Banding Problem - Illus. files in Quark

Working on G5s and G4s
- Ripping on Brisque version 4. Ps files ripping to .jobs
- Files are in all versions of Illustrator. Gradations are created in Illustrator, also the drop shadows are created in Illustrator.
- We have used the Rasterize effects setting at 300 dpi when saving the Illustrator files.
- Placing in Illustrator eps files in Quark - -all versions 4 thru 6. When we rip putting the vignettes to the Ct level - -Default Ct res is 12.
- Final files there is big time banding that we have to go and spend time fixing the final ripped Cts - -can't fix the Illustrator vignettes - -because they are created in Illus.
- Have to spend time on the final Cts because we have to create masks to isolate the areas that are bandind in order to eliminate the problem. Clients get ticked because sometimes this takes a while to fix and they want to know how they can get rid of this problem.

Is anyone is experiencing this same problem and if so how do you get around fixing the banding.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Tim123]

bodesman

This might help. Open your illustrator files and in the attributes panel make sure the resolution is 2540. Save down as usual.

With the ripping, create a postscript file and in your rip settings go to the clour handling box. Within this check "ps overprint".

See how that works.

Let us know how you get on

Tim

[pmkprog]

On your Brisque are you ripping as PS level 2 or 3?

Ripping at PS level 3.

- The 2540 Output resolution we raise it's part of our workflow. This seems to only effect anything that rips down as LW on the brisque. Our problem is the vignettes are ripping to the Ct level at the brisque.

[gig0]

can you tell us what the gradient properties are? Like, it's going from X percentage to X percentage in X inches.

Hey Gig,

It's on all different %'s - - We have this problem on numerous client's files it's not just 1 file. The gradient sizes are all different sizes as well. There is nothing common.

We have been R&Ding this problem and we might be on to something - just waiting for our proofs, if we stumple on to something I'll post what we did.

[pmkprog]

Is it a case where you can rip at level 2?
I have seen that sometimes that does work.
The other option is to save the Illustrator files as version 3 eps files, this makes the gradients into separate bars in Illustrator instead of a gradient effect. I have seen that work also.
Again, these things have been a hit and miss depending on the file.

Thanks for the feeback pmkprog,

The problem level 2 is that some gradations would go to the LW level - -which if your job is on press - and there is banding this presents a problem because you can't add noise or blurs to the LW like you can on the final Ct.

Now do you mean save the Illus. file as a version 3 file or PS level 3 eps file.
- If you save down to version 3 won't you lose the transparency effects that could also be in the file.

[pmkprog]

I meant version 3 Illustrator and yes you would lose the transparency effects.

Like I said this works for some files.

It also works well when there is a gradient in a spot color.

[gig0]

Originally Posted by Bodesman

The problem level 2 is that some gradations would go to the LW level - -which if your job is on press - and there is banding this presents a problem because you can't add noise or blurs to the LW like you can on the final Ct.

what I find interesting about this post is even if the gradients went to LW, why would you need to add noise if the LW resolution is greater than CT in the first place?

What line screen and resolution are these plates/film being imaged at? If you're DTP, does your proofer show the banding?