Steve, Check the Illustrator help under the "Transparency" headings. We do not use this feature, but glancing through, it looks like the help should answer your questions about placing one graphic over another.
4.5 MB sounds like a large file size for your background file, Not knowing your experience with Illustrator and not claiming to be an expert...We perform the following on most of the graphics we use (Windows XP, Illustrator CS2, FrameMaker 7.0 and Acrobat Standard 6). In Illustrator: If necessary, save a copy of the file and "Flatten Layers" (compressing everything to one layer), or delete unused layers. "Select All" to ensure there are no extra points or shapes hanging off to the side making the graphic larger than it needs to be and delete them. Apply a cropping mask to get rid of extra background (especially on the chapter number graphic). -or- Open the graphic in acrobat, open the crop pages window, and set the margins manually or check the "Remove White Margins" box. Click OK and save the file. In FM; Ensure runaround properties to "Don't Run Around" (Graphics>Runaround Properties) If I still have problems with a graphic showing correctly (usually if lines are missing from a graphic) I will then go back to Illustrator, open the "Object"menu and ensure "Released" under "Clipping Mask" and "Compound Path" are NOT selected. Hope at least some of this helps, Rob Radcliffe Technical Writer, Technical Writing Department Customer Interaction Center Invacare Corporation Office: 440-326-3195 Fax: 440-326-3912 rradcliffe at invacare.com >original message< Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:45:59 +0100 From: Steve Rickaby <[email protected]> Subject: FrameMaker and Illustrator EPS files To: framers at FrameUsers.com Message-ID: <p06240805c30d616b4e9a@[192.168.0.4]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" FrameMaker 7.0, Mac, Illustrator CS2 I have a chapter opener decorative EPS which is about a 4.5 MB Illustrator file and is imported onto the chapter opener master page. Because of FrameMaker's paucity of text effects, the simplest way to implement the required design [a 180 point reversed-out chapter number with a drop shadow] seems to be to overlay the chapter number(s) on the decorative graphic in Illustrator, which demands a different chapter opener graphic, and so master page, for each chapter and appendix. This is neither elegant nor space-efficient. If I overlay the chapter number on the graphic in Illustrator and import it into FrameMaker by reference, it looks great. However, to save space, I thought it ought to be possible to create the chapter numbers separately and overlay them onto the decorative background in FrameMaker [one 4.5 MB background file instead of 27 of them]. When I do this, though, the chapter number EPS appears in a white frame that not only obliterates the underlying decorative EPS, but, startlingly, causes text on the body pages to wrap to avoid it. This occurs even when the fill of the number graphic is set to none in Illustrator, and is unaffected by grouping of the two graphics and moving them to the back relative to the text frames. I appreciate that all I am seeing in FrameMaker are the EPS previews, but the same is true of actual PDFs created from the document.. Why it this, and is there a way around it? -- Steve CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information in this e-mail message and any attachments may contain confidential health and/or other information protected by Federal and Ohio law. Such information is intended only for the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use or disclosure is prohibited by law.
