PDFs can be problematic if not saved properly. When saving a PDF as the final file, make sure you save it in the proper resolution. Many programs have a setting for press quality, or a setting where you can downsample the art. Make sure the downsample is set to at least 300 dpi in order to obtain the best quality finished product. Embed the fonts and images.
Return to TopIn order for your printing job to flow smoothly, please supply all the files necessary for the reproduction of the job. This can be done in Quark by going to File-Collect for Output. In InDesign go to File-Package. If a warning comes up about collecting the fonts, click OK. Also make sure all the images are included in the package. When sending the package, by e-mail or FTP, please compress the files. This will avoid problems as the files are transferred over the internet.
Return to TopFonts can cause many problems if not handled correctly. Always include the fonts when packaging and sending files. Even then, at times they cause problems. Some fonts have different versions that can cause type reflow. If your files were created on a PC the type could look different on a MAC. One way to avoid problems with fonts is to turn the fonts to outlines. This turns the fonts into art.
Return to TopBecause of the inconsistencies that can occur in printing, trimming, folding, etc., it is the industry standard to add some image all the way around the printed piece. Industry standards call for .125 inch bleed on all sides.
Return to TopDigital images are composed of pixels. There are a certain number of pixels in an inch. This is called PPI (pixels per inch) or DPI (dots per inch). The DPI or PPI is called the resolution. For viewing on the computer monitor a DPI of 72 is fine. The photo looks great. For printing however, a DPI of 300 is desirable. If the DPI is too low, the photo will look jagged and pixilated. Photoshop is best used for images. Typesetting your job in Photoshop, although it looks good on the screen, will produce inferior results when printed. Bring the photo into Quark, InDesign or Illustrator and then set the type. The results will look much better than typesetting in Photoshop. Make sure the images submitted are turned into CMYK. Sometimes the conversion from RGB to CMYK can cause a color shift in the image. If the customer converts the image to CMYK they can see the color shift and make any color adjustments necessary before submitting the photo for printing.
For illustrations or logos, Illustrator might be the best choice to achieve quality results. The files generated by Illustrator are vector files. Unlike files produced by Photoshop, which are rasterized, vector files can be enlarged without any loss of quality.
Return to TopBrochures that fold can present a problem if the files are not prepared properly. Adjustment of the panel sizes can be time consuming and costly. If a brochure only folds in half there is no problem, but if it folds in thirds, the panel that folds in needs to be 1/16" to 1/8" shorter than the other panels. Some brochures have complicated folds, and multiple panels that require other panels to be short. Panel size considerations are best taken care of at the design phase of the project. Simply make your document size the size of the finished piece. Draw guides showing the panel sizes, and layout the art according to the guides. If the files we receive are prepared correctly, with the type and art positioned correctly according to the panel size, it will speed up the flow of the job through the shop. If you have any questions about panel sizes or complicated folds contact us before preparing the art files.
Return to TopColors in the file that you do not want to print, such as a die line, embossing or foil die, or anything that is for position only, should be colored a spot color. If they are colored CMYK in the file, we have to change them to spot before we can print the job, delaying the project and increasing the costs. If they are colored a spot color, labeled and placed on their own layer the job will flow smoothly with less chances of errors. We usually leave the dielines on the proof so that the final job can be easily visualized. We can easily turn off the spot colors when we make plates.
Return to TopMany designers and artists create their art in Illustrator or InDesign using the RGB color setting. When they color the type black they think it will print black. This is a logical assumption but it doesn't turn out that way. Since the printing process is done in CMYK, the files created in RGB need to be converted to CMYK before printing. When the black is converted from RGB to CMYK, rather than becoming solid black, the type is becomes a screen value of all four colors. This causes problems on the press, and the visual quality of the type is poor. We suggest before you begin creating the art, you change the setting to CMYK and then create the black type using 100% black. In Illustrator the setting can be found under FILE, DOCUMENT COLOR MODE, CMYK. In InDesign you can specify CMYK when creating the color.
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