File Requirements For Submitted Files

File Requirements

NO MICROSOFT FILES see below. NO COREL, see below for exceptions.

The following assumes you are a professional and you will understand the terms below.

All files should be sent one up.

We work on the Macintosh platform, primarily with workstations running OS 9.2.2. Our layout software is Quark XPress 4.1. Our vector program is Illustrator 7.0 and our photo editing program is Photoshop 7.0. We own virtually all Adobe type 1 postscript fonts. We also have PageMaker 6.0.

We also work with our Macintosh OSX running 10.4.1. We have Quark Xpress 6.5, and the entire Adobe CS2 family of applications including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat. If possible, save your file back to the versions running on our OS 9.2.2 system, as it is the most reliable and talks flawlessly with the imagesetters in the industry. If supplying a Quark XPress 5.x file, save back to 4.x.

We also have a Windows PC running OS XP. Software includes Pagemaker 6.5. WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY MICROSOFT GENERATED PRODUCT FILES. Microsoft just doesn't get it. Their files are thoroughly unreliable. We can take a Word or Publisher file. But we merely open it, try to extract the images and then redo the layout in professional, industry standard software. There will always be an extra charge for this, even to see if it will work and the fee must be prepaid before work begins.

One way to work around the platform, version and application issues is to save your finished file and 'save as' a file that is subsequently opened in any version of Photoshop directly on your machine with your fonts present. (Generally you can 'save as' or 'export' to .eps or .tif, but carefully check your settings/parameters). Then, in Photoshop, open in CMYK mode, parse at 300 ppi at the size of the finished document and save as a .tif file. If the file will print in black ink only, save as a grayscale .tif.

You must fax us a composite and separations of your art file. (Fax to 530-889-1884 ONLY after you have called or emailed to place your order).

Below are guidelines as to how to layout your art file and files. Because of the varying levels of expertise in graphic designers, we attempt to be a flexible as feasibly possible. So if you have a question not addressed below, please call 530-889-1884, (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time, Mon-Fri) or email.

Tips and Hints for Creating Your File (File Specs)

* When creating graphics in Photoshop, Fireworks or other raster graphics application, use 300dpi (dots (pixels) per inch) and CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color mode.

* Remember when building a file, take into account the finished product. Consider cut size, trim, folding etc. For example, make sure your finished business card file is 2" x 3.5".

* An important issue is whether or not your image bleeds. A bleed is a printer term used to describe whether or not your photo, graphic, or type goes beyond the edge of the finished (trimmed) product. For best results, if an image touches the outside edge of the sheet, it should be extended to 1/8 of an inch past the trim size. This will insure that the paper does not show at the edges of the product. We prefer all files one up with the document size set to the final trim size. Please pull bleeds 1/8" off the edge of the document. Therefore, your document file should still be 2" x 3.5", but a dead portion of the image that trims away should extend 1/8" on all sides and be 2.25" x 3.75" total. See figure 1 below.

* Also, be aware of the 'live area' for any important text or image elements. It is best that those items remain at least3/16" from the trim edge.

* Multiple page files are okay. If multi-page files exceed four pages, set up for 'printer's spreads.'

To place an order or send us a file

* Let us take your order first. Call us at 530-889-1884, (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time, Mon-Fri). We will assist you to make sure your file will meet our requirements and suggest the best file delivery method.

Files formats:

Photo Image -

* Make sure the photo has been scanned at 300 dpi at the size it will output. For instance do not scan a 4 x 6 photo, then fill a 2 x 3 picture box. Also, crop the image to the final size and image boundaries before importing into your document.

* Be sure to set the color to CMYK

* All layers must be flattened

* File > Save as copy > rename the file and save

When saving a file

* If it is in standard CMYK format TIFF

* If it is vector-based EPS

* If the photo has duo-tone that you wanted printed as CMYK convert to CMYK

Image > Mode > CMYK

* If the image is to print in black ink only > convert to grayscale > adjust levels/brightness/contrast

PDF -- Not recommended. But if you convince us you know what you're doing and the file is distilled from Acrobat exclusively; not a third party PDF emulator, we will check the file integrity before proceeding. Save the file in the newest PDF version possible.

Make sure the file is:

* Press ready

* CMYK

* Click button that says "include all document fonts"

There are so many other parameters that need to be set in the Distiller portion of Acrobat and are too numerous to go through here. So... be forewarned.

Illustration/Vector Based Art

* We prefer files created in Illustrator. Freehand is acceptable

* Convert all type to outlines in Illustrator, convert to paths in Freehand

* Be sure all image layers are set to print

* Make sure that all colors are set to CMYK. These settings are not default in the program.

* Try to avoid overusing compound masks because sometimes they do not print correctly.

* Set all images to 650 resolution or better

* Save all files in EPS

Multiple Page Document Layout

* We prefer to use Quark XPress 4.1.

* Be sure that all of your fonts and associated graphics are saved in the appropriate format stated above and included separately in your final file.

* Remember that process colors are not set by default in CMYK. They must be set before the file is sent to us.

Type/Fonts

* We prefer Adobe Postscript fonts. However there are several good manufacturers of other Postscript fonts.

* If you are only able to provide PC TrueType fonts, we will accept them. As a warning, we cannot be responsible for changed line breaks, kerning, leading, etc.

* When ever possible, convert fonts to outlines in Illustrator or convert to paths in Freehand.

* Always send us an exact copy of the fonts you used in all of your files. Different software programs have different versions of fonts. For example, the Microsoft version of Times New Roman is slightly different than the version used in Adobe products.

Color

* Obviously convert all RGB colors to CMYK before sending your file.

* Convert all spot colors and Pantone colors to CMYK before sending your file. It is best to use a Pantone conversion guide for 'best cmyk match' numbers.

* Be sure that named colors in Illustrator/Freehand are of the same value as common colors used in the page layout application.

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We can sum up all the requirements this way:

Send us a Macintosh, Quark XPress 4.1, one-up, document file. Include the actual linked Photoshop images at 300 ppi AT THE SIZE THEY ARE USED and the actual linked Illustrator .eps files for vectors (Convert all type to outlines). Include your preflight report showing that all fonts and linked graphics are included and in the right color space and sized appropriately and we're done.

Since that hardly happens and we are here to serve you, read on.

Live Area / Safe Area / Bleed Area