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Using a printer override (EPSF Riders) file


    The EPSF Riders file sets the screen frequency, angle, spot function, and flatness for all files, or adds an annotation or an error handler message to all files. The settings you specify in the EPSF Riders file override any settings you specified using the Separation Setup dialog box. Before you can create an EPSF Riders file, you must move the EPSF Riders plug-in into the Plug-ins folder.

    The Make Riders filter creates an Adobe Illustrator EPSF Riders file. The EPSF Riders file contains PostScript code that, when added to an Adobe Illustrator file, overrides how a file prints. The Delete Riders filter removes the EPSF Riders file from your system. Only one file, named EPSF Riders, is created when you choose the Make Riders filter. You cannot create multiple Riders files, and you must not change the name of the EPSF Riders file.

To use the EPSF Riders plug-in:

  1. Move the Riders plug-in into the Plug-ins folder. The Riders plug-in is located in the Riders Folder, within the Utilities folder.
  2. Once you have moved the Riders plug-in to the Plug-ins folder, quit Illustrator and then restart the program. Restarting the program acknowledges the presence of the Riders plug-in the Plug-ins folder.
  3. Once the Riders plug-in is in your directory or Plug-ins folder and you have created an EPSF Riders file, all files saved or printed from Illustrator are affected. To remove the EPSF Riders information from your files, you can either delete the Adobe Illustrator EPSF Riders file or move it out of the Plug-ins folder, and then resave all the files that contain the embedded Riders information.

To create an EPSF Riders file:

  1. Choose Filter > Other > Make Riders.
  2. Note: If you haven't moved the Riders plug-in into the Plug-ins folder, the Other category does not appear in the Filter menu. If necessary, follow the steps in the previous section to move the Riders plug-in into the correct location.

  3. Do any of the following:
    • Choose a screen frequency, or line screen, to designate the number of rows of halftone dots per inch when printing. The screen frequency value must be between 1 and 999.
    • Choose a screen angle to determine the angle at which the rows of halftone dots print. (The default setting for black-and-white printing, 45 degrees, is intended to make the dot rows less conspicuous to the eye.) The screen angle value must be between 0 and 360.
    • Choose a spot function to determine the halftone dot's shape. Choose Import from the Spot Function pop-up menu to select and import a spot function.

    Important: An imported spot function must be in PostScript language, correctly formatted. Importing an incorrectly formatted spot function can make a file unprintable. See the Spot Function Template file, located in the Utilities/Riders folder.

    • Choose a flatness setting to simplify complex paths. The Riders flatness setting must be between 0.2 and 200 and is applied to all curves in an Illustrator file.

    Note: The Riders flatness setting overrides the output resolution setting and is not recommended in most cases. (See Changing the path output resolution.)

    • Choose Setup from the Annotation pop-up menu, and enter an annotation of up to 254 characters. The annotation appears at the bottom left corner of the printed page.
    • Choose Error Handler to print error information on the page if a PostScript error occurs. If you are using the Adobe PSPrinter or the LaserWriter 8.0 or later printer driver, turn on the printer driver's error handling instead of the Riders' error handler.
  4. When you have selected the options you want, click Make.
  5. Important: Do not rename the EPSF Riders file. (The name Adobe Illustrator EPSF Riders is selected by default.) If you change the name, Illustrator ignores the file.

  6. Save the EPSF Riders file in the Plug-ins folder.

To delete the Riders file:

  1. Choose Filter > Other > Delete Rider.
  2. Select the Adobe Illustrator EPSF Riders file.
  3. Click Delete.

To move a Riders file:

  1. Locate the EPSF Riders file in the Plug-ins folder.
  2. Move the EPSF Riders file out of the Plug-ins folder. You can move it anywhere, but you may want to move it into the Illustrator folder.
  3. Quit Adobe Illustrator, then restart the program, and resave all the files that contain embedded Riders information.