|
|
 |
Electronic File Preparation Guidelines
1. PREFERRED APPLICATIONS - For file creation, when possible, are PC versions of QuarkXpress (for page layout), Adobe Photoshop (for images and image manipulation), Adobe Illustrator (for drawing of vector based images). Although most other popular graphics applications are available for both Macintosh and PC platforms, file preparation for these can be more time consuming and in some cases will incur additional setup and trapping charges, for further details or if you have any questions, please call or E-mail customer service.
2. DOCUMENT SETUP - Final trim sizes of your printed piece are the sizes you should be using in your page layout program. It is not necessary and most times wasteful to build pages inside a larger page specified in your document set up dialog box. Trim marks and registration marks will automatically be created when the job is imaged or even when it is sent to your laser printer when indicated properly in your print setup window. Printed pieces with multiple pages should be set up in reader spreads as one document only. All areas that bleed should have graphics or text boxes dragged onto 1/8" past the edge in which it bleeds. Do not build pages to bleed size of the printed piece. If the design of your piece involves glue flaps or pockets (die cutting) please call for advice on how best to layout your document.
3. IMAGES - Because of limitations and variables in the world of desktop scanning and uncalibrated monitors, to insure the finest quality in color reproduction, we strongly suggest you take advantage of our state of the art equipment and color expertise to produce color separations from your supplied art. Although we accept supplied scans we cannot be responsible for their integrity. When supplying scans, be sure they are saved in TIFF or EPS file format and in either Grayscale or CMYK mode. When saving EPS files be sure to save as binary and do not check halftone screens or transfer functions. All silo paths should be saved with a flatness of not less than three. Also be sure that resolution is 300 dpi at full reproduction size. B&W bitmap mode scans should be at least double that resolution (600 dpi to size). If you choose to take advantage of our high end scanning capabilities, please provide us with position only scans (fpo's) placed in files or indicate % and cropping on originals. Low resolution OPI scans are available upon request.
4. VECTOR IMAGES - When working in most drawing programs concern should be taken to keep path complexity to a minimum. Paths with too many curve control points will not only increase your files imaging time (added cost to you) but at times can prevent the file from imaging at all. Number and complexity gradient fills can also dramatically increase imaging time and should be kept at a minimum when possible. Embedding or nesting bitmap images in these vector based files should also be avoided. Placing images is easier and much more efficient using a page layout program such as QuarkXpress.
5. COLORS - Numbers of colors used should be kept consistent between applications when creating a 4 color file with your files. i.e. when creating a 4 color file with your page layout program the CMYK color model should also be used within your image and drawing files. If PMS colors are to be specified as process colors, be sure to indicate so in the appropriate dialog box with each application used.
6. TRAPPING - Please do not attempt to trap your files. This service in most cases will be provided to you at no cost by our experienced staff.
7. FONTS - To insure an exact match to your supplied file it is necessary to supply all fonts used to create your files. Type 1 fonts are preferred. Stylizing fonts in page layout programs without the necessary printer fonts can also cause problems when imaging to film recorders and should not be done.
8. LASER PROOFS - A final updated laser proof must be accompanied with supplied disks of all documents to be printed. Color lasers are preferred but when unavailable please provide B&W lasers with proper color breaks indicated. When possible, run lasers at 100% or indicate % run on laser. Proofread your lasers carefully and rerun final updated lasers, if last minute changes are necessary. This is our only guide to insure the final proofs sent to you are correct. Taking the time to be sure your lasers are correct ultimately saves time and expenses to you.
9. MEDIA - On the provided electronic file pre-flight check list you will find the different types of media we can accept. Please lock, label, and package your disks carefully so that they may be returned to you without risk of loss or damage. In the odd case where you may have forgotten to copy necessary elements to your disk, modem lines, E-mail addresses, and high speed ISDN transfers can be used to facilitate the completion of your job. If due to lack of disk space it becomes necessary to compress files before downloading them to your disk, please be sure to compress files as self extracting archives. Never compress image files in order to maintain their integrity.
10. FILE MANAGEMENT/DISK ORGANIZATION - Along with your fonts, be sure to include any and all support files used to create your documents. This includes all original files from which you have created EPS files. This will allow us to make modifications to these files if it becomes necessary. A good method to check that all the necessary items have been copied to the disk you are supplying, is by opening your files from that disk and see that they update properly. Please do not send any additional items on your disk that do not pertain to the files we are to print for you, and be sure to have copies of everything sent us. DO NOT SEND US YOUR ONLY COPY OF ANYTHING. After you have carefully checked to see all elements are in place, print a laser copy of your disk directory and send it along with your disk.
|
|
|
