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| | To ensure high quality publications, our pre-press workflow depends on correctly built files. Please take time to read the following: | |
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| | | 1. | Page Layout Size | | | Prepare you files for the final output size, not your laser printer. Do not try to do your own imposition. | | |
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| | | 2. | Scanning and Placing An Image | | | | a. | Plan and know your image size before scanning | | b. | Create your document and place an empty picture box where the image is to be positioned. Note the size of the box. | | c. | If your original is 2” x 2.5” and you need to enlarge it to 8” x 10”, scan the image four times the final resolution, or at 1200ppi. Then your effective resolution, after the image is enlarged to 400% becomes 300ppi. | | d. | If the original is wider or taller, you may need to decide how to crop the width or height. | | e. | Edit your image in Photoshop or another photo editing software by adjusting the color or grayscale levels, compensate for dot grain, and touch up for imperfections. | | f. | Adjust the image size to be slightly larger than the image box and make sure the resolution is still 300ppi. | | g. | Save the image as a TIFF, JPG or EPS. | | h. | Place the image in your document, avoiding re-sizing or scaling. But if you must, you should only reduce or enlarge 90% to 110%. Any more than that you should re-scan the original to maintain high quality results. | | | |
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| | | | | | 3. | Support Images | | | For best quality, support images must be saved in TIFF or EPS format. JPEG format is supported as long as it follows the criteria listed below: | | | | | | TIFF Images: | | | | a. | Resolution MUST BE 300 DPI at ACTUAL PRINT SIZE. | | b. | Saved as CMYK (not RGB) | | c. | Does not contain any unnecessary channels or paths | | d. | Bitmap images MUST BE 1,000 DPI | | | | | | | EPS Images: | | | | a. | “Encoding” is set to “binary” | | | | | | | JPEG Images: | | | | a. | QUALITY—save with maximum quality | | b. | RESOLUTION—must be 300 DPI at actual print size | | c. | Saved as CMYK (not RGB) | | | |
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| | | | | Note: | | • | Do not pull files off the internet which are almost always saved at a resolution that is too low for print quality. | | • | Do not embed graphics in your application file. Keep all graphics in one folder for each document. | | • | Always send graphic files with application files. Otherwise you get a low resolution output. | | | |
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| | | | | | 4. | Create Your Document in the Correct Color(s) | | | For example, if you’re printing a two-color piece with a PMS color and black, use only those colors in your document. If you designate any others, they won’t show up on the film output. So, make sure all imported logos and graphic files also reflect only the colors used in your piece. And, be consistent – the computer views PMS 185C as a different color from PMS 185CV. | | |
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| | | 5. | Missing or Inadequate Bleeds | | | Remember to bleed at least 1/8” on all elements that touch the paper’s edge. | | |
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| | | 6. | Transmitting Files | | | QuarkXpress and PageMaker have built-in utilities that can help. In QuarkXpress, use “Collect for Output”. Then be sure to read the report (.xtg file) to see what fonts need to be included too. In PageMaker, use the Plug-in “Save for Service Provider” to copy all graphics, fonts and application files to a distribution disk. | | |
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| | | 7. | Always indicate every font used in the document(s)
on your job disk. | | | All fonts, including the common ones like Helvetica, Times, etc., can vary slightly causing changes in line endings or type to drop out of a text box. Don’t forget to label and supply us with only necessary screen and printer fonts, whether or not they are embedded in a graphic file or is an EPS image. | | | | | | If possible, convert to all fonts to path (outlines), but make sure you double up the working file in case of you’ll need to re-use the file and edit the content in future. | | | | | | Note: If your file is done in QuarkXpress: save document as a Quark EPS, place this EPS into Photoshop, (Resolution must be 300 DPI, mode must be CMYK), save document as a TIFF. | | |
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| | | | | | 8. | Indicate Program(s) Used | | | We accept the following programs. Please indicate if they are in Mac or WIN platform so we can access your files faster. | | | | a. | Adobe QuarkXpress | | b. | Adobe Illustrator | | c. | Adobe Photoshop | | d. | Macromedia Freehand | | e. | Adobe PageMaker | | f. | Microsoft Word (Text files ONLY) | | g. | PDF | | | |
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| | | 10. | Send us a printed sample or color proof | | | Composite or color separated laser proofs are required especially if your artwork is in color so that our prepress tech know what to expect and will try to match the color in accordance. | | |
