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.
Before e-mailing a file (up to 10MB) or placing a file on the FTP
site, use a compression program to stuff/zip files for protection
against corruption.
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.
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:
Please contact us and we will provide you with distiller settings
and important information to ensure that your PDF is useable. Newer
versions of Quark & InDesign allow you to export a printable
PDF. Keep in mind that your PDF is only as good as your original
file so please follow the guidelines previously mentioned for bleeds,
color space, etc.
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. |
