Operation Manual

305
USING ILLUSTRATOR
Importing, exporting, and saving
Last updated 11/8/2011
File information found in the Document Info panel provides general file information and object characteristics, as well
as the number and names of graphic styles, custom colors, gradients, fonts, and placed art.
About metadata
Metadata is a set of standardized information about a file, such as author name, resolution, color space, copyright, and
keywords applied to it. For example, most digital cameras attach some basic information to an image file, such as
height, width, file format, and time the image was taken. You can use metadata to streamline your workflow and
organize your files.
About the XMP standard
Metadata information is stored using the Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) standard, on which Adobe Bridge,
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop are built. Adjustments made to images with Photoshop®
Camera Raw are stored as XMP metadata. XMP is built on XML, and in most cases the metadata is stored in the file.
If it isn’t possible to store the information in the file, metadata is stored in a separate file called a sidecar file. XMP
facilitates the exchange of metadata between Adobe applications and across publishing workflows. For example, you
can save metadata from one file as a template, and then import the metadata into other files.
Metadata that is stored in other formats, such as Exif, IPTC (IIM), GPS, and TIFF, is synchronized and described with
XMP so that it can be more easily viewed and managed. Other applications and features (for example, Adobe Drive)
also use XMP to communicate and store information such as version comments, which you can search using Adobe
Bridge.
In most cases, the metadata remains with the file even when the file format changes (for example, from PSD to JPG).
Metadata also remains when files are placed in an Adobe document or project.
If you’re a C++ or Java developer, use the XMP Toolkit SDK to customize the processing and exchange of metadata.
If you’re an Adobe Flash or Flex developer, use the XMP File Info SDK to customize the File Info dialog box. For more
information, visit the Adobe website.
Working with metadata in Adobe Bridge and Adobe Creative Suite components
Many of the powerful Adobe Bridge features that allow you to organize, search, and keep track of your files and
versions depend on XMP metadata in your files. Adobe Bridge provides two ways of working with metadata: through
the Metadata panel and through the File Info dialog box.
In some cases, multiple views exist for the same metadata property. For example, a property may be labeled Author in
one view and Creator in another, but both refer to the same underlying property. Even if you customize these views
for specific workflows, they remain standardized through XMP.
Document Info panel overview
You use the Document Info panel to see listings of general file information and object characteristics, as well as the
number and names of graphic styles, custom colors, patterns, gradients, fonts, and placed art. To display the panel,
choose Window
> Document Info.
• To view a different type of information, select an option from the panel menu: Document, Objects, Graphic Styles,
Brushes, Spot Color Objects, Pattern Objects, Gradient Objects, Fonts, Linked Images, Embedded Images, and Font
Details.
• To view information on only the selected object, choose Selection Only from the panel menu. Leaving this option
deselected lists information about the entire document.