Design Tips
Please consider the following guide on how to properly prepare your file for printing. Don’t worry, we will contact you should we spot any issues with your files. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Your File
WHICH FILE FORMAT SHOULD I CHOOSE
- Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) (recommended) Note: When exporting to your file to a PDF, choose the PDF Preset “Press Quality”
- Adobe Illustrator Artwork (recommended) – convert text to outlines (*.pdf preferred)
- Adobe Photoshop Image (recommended)
- Adobe InDesign Files (Choose File>Package)
- JPEG Hi-resolution Image – 300 DPI (*.jpg or *jpeg)
- *Microsoft Publisher (*.pub)
- TIFF Image (*.tif or *.tiff)
*For files created in Publisher, it’s recommended that you include a PDF output of your design and include it along with the *.pub file.
Full Bleed Size
WHEN TO CREATE YOUR DOCUMENT AT THE FULL BLEED SIZE
- If you are working in an illustration program (such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw) or a photo editing program (Such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint), we recommend that you create your document at the full bleed size. To make your artwork full bleed size, add (1/8”) to each side of your document, this will prevent any white edges from showing at the borders after the final product is trimmed.
SAFE AREA / SAFE MARGINS
- The safe margins are borders that are definitely inside the place where the cut will take place. Please remember to keep all important information, like names, addresses, phone numbers or logos within the safe margin (at least .137” from the edge) to ensure that they aren’t cut off when your document is trimmed.
Resolution
WHAT IS RESOLUTION?
- Resolution refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi), or the amount of detail the image has. Most documents prepared for upload should be 300 dpi at 100% of the final print size. Higher resolution means a more detailed image, and also larger file and longer upload time.
Designing In Color
CMYK VS. RGB
- CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) are the colors used in the printing process, whereas RGB (Red, Green and Blue) are the colors used by screen displays such as your monitor. Please note that JPEG files are almost always in RGB. NOTE: Your document should be created in CMYK mode so that the colors that you see on the screen most closely match the final printed product. If you create your document in RGB, the colors in your printed product may vary slightly. Many of the bright values produced by your monitor cannot be reproduced in print.
WHY SHOULD MY DOCUMENT BE CREATED IN CMYK MODE?
- This is so that the colors you see on the screen match the final printed product as close as possible. If you create your document in RGB, the colors in your printed product may vary slightly. Many of the bright values produced by your monitor cannot be reproduced in print.
Font Output
CONVERTING FONTS TO OUTLINES
- Text can be converted to curves (paths) in some graphics programs. This will fix upload errors that result when fonts are not embedded in your file. Following these easy steps will help ensure that your text prints clearly.
HOW TO CONVERT FONTS TO OUTLINES IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
- Select all text. Click Type Menu> Type> Create Outlines Text now has a blue outline.Save a copy and re-upload.
Images
IMAGES FROM A DIGITAL CAMERA
- If you wish to use images from a digital camera, before you snap pictures make sure the camera is set at a high enough resolution to result in 300 DPI at the intended photo print size. Most cameras have various settings for resolutions. The highest resolution for your camera depends on how many megapixels it has. You cannot increase the resolution of a photo after it is taken, except by reducing its printed dimensions (after you upload the image). Be careful when cropping a photo after it is taken. Cropping will reduce the number of pixels in the final image.
IMAGES FROM A SCANNER
- Like a digital camera, a scanner must be preset to the proper resolution before image capture. Many scanners default to 150-dpi (or spi). Set your scanner’s resolution so that it results in 300-dpi at the image’s final print size. If your resulting scanned image is smaller than the recommended size or has less dpi than you need, you should either rescan your original at a higher resolution, or use the image for a smaller printed area.
IMAGES FROM THE WEB
- Images found on the web are typically at a resolution of 72-dpi. This resolution is much too low for quality printing. In addition, most images on the web are protected by copyright laws. For these reasons, we do not recommend using images from the web.
Vector Vs. Raster
WHAT ARE VECTOR IMAGES?
- Vector images use mathematical equations to define each component of an image. This allows vector images to retain their high-quality at any size. When possible, use vector graphics created in a desktop publishing program.
WHAT ARE RASTER IMAGES?
- A raster image is composed of a collection of tiny dots called pixels. When these pixels are small, and placed close together, they fool the eye into forming a single image. Raster images work well when subtle gradations of color are necessary. Because they contain a fixed number of pixels, a major disadvantage of raster images is that their quality suffers when they are enlarged or otherwise transformed. They are also large in file size.
PDF Files
PDF Output Instructions
While printers can work with files from many design applications it is best to provide your printing partner a press quality PDF. A PDF is the preferred format because it packages all the components of your file including fonts, color information and other important settings while still allowing the printer flexibility to make modifications to the file and prep it for printing. Many programs provide several methods to make a pdf file (printing to a pdf driver, saving a file as a pdf and exporting the file as a pdf).
Below is a list of how to convert a file to pdf document in some of the more popular programs. Regardless of the method chosen, a press quality pdf should be the result.
InDesign
1. Choose File > Export.
2. Specify a name and location for the file.
3. For “Save As Type” (Windows) or “Format” (Mac OS), choose “Adobe PDF”, and then click Save.
4. Choose Adobe PDF Preset “High Quality Print”
5. Then select the following options: Under “Marks and Bleeds” check these two boxes: “Crop Marks” and “Bleed”. (.125”)
6. Then under Bleed and Slug, check the box: “Use Document Bleed Settings”.
7. Click Export (Windows) or Save (Mac OS).
Illustrator
1. Choose File > Save As or File > Save A Copy
2. Specify a name and location for the file.
3. Choose Adobe PDF (*.PDF) as the file format and click Save
4. Choose Adobe PDF Preset “Press Quality”
5. Then select the following options: Under “Marks and Bleeds” select a. crop marks b. bleed (.125”)
6. Click Export (Windows) or Save (Mac OS).
Photoshop
1. Choose File > Save As, and then choose Photoshop PDF from the Format menu.
2. Click Save. In the Save Adobe PDF dialog box, choose an Adobe PDF preset specifying whether the Photoshop file will be printed on a desktop printer or proofer, sent to a commercial printer, distributed by email, displayed on the web, and so on. For details, see Adobe PDF presets.
3. Choose Adobe PDF Preset “Press Quality”
4. Click Export (Windows) or Save (Mac OS).
Providing a press quality pdf will help to ensure that your final product will turn out just as you expect. We can help answer any questions you have about setting your files up to achieve the outcome you desire. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
