Exporting artwork

Question

I am not working with Illustrator myself but I need to work with technical artwork created in Illustrator CS2 and CS3.
My problem is this: I need all artwork in the final document (a book) to look the same, i.e., the fonts and their sizes, line thickness etc., to be the same, or at least as close to each other as possible in all the figures. I understand the differences between
vector and raster graphics reasonably well, as well as pros and contras of both. I do not know, and cannot find out how to go about exporting artwork from Illustrator (or rasterizing) such that the exported graphic has the selected fonts and font sizes in the final document. Let me be more specific: suppose I need to insert a figure that in the final document is 3.5 in wide (its height depending on the aspect ratio that can change from case to case). I need all legends in Tahoma 10 pt in the final document. What are the necessary steps that would let me have the desired outcome?
I have spent not just hours but literary days searching for the answer, without success. It may be that the answer is very simple and known to most Illustrator users, but it is not obvious to me.
Will appreciate any help, especially links to a written stuff that would allow me to *understand* the process.
Thank you, Jan Adam

Answer 1

Jan,
Let me be more specific: suppose I need to insert a figure that in the final document is 3.5 in wide (its height depending on the aspect ratio that can change from case to case). I need all legends in Tahoma 10 pt in the final document. What are the necessary steps that would let me have the desired outcome?
If you are working with vector artwork, just make it 3.5in wide and use Tahoma 10pt. That can go straight into InDesign as it is.
For preview in Worst you may just Export as JPEG (File>Export) in the same size and set the Quality to High or Maximum to avoid ugly experiences. In Worst, set the width of the image to 3.5in.
In order to export the artwork in question you need to define its borders.
In CS4 you set the Artboard using the Artboard Tool: With the Artboard Tool select the artwork, and in the Export window tick Use Artboard, tick Range, and insert the Artboard number (this is hearsay; I am still with 10).
In older versions, you create a rectangle that fits the borders and Object>Crop Area/Crop Marks