.ai file question..

[Soprano]

Afternoon guys
I've been asked to submit an .ai file to a printer, which isn't a problem in itself, but I remember I done so recently and someone took it upon themselves to alter the work. (Lesson learnt and all that..)
Does anyone know if there's a way to protect the file so it can't be edited, but so they can access it to print?
Thanks!

 

[shaunalynn]

Lock all layers maybe? Not sure how you can go about that. Why would the printer need the AI file? Couldn't they use a high res TIF?

 

[Soprano]

It's being printed big for the front/sides of a fairly big vehicle. I assumed this was why he asked for the .ai so it was easier in terms of getting the sizing correct without losing any quality along the way.

 

[Levi]

http://forums.adobe.com/message/1254181 take a look there... basically it's saying send a flattened and merged .eps file

 

[Soprano]

http://forums.adobe.com/message/1254181 take a look there... basically it's saying send a flattened and merged .eps file

Brilliant - Thanks Levi!

 

[scotty]

.....or a locked PDF.

 

[balders]

This might help http://help.adobe.com/en_US/illustrator/cs/using/WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-64a2a.html
or just ask for it back when they have finished.

 

[Soprano]

This might help http://help.adobe.com/en_US/illustrator/cs/using/WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-64a2a.html
or just ask for it back when they have finished.

I sniggered at the thought of doing that earlier.
Scotty - would a flattened pdf not go pixelated when they scale it up to print? To be honest, I'm not sure why they didn't just give me the resolution info like I asked so I could save it at the right size for them.