File Preparation Tips

For new project layouts, it's always best to consult with us in the early stages of the design process to help ensure that your project is designed for the best print production efficiency and lowest mailing costs.  Contact us for assistance with planning your project or if any assistance is needed in preparing your files.

Electronic File Submission Guidelines

1. Acceptable native file formats are InDesign, QuarkXPress, Illustrator (.ai or .eps), Photoshop.  If you have created artwork or a document in any other application, please output and upload a press ready PDF file.  For single page layouts such as flyers, postcards, posters, etc. you may also be able supply a high resolution tif, png, or eps file if you are not able to create high resolution pdf's.
2. If PDF files are supplied for output, they must be “press-ready” files. Please ensure that all fonts are embedded.  If there are bleeds, crop marks and bleeds need to be enabled, with .125” bleeds.  Files should be saved at “press resolution” with a minimum of 300 dpi for all images. Leave any color management options disabled to ensure color is not modified in the pdf prior to going to press. Ensure that if using any spot colors or spot coatings, embossing, etc, that you enable output for cmyk and spot color. We recommend sending your press ready pdf to a color laser or ink jet printer if possible and checking carefully to be sure the pdf matches your intended output result prior to submitting to us.
3. When sending native files, all images and graphics placed or linked in the artwork must be sent. Color images must be at least 300 dpi at final size and should be saved in cmyk mode. Line art or black and white images should be at least 1200 dpi at final size.  Native files should have all fonts and links (images) collected for output (Quark) or packaged (InDesign) to ensure that when we open the files we have all the resources available in the correct folders.
4. The entire folder should then be stuffed or zipped prior to submission if sending by e-mail or ftp to ensure fonts and images are not corrupted and to provide an efficient file transfer. Zipping or stuffing the files are not required if you are providing files on CD or DVD.
5. Multicolor artwork which uses any combination of PMS inks, spot varnishes, spot UV coatings, foils, and embossing must be built to output correctly as spot colors.
6. We recommend supplying a hardcopy, paginated mock up or a collating guide for multiple page documents to ensure we assemble the files and proofs in the correct order, especially if your pages are not printed with sequential page numbers, or when there are separate files for different sections such as covers, chapters, inserts, etc. If you prefer, you may submit a low resolution compiled pdf of the finished book, but please be certain that any blanks, inserts, covers, etc are in the correct position of the file, starting with the front cover.
7. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other non-standard file types are not supported, as they do not provide proper color and font management for commercial quality printing applications. If you have to provide files created in one of these applications, we recommend you output and supply a press ready pdf file from the computer they were created on for the best results.