Prepress Guidelines

The following is a summary of guidelines to help you prepare your electronic files. At this time, we prefer page layout files created in:
• QuarkXpress – versions 3.32 to 6.1
• Adobe PageMaker – versions 6.5 or 7.01
• Adobe InDesign – versions 2 or 3 (CS)

We will accept page layouts created with:
• Adobe Illustrator – versions 6 to 10
• Macromedia FreeHand – versions 7 to 11 (CS)

When delivering files in Adobe Acrobat (versions 4, 5 or 6) or PostScript (level 2 and 3 compatible), please contact your Sales Representative several weeks in advance to discuss correct settings and to obtain the appropriate printer page description (PPD) files, and deliver a test file to us before the job enters production.

Files may be provided in Mac or PC format. Let your salesperson or customer service representative know which format you are working with.

Acceptable media include CDs, DVDs, Zip or Jaz disks. You may also send files to our FTP server. Contact your salesperson or customer service representative for instructions and to have an account set up for you.

Include a completed digital output order form, with a file directory for each disk, when submitting your files.

Note: Unless otherwise stated on your estimate, quotes are based on files that conform to these specifications. Any system time spent correcting your files is chargeable. You will be notified in advance with an estimated cost.

Page Layout
• All page layout documents must be built to the final trim size. If elements on the document require bleed, extend them at least 1/8 inch past the document edge.

• Create document layout with multiple pages at correct trim size. Please do not create over-size pages or paginate as printer spreads.

• Do not scale images up or down more than 50% if possible. If scaling images up in size, make sure to maintain sufficient resolution.

• Provide all screen and printer fonts. Type 1 fonts are preferred over TrueType and Multiple Master fonts. If you do use TrueType fonts, do not provide TrueType and Type 1 fonts for the same typeface.

• Avoid using the style menu in Quark and PageMaker for creating bold, italics, or special effects like outline type or drop shadows. Instead, select the appropriate font in the type menu. Create these special effects by layering text boxes, or by creating them in Illustrator or Photoshop and then importing that as a graphic element into your layout.

Images
• Do not place grayscale TIFFs in QuarkXPress in a picture box filled with none. The monitor preview may appear correct, but the image will not print as desired. Use EPS format instead.

• If you wish to silhouette an image with an irregular shape, make a clipping path in Photoshop and save the image in EPS format. Do not use the clipping path feature in QuarkXPress to silhouette images, as this will yield unsatisfactory results.

• Make sure all colors in the color palette are named consistently with any colors in imported EPS files, and are built as CMYK if the job is intended to print as 4-color process.

• Make sure that screen builds have a value of at least 5% for any color if printing on coated stock, and at least 7% for uncoated stock. Since our contract color proofs show very light tints slightly fuller than they will print, it is always a good idea to consult the Pantone Process Guide for comparison.

• For documents containing heavy black ink coverage, printing quality will be improved if you create a rich-black in your color palette. The preferred build is 40% cyan, 40% magenta, 40% yellow and 100% black. Alternate builds for rich-black are acceptable, provided you discuss with your sales representative before submitting electronic files.

• Never use rich-black or registration colors for text or graphics. Exception: Bold black type at sizes over 72 point will generally print better as rich-black.

• Avoid using RGB, LAB or indexed color images in your document.

• Provide Photoshop images in either TIFF or composite EPS format. Please do not provide files with extra channels (masking channels). Do not use PICT, GIF, or JPEG for placed images. Do not use DCS 1.0 or 2.0 formats until consulting with technical support.

• When creating CMYK separations, set the maximum ink density no greater than 280-300%.

• Images should be provided at a resolution in dots per inch (dpi) two times greater than the screen ruling value in lines per inch (lpi). For example, scan at 300 dpi for images printing at a screen ruling of 150 lpi.

• If copydot scans are planned in your layout, please consult with your Sales Representative first. Copydot files must be scanned at the correct size and resolution to output properly.
• In-RIP trapping is available for most jobs.

Please consult with technical support if you have particular trapping concerns or wish to trap your files yourself.

• Do not use hairline rules, borders or frames in your document, as hairline rules will not reproduce consistently. Specify a custom size of .25 or .3 as a minimum.

• Do not apply a screen to, or create from process color builds, a rule finer than 2 points.

Hard Copy/Supplied Proofs
• All digital files must be accompanied by:
• hard copy proofs
• a completed imagesetting order form
• a directory of file names

Always provide all graphics and all fonts, including those used in EPS files. It is preferable to print proofs with crops marks on. If this requires a slight reduction to fit the paper, please note that the proofs have been printed at a reduced size.

revised 4/15/04