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
Please supply a print ready pdf file. This is the preferred file format.
All fonts are included.
►Type is legible and crisp.
►Page layout is correct. Make sure there is enough contrast between text and backgrounds.
►Margins are set. Minimum 2mm bleed.
►Artwork matches the specified dimensions.
►Colours in CMYK mode.
Bleeds
A 2mm border must be added to pictures and designs bleeding to the edge, so that there is no white space or border showing around the artwork. It is also important to keep text at least a 6mm away from the paper edge or the trim line to prevent accidental cropping.
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 colours show a marked color shift when converted to four colour process.
For one, two or three colour jobs printed in Pantone spot colour, 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 color accuracy and a better quality output.
Image Resolutions
►All images and pictures should be 300 dpi at print size.
►Rasterized text or logos should be 1200 dpi at print size.
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 reproduction.
►Files should be saved in PDF format (embed all fonts).
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. If colour accuracy is of extreme importance to you, please ask for a hard copy proof. Scan all transparencies and line art at 100% of final size unless data size is prohibitive. If such a case occurs, scan at 1/4 or 1/2 of final size.