex blend objects, export blends as an image, send image to color department, wipe hands. :P

I wish our customers would just read the die layer we send them, and ask, "hmm why is there a layer named *white layer* with a color named *White Ink* in this file from the printer?"

Packaging indeed!

[David]

Originally Posted by Sally

We here refer to simplfying as: Open job, turn on preview, see enormous amounts of complex blend objects, export blends as an image, send image to color department, wipe hands. :P

I wish our customers would just read the die layer we send them, and ask, "hmm why is there a layer named *white layer* with a color named *White Ink* in this file from the printer?"

Packaging indeed!

You have to assume they can READ!
Sounds like your "simplfying" is very similar to ours! LOL
Except when the color dept gets it, we have to answer all sorts of questions and explain it in very simple terms so they can understand it (realizing that they only work in Photoshop and nothing else!). It would have been easier just to do it myself sometimes!

David

[beermonster]

u folks have colour departments <note english spelling of colour>?

now that's posh!

there's me and 1 other guy here?the rest of the company think we are wizards and do spells on the artwork :lol:

[David]

Originally Posted by beermonster

?the rest of the company think we are wizards and do spells on the artwork :lol:

I gots peoples here that can do that for me, too!!! ''

David