Tips for Preparing Files for Printing
Please organize all the elements involved with your job when sending
them in to us. Excess files can create confusion and possible errors,
be sure to send only the files needed to complete your job. Include
an up-to-date hard copy print out of your file for us to check
against while working on your job. Customers sending jobs in to
our FTP site can send a PDF file along with their job for us to
use in the same manner. Create separate folders for your Fonts,
Art Images and Scans, this
makes
it quicker
to
update
the
links
in
the document
or to search
for problem files that may delay the imaging of the document. Many
programs come with a collect for output function, but please, check
your disk before sending it to be sure that everything was included.
Fonts:
Send all of the fonts that you used in your files, including fonts
used in vector based images that may be placed in your page layout
program.
For Macintosh users, be sure to include the screen and printer
fonts
of PostScript fonts. For Windows users, be sure to include the
.PFM and .PFB files for your PostScript fonts.
We must also be made aware of any fonts used that have been converted
from one format to another using programs; such as, Fontographer,
Truetype Font Converter, etc.
Graphics:
Send all graphics/images used in your files with the job.
It is preferable for images to be placed/linked in the document
rather
than embedding
the images. We cannot color correct, change format or make changes
to an embedded image, without the original image.
To expedite the processing of your files be sure your placed
images are linked in the file from the images folder that is
going to
be used.
All placed graphics should be in TIFF or EPS formats with no
image compression. The ppi of pixel images should be twice
the linescreen
you desire to output. Example: If you will be printing at
133 line screen, then your pixel images should be 266 ppi. If
printing
at
150 line screen then your pixel images should be 300 ppi.
Keep in mind that if an image that is 300 dpi is placed in a layout
program and then enlarged, the output resolution will decrease.
Example: a 4" x 4" 300 dpi image is placed in Quark
and enlarged to 8" x 8",
the output resolution will now be 150 dpi.
Any line art should be in the range
of 600 to 1200 ppi. Use 1200 ppi only if the image contains very
fine linework,
too high a
ppi is overkill and will extend processing times. 800
ppi is usually
adequate resolution for linework.
Note that GIFs and JPEGs pulled from a website are usually
72 ppi (low resolution) and are not intended to be used
for print
reproduction.
Silhouetted images using a clipping path should be saved
as an EPS with the flatness setting blank (not zero
or a number).
Any images used in your file should be pre-rotated, pre-scaled
and cropped before placing them into your
layout. Placing
images at 100% without rotation greatly reduces imaging
time and saves
you money.
Color:
Images destined for process separations should be in
CMYK mode, not RGB or any other color space.
Images:
Images printing in spot color should be created in
Photoshop as monotones, duotones, tritones or quadtones
and saved
as an EPS.
Gradients, as well should be made in Photoshop
or a vector-based program such as Illustrator
or Freehand
and saved as
an EPS.
PDF’s:
If it is necessary to use a PDF file, please contact us and we will
provide you with distiller settings and important information to
ensure that your PDF is useable. A PDF that was created using the
PDF writer that comes with Acrobat causes embedded fonts and images
to get lost during the writing of the postscript files.
With size advancement in storage media (zip
disks, CD’s, DVD’s),
overnight delivery services, email and our
FTP site, it is easier than ever to send
in your entire file (fonts, images, layout
files)
for us to use. This will ensure completion
of your job with the least amount of problems
in a timely manner.
|
