Outline the artboard in CS4

Ive noticed that CS4 has gotten rid of a the create and release crop marks option. in CS3 if you had nothing selected and chose Object/Crop Area/ Make it would find the art board and make crop marks outside of it automatically. then selecting Object/Crop Area/ Release would give you a bounding box exactly the same size as the art board. this was vary useful when importing and eps into InDesign.
Is this no longer possible in CS4? i know i could just draw a box but i cant automate that for an action because it will draw the same size box no matter the szie of the art board.
is there a way to set up an action to automatically find the art board and draw a box around it?
Thanks
-e

We do (or did do) this constantly in our prepress department. .aI files import to their artboard dimensions, .eps files to the artwork dimensions. Clients
always send files with "crop marks" made using the crop area tool - those crops will not transfer into indesign when placed. Because of this i had written an action to remove them (crop area>remove) and then add "real" crop marks on a separate layer (effect>crop marks). That left the old bounding box on the artwork layer (beneath the crops layer) and could then be enlarged 105%+/- and used as a clipping mask - that way all of the files imported to their widest dimensions - the outside of the crop marks. Now this isn't possible.
It seem that now, simply saving an .ai file to .eps will include the default crop marks - however, is there a way to control the length of the crop marks?

Similar Messages

  • How can I change the color around the artboard in CS4?

    In CS4 its creamy/dirty white. I always work around the artboard and I want the area to be plain white as in CS3. Does anyone know how to change this?

    Michael
    I noticed this as well and it's driving me nuts. What I found bizarre is that I was able to work with the standard white artboard in CS4 - common to legacy versions of the program - for the first few days until just this morning. Evidently, this must be some sort of prefernce that may have changed unexpectedly. Most posts relate to changing the transparency grid or turning off the artboard. Not the solution I'm looking for -
    I'm still at a loss for what to do, but am considering discarding my preferences file to see if that does the trick.

  • Saving EPS Files in CS4 without the artboard

    I am having an issue placing eps files using CS4.
    If you save an EPS file in Illustrator CS4, the resulting file retains the entire artboard... So when you place the file in Photoshop, the graphic is too small.  If I open this eps and simply resave it as a Illustrator CS3 EPS, it places correctly... Meaning the artboard in not included so the graphic is as large as the photoshop canvas.
    There has to be a reason for this change and some way to force CS4 to save the eps files like it does for CS3, but I can't find where... Does anyone have any ideas?
    Thanks!
    -- Mark

    I save as dialog uncheck use art boards option and you get this in photoshop
    from this in illustrator

  • I'm using Windows Illustrator CS4, and i cant find the artboard menu pallate. Its not showing under Window Dropdown menu either.

    I'm using Windows Illustrator CS4, and i cant find the artboard menu pallate. Its not showing under Window Dropdown menu either. How can i locate it or toggle it to turn on again?

    I'm not sure what artboard view is, sorting and naming artboards is not available in CS4 either, sorting however is possible via script workaround,
    Introducing: re Arrange Artboards v2 Script

  • Renumbering artboards in CS4....The Adventure continues...!

    Hi there. Just joining this thread now.
    Basically, I downloaded the script from Ian's site and then followed his advice to read Matt Neuberg's instructions on how to get rb-appscript up and running.
    Then I opened Terminal and pasted this, as per Matt's instructions:
    $ sudo gem install rb-appscript
    Nothing happened so I deleted the space between the $ and sudo.  Then this message came up:
    WARNING:  Installing to ~/.gem since /Library/Ruby/Gems/1.8 and
                /usr/bin aren't both writable.
    WARNING:  You don't have /Users/MYNAME/.gem/ruby/1.8/bin in your PATH,
                gem executables will not run.
    Building native extensions.  This could take a while...
    ERROR:  Error installing rb-appscript:
              ERROR: Failed to build gem native extension.
    /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/bin/ruby extconf.rb
    mkmf.rb can't find header files for ruby at /System/Library/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/1.8/usr/lib/ruby/r uby.h
    Gem files will remain installed in /Users/MYNAME/.gem/ruby/1.8/gems/rb-appscript-0.6.1 for inspection.
    Results logged to /Users/MYNAME/.gem/ruby/1.8/gems/rb-appscript-0.6.1/gem_make.out
    Did I screw something up????  Can this be reversed?
    Help!
    B.

    I didn't mean the the post where you got it from, I meant the joy of appscript site, http://thejoyofappscript.com/2009/12/illustrator-renumber-artboards/
    here's my script,
    click on the Artboard Tool, to be able to see the actual artboard order/index, then run the script to reorder
    in this screen shot, artboards are ordered from right to left. If I wanted to reorder from left to right, I would click on the button "Set Order" next to the "AB 4" button, then click on the "Set Order" button next to "AB 3" button...and so on.
    #target illustrator
    // var script.name = reArrangeArtboardsCS4only.jsx;
    // var script.description = reArranges the Artboards indexes;
    // var script.required = an open document with at least 2 artboards, CS4 only, not tested in CS5;
    // var script.tip = click on the Artboard tool, before running, to see the AB Indexes
    //  var script.parent = CarlosCanto; // 3/31/11
    //  var script.elegant = false;
    var idoc = app.activeDocument;
    var abs = idoc.artboards;
    var abcount = abs.length; // save the artboard count
    j=1; // new AB order number, used for buttons labels
    var btn = []; // left buttons to show AB count
    var btn2 = []; // right buttons to set the new order
    var win = new Window("dialog","ReArrange Artboards ", undefined,{resizeable:true});
    var panelOgOrder = win.add("panel");
    var panelNewOrder = win.add("panel");
    win.orientation = "row"; // default is column, change to row
    win.onClose = onCloseFunction;
    for (i = 1 ; i<=abcount; i++) // add as many buttons as ABs
                        btn[i] = panelOgOrder.add("button",undefined,"AB " + i, {name: i}); // named to know wich button was pressed
                        btn2[i] = panelNewOrder.add("button",undefined, "Set Order", {name: i-1}); // -1, to use on 0 based Artboards
                        btn[i].helpTip = "click for help";
                        btn2[i].onClick = onClickButton; // add event listener
                        btn[i].onClick = onClickButton1test;
    win.show();
    function onClickButton() // add AB and set button label from 1 to AB count
                        this.text = j; // change button label from "Set Order" to 1,2, to AB count
                        this.enabled = false; // disable to prevent clicking twice
                        idoc.artboards.add(abs[this.properties.name].artboardRect); // duplicate AB, which one? 3rd button pressed, 3rd AB
                        //app.redraw();
                        j = j+1; // add to the counter
                        if (j>abcount) // after duplicating the AB, delete the originals
                                  win.close();
                                  for (k=abcount-1; k>=0; k--)  // loop thru original ABs
                                                      idoc.artboards.remove(k); // and delete
                                                      //app.redraw();
    function onClickButton1test()
                        //alert(this.properties.name);
                        var msg = "Click the buttons on the right in the order \r";
                        msg = msg + "you want the Artboards to be Re-Arranged. \r";
                        msg = msg + "You are required to click all the buttons";
                        alert(msg);
    function onCloseFunction()
                        if (j>1 && j<=abcount)
                                  var msg2 = "You shouldn't close the window. \r";
                                  msg2 = msg2 + "You should finish clicking all the buttons, \r";
                                  msg2 = msg2 + "other wise you'll end up with extra Artboards. \r";
                                  msg2 = msg2 + "If you must close, undo to get rid of extra Artboards. \r \r";
                                  msg2 = msg2 + "Are you sure you want to close this window?";
                                  close = confirm(msg2);
                                  if (close == false)
                                            return false;

  • How to see the object while moving on the artboard?

    hello everyone;
    maybe a silly question; how to see the object while moving on the artboard? i dont wanna see only the objects bounding box(outline of the object). i wanna see the object it self. thank you.

    What have they gone and messed up now?
    When I drag an object (with bounding boxes turned on), the object moves and the bounding box stays still until I stop dragging, upon which it snaps to the object’s new position.
    If I don’t have bounding boxes turned on (as I usually work), the object moves when dragged.
    If what Bedri says is right, they’ve gone and mended something that wasn’t busted.

  • Random character appears when outlining text in Illustrator CS4 !!!

    Hi All,
    Firstly, any help would be greatly appreciated.
    My problem is shown below, I have an artwork containing live text produced in Illustrator CS4 on a Mac. On outlining the file for forwarding to prepress, a random "D" appears at the end of one of the sentences. I have been unable to find any reason for this. The "D" is not visible when the document is viewed in Outline Mode, it is not visible when hidden characters are shown, it cannot be selected using the text cursor, it appears regardless of what typeface is used, and there are no effects or transparencies applied to the text. Obviously this is of great concern, we produce artwork using live fonts, and on approval outline the files and forward them to a prepress bureau, the result of random characters appearing on printed material could prove very costly.
    If the Illustrator document is saved as a CS2 compatible file from CS4, opened in CS2 and outlined this does not occur.
    Thanks,

    Same thing here, but in CS3. Files came from a client, but appear to have been created and saved in CS3 also. I couldn't fix it with CS5.
    In our case, it's a phantom W that sits on its own line before another W. No hard return, no soft return, no spaces, nothing shows with invisibles on. You can select it (using the shift and arrow keys) and format it, and the changes show up when you outline it. Select it and type a different character, and it winds up on the next line next to the "real" W, as it should. Double-clicking the word selects the phantom letter as well.
    Type is area type, and it's rotated 180° (packaging). Original fonts were Trajan Pro and UniversLTStd.
    Anyone?

  • Script for making an object the artboard size.

    I am looking for some help on trying to make an object the exact size of the artboard.  This is something I do on a daily basis for several different reasons and it would be very helpful if this can happen automatically for whatever size the artboard may be.  As I understand it the only way is with a script but I have no experience with making illustrator scripts, im definately no programmer.  I have set up quickkeys in the past to copy from the artboard inputs when you are on the artboard tool but these round to the nearest .01 and this is not accurate enough for what I am working with.  Also if I do this with multiple pages open illustrator is very slow to respond to the artboard tool.  If anyone has any idea where to start or has seen other such scripts I would greatly appreciate it.  Thank you.
    Below is a script that I saw on here that I believe may contain what I need but now knowing programming I have no idea where to start on editing.  All I need is the part where an object is placed on the artboard that is the exact same size as the artboard.  If anyone can advise on editing I would greatly apprecaite it.
    #target illustrator
    function main() {
         if (app.documents.length == 0) {
              alert('Open a document before running this script');
              return; // Stop script here no doc open…
         } else {
              var docRef = app.activeDocument;
              with (docRef) {
                   if (selection.length == 0) {
                        alert('No items are selected…');
                        return; // Stop script here with no selection…
                   if (selection.length > 1) {
                        alert('Too many items are selected…');
                        return; // Stop script here with selection Array…
                   } else {                   
                        var selVB = selection[0].visibleBounds;
                        var rectTop = selVB[1] + 36;
                        var rectLeft = selVB[0] - 36;
                        var rectWidth = (selVB[2] - selVB[0]) + 72;
                        var rectHeight = (selVB[1] - selVB[3]) + 72;              
                        selection[0].parent.name = 'CC';
                        selection[0].filled = false;
                        selection[0].stroked = true;
                        var ccColor = cmykColor(0, 100, 0, 0);              
                        var ccCol = spots.add()
                        ccCol.name = 'CC';
                        ccCol.color = ccColor;
                        ccCol.tint = 100;
                        ccCol.colorType = ColorModel.SPOT;
                        var cc = new SpotColor();
                        cc.spot = ccCol;                   
                        selection[0].strokeColor = cc;
                        selection[0].strokeWidth = 1;                   
                        var tcLayer = layers.add();
                        tcLayer.name = 'TC';
                        var padBox = pathItems.rectangle(rectTop, rectLeft, rectWidth, rectHeight, false);
                        padBox.stroked = false;
                        padBox.filled = true;
                        var tcColor = cmykColor(0, 100, 90, 0);         
                        var tcCol = spots.add()
                        tcCol.name = 'TC';
                        tcCol.color = tcColor;
                        tcCol.tint = 100;
                        tcCol.colorType = ColorModel.SPOT;
                        var tc = new SpotColor();
                        tc.spot = tcCol;
                        padBox.fillColor = tc;    
                        padBox.move(docRef, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
                        artboards[0].artboardRect = (padBox.visibleBounds);
                        redraw();
                        rectWidth = (rectWidth-72)/72;
                        rectWidth = roundToDP(rectWidth,1);
                        rectHeight = (rectHeight-72)/72;
                        rectHeight = roundToDP(rectHeight,1);
                        var textString = rectWidth + ' x ' + rectHeight;
                        prompt('Copy Me', textString);
    main();
    function roundToDP(nbr, dP) {
         dpNbr = Math.round(nbr*Math.pow(10,dP))/Math.pow(10,dP);
         return dpNbr;
    function cmykColor(c, m, y, k) {
         var newCMYK = new CMYKColor();
         newCMYK.cyan = c;
         newCMYK.magenta = m;
         newCMYK.yellow = y;
         newCMYK.black = k;
         return newCMYK;

    Thanks to CarlosCanto for the original script, it was very a very helpful starting point to optimize one of our workflows. We customized it a bit to maintain the aspect ratio (just takes the greater of the width / height and scales proportionally to the artboard size), and also center up the object in the middle of the artboard once scaling is complete. I hope it is helpful to someone:
    #target Illustrator
    //  script.name = fitObjectToArtboardBounds.jsx;
    //  script.description = resizes selected object to fit exactly to Active Artboard Bounds;
    //  script.required = select ONE object before running; CS4 & CS5 Only.
    //  script.parent = carlos canto // 01/25/12;
    //  script.elegant = false;
    var idoc = app.activeDocument;
    selec = idoc.selection;
    if (selec.length==1)
            // get document bounds
            var docw = idoc.width;
            var doch = idoc.height;
            var activeAB = idoc.artboards[idoc.artboards.getActiveArtboardIndex()]; // get active AB
            docLeft = activeAB.artboardRect[0];
            docTop = activeAB.artboardRect[1];
            // get selection bounds
            var sel = idoc.selection[0];
            var selVB = sel.visibleBounds;
            var selVw = selVB[2]-selVB[0];
            var selVh = selVB[1]-selVB[3];
            var selGB = sel.geometricBounds;
            var selGw = selGB[2]-selGB[0];
            var selGh = selGB[1]-selGB[3];
            // get the difference between Visible & Geometric Bounds
            var deltaX = selVw-selGw;
            var deltaY = selVh-selGh;
            if (sel.width > sel.height) {
                var newWidth = docw-deltaX;
                var ratio = sel.width / newWidth;
                sel.width = newWidth; // width is Geometric width, so we need to make it smaller...to accomodate the visible portion.
                sel.height = sel.height * ratio;
            } else {
                var newHeight = doch-deltaY;
                var ratio = sel.height / newHeight;
                sel.height = newHeight;
                sel.width = sel.width / ratio;
            sel.top = (doch / 2) - (sel.height / 2);
            sel.left = (docw / 2) - (sel.width / 2);
        else
                alert("select ONE object before running");

  • Saving .ai file outside of the artboard?

    Is there a way to save the whole canvas out to a .pdf and not getting content cut off at the artboards? Or do I have to specifically change the size on each artboard? I have about 400 files that the content exceededs the artboard and I need to print out things outside of the artboard as well. Please help!! I am using Illustrator CS4.

    another possible solution would be to record an action that fits the artboard to all art, then saves the file to PDF. CS4 doesn't allow you to record "fit to artboard bounds" command, but I have made a script for that, you can record an action to run the script and save to PDF, then you can batch run the action on your 400 files.
    you can find the script here
    http://forums.adobe.com/message/3724389

  • Gray outline of artboard shows up in browser when I view webpage - advice on how to remove this

    I have designed a layout in Illustrator (CS5.1) for a webpage. I save for web with transparency and when I view in a browser there is a gray outline of the artboard from illustrator. Any suggestions on how to remove this outline?

    Check your align to pixel grid stuff and the artboard dimensions. This usually happens when olacing stuff at fractional values.
    Mylenium

  • AE CS5 - Viewing items off the artboard

    I'm going to be embarrassed about showing my Illustrator and Flash roots here, but I am animating things that come in from "off-screen". I need to be able to position them accurately in their "off screen" configuration. So in my Composition preview pane I can see the wireframe outline of the shapes, but I need to be able to see the items themselves (ie: the pixels). In Flash you can show or hide the artboard workspace, allowing you to see items that won't end up on-screen in the final composition. I'm really hoping that AE has a similar feature.
    "Modfying and using views" is the closest chapter I can find in the AE Help, which has no mention whatsoever about my question. If I'm missing something in the manual, please point it out. If there's a trick, then I'd love to hear it! If AE doesn't do this... well, I would be baffled but perhaps not shocked... is there a best practice workaround?
    thanks in advance!
    Tom

    Thanks Mylenium and Todd for your helpful posts. Mylenium - that's an interesting workaround. I'll have to noodle it a bit to see how I can work that technique into my workflow. Perhaps I'll need to set up some kind of "guide" box or shape that will let me know when the animation will be "in frame", which I would then make shy for the final composition.
    Todd, thanks for the link. I'll be sure to make a request. The more consistency Adobe can build into its apps across the Creative Suite, the stronger the product line will be and the more it will justify Adobe's way of marketing and selling the apps bundled as opposed to individually, the way it use to be (sigh the good ol' days).
    Tom

  • Open emf and the artboard is blank

    I have a weird Enhanced Metafile issue.  When I open the file in Illustrator CS4 the artboard is blank.  But the layers panel shows the image as if it were there.  If I do a font replacement it shows the entire image correctly and I can switch the fonts but the moment I try to zoom in, the image is gone again.
    If I try to place the emf file into an InDesign document I get the following error: "LimitCheck error occurred creating the screen display for the imported graphic.  The graphic will draw as a gray box, and will not print or export correctly."
    The manufacturer of the software says there isn't a problem with their software (No I don't believe it but I need something else before I can go read them the riot act... again).
    Any idea what's going on?
    Thanks.

    Not if I just do a "select all" nothing is selected.  If you attempt to replace fonts (but you don't actually have to replace any fonts, just launch the function and then click Done) in the emf then the whole thing becomes visible but if you click with any other tool but one the whole thing disappears...that tool, the select tool (NOT the direct select tool... I really want to punch these programmers in the face).  You have to zoom all the way out (~3% on an 8.5x11 artboard) before you do the font replace otherwise you may not see anything.  The emf generated is huge for reasons unknown.  Once you click done on the replace fonts you can click the Select tool and draw a rectangle around just the visible parts of the emf (for some reason there is a huge rectangular path that extends beyond the boundaries of the application window and it is invisible but only about half the size of the visible pieces but if it's included in the selection Illustrator won't let you paste it into a new file).  This will select them and then you can copy and paste them into a new Illustrator file.  It is rendering words but not the numbers of the axes as individual letters instead of words in a text box.  It's a pain to fix all that is wrong but it's easier than breaking up a PDF and the parts of the graph that I need to be a vectors are still vectors so I'll deal with it.
    I would tell you the name of the company but they'd probably hit me with a SLAPP suit.
    Thanks for the help.

  • Outline of After Effects CS4 scripting changes

    Here's a link to a blog post that provides information about the new and changed features in a sparse outline format:
    "After Effects CS4 scripting changes"

    > We use no compression because the LED signs will not take any file that is compressed. I assumed that meant there was no codec involved. Is there a codec applied in CS6, even though it is uncompressed?
    What Rick and I are getting at is: when you render from AE, in the Export Settings dialog there is a codec field; what do you set that to?
    Quick terminology lesson. Codec and compression are not the same thing. When you encode video, you are always using a codec. Most codecs use compression, but some do not. "None" or "Uncompressed" codecs do not use compression.
    After Effects does not add any compression other than what you specifiy in the Export Settings dialog. There should not be a significant difference between the files produced from AE CS4 and AE CS6. AVI, as a format, has not changed in many years. In other words, we know of no difference that would specifically cause this problem.
    If the LED sign software has a problem with an AVI from AE CS6, we need to know the requirements of the LED sign software and how that AVI is failing it. So far all you have told us is "other people say it doesn't work".

  • Permanent outlines around artboards?

    im trying to make web banners. I loaded the web banner template which gives me many different Artboards in typical banner sizes.
    All my banners need an outline round the edge of the banner. i tried to do it the hard way and drew some rectangles that are the same size as the Artboards, but placing them in exact the right spot doesn't seem to work.
    it must be possible to just select an Artboard and give it a permanent outline Can anyone tell me how to do this.
    tnx

    Select the artboard tool and double click the icon on the tool bar then in the dialog make note of the dimension and the position readings. Or get this info from the control panel.
    Now select the marquis too and click in the upper left hand corner of the artboard do not move the cursor just click and it brings u the dialog for the rectangle dimensions enter the dimensions. You should have snap to point and smart guides on that will help you a bit if you are not good with the cursor. Click OK and you should have what you want and I know you want the artboard to convert but it does not and there is no way but this will get you what you want. If the position is different because you are not for some reason accurate enough to make the the click with the marquis cursor accurate you can simple enter the position in the x any field on the control panel and hit return.

  • PURCHASE PROGRAM  When I filled in my credit card details and proceed to Step 4: Enter your payment information, so nothing happens. Have tried several times. This order applies to the upgrade of CS4 and costs 270,60SEK per month.  Does not this offer?  M

    PURCHASE PROGRAM
    When I filled in my credit card details and proceed to Step 4: Enter your payment information, so nothing happens. Have tried several times. This order applies to the upgrade of CS4 and costs 270,60SEK per month.
    Does not this offer?
    Micke at Raa

    Some general information... your Adobe account and your credit card details must match exactly
    Change/Verify Account https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1465499 may help
    -http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/change-country-associated-with-adobe-id. html
    -Credit card https://helpx.adobe.com/utilities/credit-card.html
    -ID support http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/service-c1.html
    -verify email https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1446019

Maybe you are looking for