Digital File Preparation - how to do it right!

Send us a PDF file whenever possible, in single page files. Please see tips below for optimum results. Be sure to save a copy of your work and submit a hard copy to us as well for comparison purposes.

For optimal results, your image must be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch), also known as Pixels Per Inch (PPI) at the final output size. If it is less please contact us for advice.

All Acrobat PDF files must be saved using the High Resolution Setting with all fonts embedded. Bleed and crop marks must be manually set when saving a file to PDF format. Each program and operating system has a different way of doing this. (Export to PDF, Save as PDF, Print to PostScript File and Distill in Acrobat Distiller)

Bleeds

• Please keep bleeds in mind when you are designing your artwork. If your artwork has a white border, then bleeds are not required. However, if your artwork is NOT white on all four sides, then you MUST include bleeds in your files, 1/8 of an inch on all sides.

Borders and Safe Areas

• The cutting process for printed materials has a mechanical tolerance of about .0625 or 1/16 of an inch. When using a border in your artwork, it is essential that your design use at least .125 or 1/8 of an inch of white space from your border to the cut line to maintain a symmetrical appearance.
• It is also imperative that no text or essential parts of your artwork come within 1/8" of the trim line. Again, due to the mechanical tolerance during the cutting process, any content within 1/16" of the trim line may be cut off.

Graphics & Fonts

• Please include all images (embedded and linked)
• Always include all fonts

Colors

• For large solid areas of black, consider setting the color to 100% black, 60% cyan, 50% magenta and 40% yellow to get a Rich Black
• When printing a Full Color Process job, convert all images and colors to CMYK
• Set black text to 100% black (not a 4-color build or RGB)

The following is a list of programs we work with on a regular basis that furnish the best results:

Adobe Acrobat
A PDF file saved as a high resolution file (300 dpi) with all fonts embedded. Only a properly exported file will retain spot color information.
A PDF File can be created using many different methods. Some applications use a built-in PDF converter, and some do not have this functionality at all.
If you own a copy of Adobe Acrobat Professional (this is not the same as Adobe Acrobat Reader), you can create a PDF from ANY application that supports printing. To create a PDF, simply choose "Adobe PDF" as your printer.

Adobe InDesign:
Preflight:The Preflight option allows InDesign to check your files for common printing errors and help you solve them. To use this feature, simply choose "Preflight" from the file menu.
Package:Please resolve any issues detected by the preflight process. Once InDesign detects no errors, please choose "Package" either from the File Menu, or by pushing the "Package" button on the preflight screen above.

On this screen, please make sure the to check "Copy Fonts", "Copy Linked Graphics", and "Update Graphic Links in Package" - then click Package

Adobe Illustrator:
File formats include .ai and .eps.  Create outlines/curves before sending if the file is ready to print with no changes.  If you need our designers to make changes to your file, please send the original editable file and include any fonts used.

Adobe Photoshop:
File formats include .jpg, .tif, .psd, and .eps. Fonts used in this program WILL NOT print in Vector Format. You must set your text in another application for the best results.

Quark XPress:
When your artwork is complete, choose "Collect for Output" from the file menu. Navigate to a folder where you'd like to save all the files. - Please make sure in the "Collect" section, "Layout", "Linked Pictures", "Embedded Pictures", and "Fonts" are checked, then save file.

The following file types are acceptable, but additional design charges may apply to convert & fix these files types.
Microsoft programs DO NOT have color separation ability, with the exception of MS Publisher. This means that even though you can print files from these applications on your color laser printer or color copier, they DO NOT work for Offset Printing unless:

Microsoft Word
Submitted .doc files can be saved as .pdf files and printed as 1 color or full color files.

Microsoft Powerpoint
Submitted .ppt files can be saved as .pdf files and printed as 1 color or full color files.

Microsoft Excel
Submitted .xls files can be saved as .pdf files and printed as 1 color or full color files.

Microsoft Publisher
Submitted .pub files can be saved as .pdf files and printed as 1 color or full color files.  If designed as spot PMS colors by an experienced MS Publisher user, we can print color separated work from your files.  Additional charges will apply to color separate your artwork, if necessary.  Please use the MS Publisher “Pack and Go” feature to ensure that all necessary linked files and fonts are available for our use.

Please feel free to call or email our design team with questions regarding your artwork: Production Email