Printing Specifications
The following
are our art requirements. Please adhere to these specifications.
For info on Creating Postscript Files and Docutech printing see
Docutech.
Deviation from the following instructions may delay your order and/or incur
additional art charges.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- All art should be complete and sized to fit the area to
be printed.
- For bleed allow 1/8" over on all sides, using crop marks for cutting guides. For items without bleed, allow 1/8" margin from the edge — free of type or graphics.
- Screens should be 133 to 150 Lpi (lines per inch). If your art includes screens, they must be provided on computer disk in one of the formats listed below, or on film negative with art sized to fit the area to be printed.
DIGITAL REQUIREMENTS
- We will accept computer generated art (Macintosh preferred) in the following formats listed in order of preference:
- QuarkXpress, Adobe Photoshop, Freehand, Illustrator or PageMaker [Note: For Adobe Indesign and Microsoft programs (ex: Word, Publisher, Excel, etc.) you will need to create a postscript file in order to retain fonts, images, and layout]
- Graphics (photos/logos) should be provided as a Tagged Image Format File (TIFF) or as an EPS file
- Graphics (photos/logos) should not be compressed Jpeg Format File (jpg) or as a Gif Format file(gif)
- Full-color graphics files must be provided as CMYK format files, not RGB. If you have a file saved as RGB, convert it to a CYMK format before submitting it to us.
- Spot colors should be designated as PMS (Pantone Matching System) coated colors. Please do not mix process colors and spot color in the same file, unless that is what you really want.
- Files with linked images must include all the linked files and should be completely assembled and ready for output.
- Halftones should be scanned at 300 dpi (dots per inch or pixels per inch).
- If you are using an application that is not listed above, i.e., CorelDraw, you must export your file to Adobe Illustrator format or a "press" quality PDF format file created with Adobe Distiller including cropmarks and bleeds (to be trimmed off). Proof the file to make sure all elements, ink colors, and images converted properly before sending to us.
TYPE/FONT REQUIREMENTS
- All type should be Adobe PostscriptType I fonts, not TrueType fonts (some True Type fonts do not print properly).
- All type fonts used in the art must be included on the disk. Please be sure to include both the printer and screen fonts, but send only the fonts required.
- Do not use the "Style" feature in the program you're using, i.e., Bold, Italic, etc. to define font style. Use the actual font from the "Font" Menu.
- If you do not wish to include the actual fonts with the art work, you may use your program option, if available, to convert the type to "curves" or "outlines".
SENDING FILES
- Files may be sent on 100 MB or 250 MB lomega Zip Cartridge, 1 or 2 GIG lomega Jaz Cartridge, or (CDR or CDRW) cd disks with layout and a hard copy proof.
The following will be charged at our normal hourly rate:
Additional time associated with jobs containing
incomplete, missing elements, or incompatable fonts
Creating proofs if not provided with file
Scanning images not provided with file
Making alterations to the original file
ACTION PRINTING HELPFUL HINT: Give this page to your customer and/or to the artist preparing the art.