Helpful tips and guidelines when supplying us with files:
When creating PDFs:
DO
- Create documents as single pages (or facing pages) at final trim size.
- Include at least 1/8" bleed.
- Include crop marks that are offset from the trim by at least 1/8".
- Embed fonts.
- Use high-resolution images. The rule of thumb is that the resolution should be twice the line screen (e.g., if a job is printing at 150 lpi, then all images should be 300 dpi). Line art should be at least 1200dpi, as our plates image at 2400dpi.
- Use "rich black" for large areas of solid black coverage (C=60%, M=0%, Y=0%, K=100%). Do not use rich black for text unless it is bold type over 72 pts. in size.
- Make certain that any page intended to be black-and-white is truly black-and-white and not 4-color build that appears black-and-white on the monitor. Acrobat Pro has excellent tools for previewing color builds.
DO NOT
- Use any rules thinner than 1/4 point.
- Put critical content closer than 1/4" from the edges of the page.
- Use RGB images. Settings to convert RGB to CMYK are available.
- Create PDF with greater than 1.3 compatibility (PDF/X-1a compliant).
- Leave transparencies unflattened (only allowed in PDF versions 1.4 and later).
- Leave excess colors in document (for example, spot colors that don’t print, or multiple conflicting spot color names). Resolve colors in your support files or set the page layout application (InDesign or QuarkXPress) to convert colors to process when creating the PDF.
When supplying native files:
- Provide all support files and fonts. Most desktop software (e.g. InDesign and Quark) has a built-in function that will copy the document and all necessary files into a specified folder.
When transferring files via FTP:
- Put files only in the main customer folder we have provided for you. Do NOT place files in sub-folders unless you yourself have created the folder.
