To ensure you get the best possible results, we’ve assembled
this list of guidelines so your full color print job will be processed
as smoothly as possible.
Accepted Software
Color Images
B&W Images
Colors
Bleeds
Electronic File Checklist
Fonts
How it Works
Questions?
Tips for getting started
Photos
Text
Logos
Proofs
Accepted Software:
We support files and artwork created in the following applications:
Microsoft Publisher, Word, Excel, Powerpoint
Quark XPress
Adobe Pagemaker, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat
Corel DRAW, PHOTO-PAINT,
Macromedia Freehand,
Claris Works
AppleWorks
If you have other file formats, we may be able to handle them, too.
Just ask!
Color Images:
Be sure to include all native and imported files. All images must
be either: .eps, .tif, or .jpeg files. You should scan your images
using a resolution of 300dpi at the final dimensions you intend
to use them so that your colors will look smooth,
and hard objects will look sharp. In other words don’t scan
at 300dpi and then enlarge the picture by 200% in your layout program!
Low-resolution images taken from the internet are not recommended.
They are probably only 72dpi in resolution and will look very blurry
if printed on a printing press.
If you are using pictures from your digital camera they will work
just fine. The quality of jpg images from digital cameras seems to
be much better than jpgs that are used on the web. You must do the
math to make sure that it is high enough in pixel resolution though.
For instance, if your camera puts out a typical image of 1280 x 960
pixels at 72dpi you get about 17" x 13" of photograph (at
72dpi); this is the same amount of detail as an image which is 4" x
3" at 300dpi so it’s safe to reduce or enlarge that image
up to about 4" x 3" in dimension.
B&W Images:
All black & white (bitmap) images must be scanned between 600-1200
dpi.
Colors:
We print 4 process (CMYK) colors. Scanners and digital cameras create
images using combinations of just three colors: Red, Green and
Blue (called “RGB”). These are the colors that computers
use to display images on your screen. But printing presses print
full color pictures using a different set of colors: Cyan (blue),
Magenta (red), Yellow and Black (called “CMYK”). So
at some stage your RGB file must be translated to CMYK in order
to print it on a printing press. This is easily done using an image
editing program like PhotoShop or Corel PhotoPaint.
Caution: It’s Best If You do the RGB-to-CMYK Conversion of
Your Images!
You will have more control over the appearance of your printed piece
if you convert all of the images from RGB to CMYK before sending
them to us. When we receive RGB images, we do a standard-value conversion
to CMYK, which may not be perfectly to your liking. We want you to
be happy, so please, take the time to prepare your file properly.
We cannot be responsible for sub-par results if you furnish low-res
images or RGB images.
Be aware that it is possible to make colors in RGB that you can’t
make with CMYK. They are said to be “out of the CMYK color
gamut”. What happens is that the translator just gets as close
as possible to the appearance of the original and that’s as
good as it can be. It’s something that everyone in the industry
puts up with. So it’s best to select any colors you use for
fonts or other design elements in your layout using CMYK definitions
instead of RGB. Color photos don’t suffer much from CMYK translation
Do not use default red, green or blue colors available on your color
palette as these do not accurately convert to CMYK. Any heavy black
ink coverage must be set up as a true black (C75 M50 Y50 K100). Be
sure all colors used in your document and your graphic files are
set to CMYK values for proper separation. Be sure to remove any unused
colors.
Bleeds:
Set your document size to the exact size of your finished piece.
If your design includes images or color fills that extend to the
edge of your final printed piece, you must create bleeds.
Make sure your images or color fills extend at least 1/16" past
the page edge. For non-bleed jobs, make sure there is 1/8" clear
space from the edge on all sides.
Fonts:
A common delay with disk supplied artwork is missing fonts. Be sure
to include ALL fonts when saving the files to disk. Send all printer
and screen fonts, or TrueType fonts. Include all styles used -regular,
bold, italic and bold italic.
Be sure to check
spelling & grammar
in your
document carefully and be sure to keep a
backup of all files
that you send to us.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding how to correctly set up your
files for printing, please don’t hesitate to call us or view
our Electronic File Checklist. We will be happy to email or fax
to you a Digital Printing Work Order to help you straighten out
your file(s).
Don’t have time to design it yourself?
We can design it for
you!
Our professional graphic design team will create a professional
design that commands attention and enhances your business image -
all at an affordable price! Simply provide us with a sketch, copy,
some high-quality photos or artwork, and we’ll take care of
the rest. Call us for details.
Tips for getting started:
There are 3 elements to any successful printed piece: Photos of your
product or service; Text about your product or service; and your
company Logo. Remember, the more care you take in selecting and
preparing these elements, the better the results will be.
Photos:
A photo catches the eye of your audience before the written words
do. Used correctly, a color photo can capture the attention of
your audience, improve their retention of the information, and
sell your product or service.
Obtain good high-quality photos that relate to your message or let
us choose from our group of stock photographs and artwork.
Text:
Pictures combined with words get your message across. It’s
not just what you say about your product or service, but how you
say it. When put into perspective, figures, statistics, and percentages
can help to enhance your information.
Take the time to tell your audience who you are and what you do.
Nobody knows your business better than you do, making you the best
person to write about it.
Logos:
Use your company logo to attract attention. A good logo can say it
all at a glance. Supply us with a crisp, clear copy of your company
logo to incorporate into the printing design.
Proofs:
After a design has been created, we’ll provide you with a pdf
proof for text, layout, and design approval. A hard copy color proof
can be made available if you choose.
You will be asked to review the proof(s) carefully and return to
us the signed artwork approval form. Your full color piece will be
printed shortly thereafter.
