FAQs

FILE PREPARATION

Artwork Guidelines

 

We have prepared the following guide to assist you with your electronic file preparation and submission. If you have a specific problem that is not covered in this guide, or have other questions, please feel free to contact us. Improperly prepared files can cause delays in manufacturing.

 

Quick Checklist

 

 

 

All fonts are included.

►Type is legible and crisp.

►Page layout is correct.

►Margins are set.

►Artwork matches the specified dimensions.

►All linked files, images, and fonts are placed in separate folders.

►Colours in CMYK mode.

 

Bleeds

 

 


2mm bleed is required on ALL 4 edges of artwork or CHARGES and DELAYS may apply (bleed is extra background around the finished size of the document so the colour ‘bleeds’ off the edge of the page where cut, to ensure no white edges). The only time bleed is NOT required is when artwork is surrounded by white space on ALL pages. Refrain from putting objects and text closer than 3mm to the edge of the finished size to ensure nothing on your artwork is cut off (therefore 6mm from the edge of the bleed).
 
 

Colour Specifications

 

 


Print previews are not a safe and sure measuring tool for colour accuracy. Colours on the file might be effected by monitor calibration, screen resolution and lighting, just to name a few. Many Pantone colors show a marked colour shift when converted to four colour process.
 
For one, two or three colour jobs printed in Pantone spot color, make sure your colours are specified as spot colour and they separate correctly. You can test this by printing separations on your laser printer.
 
To achieve the desired colour on press, digital files must reflect accurate colour models and percentage. Please make sure all colours are in CMYK mode for colour accuracy and a better quality output.
 
 

Image Resolutions


 

►All images and pictures should be 300 dpi.

►Rasterized text or logos should be 1200 dpi.

►Screen values should be between 133 lpi and 150 lpi.

 

Guidelines by Application


 

The following outlines the specific file requirements by application. If you have any questions, please contact our graphics department.
 
 
 

Adobe Photoshop

 

►Files should be 300 dpi at 100% of actual size for quality offset reproduction.
►Files should be saved in PDF format (embed all fonts and set the screen value to 133 lpi.)
 
 

Digital Proofs

 


We provide PDF files as electronic soft proofs. These digital proofs intend to show you the layout and design elements of your job, but cannot be a guarantee of colour accuracy
Formats other than PDF will require a graphic designer to make them ready for printing. These formats are as follows:

 

Mircosoft Office files (This includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher)

 

Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop files (including TIFF & JPEG)

 

Corel Draw files

 

Page Maker Files

 

Any file format other than PDF

   

PRESS READY PDF files should be uploaded following these guidelines:

 

Trim: Always include trim marks (trim area is the final size of your print job, they should be offset 3mm)

 

Internal Bleed: We require 2mm of internal bleed on all files (however we recommend 4mm if possible). That means you need to keep all your important information away from this area.

 

External Bleed: We require 3mm of external bleed on all files. Your job is printed on a larger sheet than it's finished size and then trimmed to size. External bleed is the area extending past your trim area and allows for a small amount of movement that may occur when your work is being cut to size.  

 

Export Press Ready PDF: Files need to be presented at 300dpi in CMYK, all fonts to be embeded (if fonts can't be embedded they need to be converted to outlines).

 

 

Only artwork supplied in the following formats will be accepted for printing:

 

Press Ready PDF: If you have your artwork as a Press Ready PDF with Bleed and Trims then select the "Upload Your Artwork" button from the "Get Started" menu at the bottom of the page.