Thanks in advance for your help!

I've been using Inkscape for about a year now, but just recently started working with layers - and realizing how much more organized it makes things.

So...I just completed a project where the printer has requested that I send the art in layers. Fortunately, I created the file with layers - so that part is OK. What I'm unsure of is in what format/filetype I need to send the artwork in? Are they asking for one file that they can open up and see the different layers, or do I submit each layer as a separate file, etc?

Thanks!

It's really best to ask your printer about this as there really isn't a standard way of sending images to a printer. A lot of commercial printers don't yet work natively with SVG's (at least here in the UK), so sending that file in itself may not yield any results.

By layers they may also mean separating the file into its RGB/CMYK values and sending a file with each colour. This question on Launchpad addresses this issue and this Inkscape can separate iamges. It's been awhile since I used it (probably over a year), so I can't vouch for it working any longer with newer versions of Inkscape.

With regards to file types in my experience printers/clients have been happy with .pdf files that contained rasterised graphics (as opposed to .pdfs containing vector graphics)

In short, just ask the printer when they require. It'll prevent a lot of hassle on both ends in the long-run

Thanks for the info...I've checked with the printer and they want the layers of the elements (not layers of colors).

So...if I save my file as either an EPS or PDF, will it preserve the layers that I've created?

thanks!

Only one way to find out

In future if you want to see if objects/layers are preserved rather than rasterized save the file as a file type other than SVG and then try reimporting it back into Inkscape.

Actually, there's two ways to find out...I'm hoping someone on this forum has experience with this sort of thing and can help out...

Ok, I'm not clear. Has the printer now specified PDF or EPS? If they require layers, why would they suggest a format that won't support layers?

Well that said, I just tried saving an image with 2 layers as PDF, but the PDF opened in Acrobat Reader does not appear to have retained the layers. At least I can't find any layers. And the new PDF opened in Inkscape definitely has only one layer.

I'm sorry I don't have the proper software to test the EPS format.

Will the printer accept SVG? Because if so, you don't need to do anything else, but submit to them your Inkscape SVG file.

Weighing in with my twopence -
Without knowing exactly why the printer wants the artwork in 'layers' ther is no way to advise you.
When printers want artwork in 'layers' they are probably (unfortunately) thinking of Illustrator layers, and Inkscape cannot provide these.
If you can find out their requirements for bitmap images, we might be able to figure out what their reasoning is.
Sometimes it has to do with trapping (choke and spread) and you might be able to give them what they want. Sometimes it's for registration or custom colours, and this too can be taken care of by separating your single file into a number of files and providing your own registration marks. Ask!
If your printer refuses to explain they obviously have far too many customers, if you take my meaning. In my experience professional printers bend over backwards to explain exactly what they need and why. Being right is a hollow victory for the printer if the customer never comes back.

Sometimes it has to do with trapping (choke and spread)...

Huh? Maybe it's a non-English phrase?

Huh? Maybe it's a non-English phrase?

If you do a google search I am sure you will find out a great deal more about these terms than I could put in here.

Thanks everyone...they want layers so that they can make adjustments, if needed. The artwork is for CD packaging, so there's a template that's a layer...and they need to be able to see the template (in case they need to adjust something), but also take it out for printing.

The problem I'm finding is that a lot of these places expect artwork to come in native Adobe or Corel files. I had one just tell me that they charge extra for art not received in one of those formats!

I am amazed that they will not accept a TIFF file. Have you asked about raster formats? Do they supply you with this template?