I appreciate the clarification. But again, we are miles(or in your case, kilometers) apart.
Both the articles you pointed me to are about CMYK separation from InDesign. As I have stated, I am working with Spot Color and vector graphics in Illustrator.
I AM NOT using InDesign or raster/pixel based images.
Even the articles you linked to stated:
"We’re not talking about vector artwork. InDesign can convert RGB vector artwork, too, but it won’t necessarily end up the way you’d expect. If you’re using Illustrator or a similar vector-drawing tool to make logos or illustrations that will likely be printed, we generally recommend using CMYK or spot colors, not RGB."
I have never used InDesign. I have never printed a CMYK job.
I can not "change the paradigm" because I am not using the the application or the printing method you mentioned.
I only referenced the PPD for InDesign in my original post to show that I indeed tried to see if InDesign would separate when I followed Adobes recommended procedure, and it did. I currently have NO use for InDesign. I would like to learn it eventually, yes, but for right now, I make my living doing vector art for t-shirts in Illustrator. As I also stated, I can ONLY print separations from Illustrator as PostScript files on the Mac. I CAN print directly to PDF from Illustrator on the PC, but I'm no longer using a PC at my job, and I have no control over that. And since I don't want to "refry" the PDF using the PostScript/Distill to PDF/save as EPS workflow that Mac FORCES me to use, I just want to save my files from Illustrator as a PDF and use Acrobat to separate the spot colors.
As far as CMYK, we don't do it because:
a) no client ever wants it because it involves a minimum of 4 screens (which all have set up fees), our clients usually want 1-3 color shirts, with spot colors. This is why I got good at Spot Color gradients and printing through AccuRip. It allows us to keep the screen cost to a minimum and still allow for "pictures" to be printed onto shirts. Mainly, for people who have died and the family wants a black & white "In Memory" shirt with a B&W picture of the person with the birth and death dates. We can only print what the clients ask for.
b) to do water-based CMYK (I know you can now do plastisol CMYK), you need a forced air conveyor dryer, which usually start @ arrant ten thousand dollars for the size we would need. We do not have the money or space for it.
So, back to the original question. And you are seemingly very skilled in all things PDF/Acrobat related, so:
Do you know why I do not have the option to "print" separations from Acrobat? Do you know how to fix this issue? The manual says I should be able to do so. I can from Illustrator and InDesign, but not from Acrobat.
If this can not be figured out and I am FORCED to "print" to a PostScript file from Illustrator, do you know the difference between the Acrobat Distiller PPD and the ADPDF9.PPD? They are different sizes and from different years, both seem to work, but is there a major difference in the two?
Thank you for your time.