To ensure that we will be able to process your files promptly with the quality you require, please follow these guidelines when creating your digital files.

Press or print quality PDF's usually produce the best final results with the fewest problems. If the PDF is properly prepared, the process is truely WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). For instructions on how to distill PDF files for print please see the PDF setup section. The documentation on this page also applies to the preparation of files for print PDF production.

This document is available as a PDF in the 'documents' area.

• The document page size should be the final trimmed print size. Bleeds, fold marks etc. must be outside the page area.
     
• If you are supplying application files (ie. NOT PDF files), include all EPS, TIFF, fonts, and other files required for printing along with your layout document.
     
• Any trapping applied, except for black overprint set in Illustrator or Corel, will be ignored by our trapping software - please advise us if you have specific trapping requirements.

• PMS colors should be maintained as spot colors in the document to ensure accurate reproduction.
     
• Pantone color names must be identical in all documents. i.e. Pantone300CV in Illustrator is not the same color as Pantone300C in Xpress. They will print on different plates if separated as spot colors, and may not have the same cmyk formulas if separated as process.
     
• If Pantone colors are used both within placed eps files and in the layout program, the cmyk formula used to create the separations is always the one defined by the layout program.

• For best results, all scans should be done at approximately 300 dpi at the final output size.
      li type="disc">All images should be saved as single file CMYK JPEG (Quality: Maximum) eps files (unless you will be processing into PDF in Acrobat Distiller).
     
• For documents that will be supplied to us in PDF format do not compress your images. Compression will be applied later in Distiller. Save images as single file CMYK eps instead.
     
• Images should never be preseparated or saved with screen angles or transfer functions applied. Our RIPs ignore these setting. If you are applying them to achieve a specific effect please advise us.
     
• To assure maximum image quality, do not scale images more than 125% in the layout program.
     
• If scans are supplied as RGB, we have no way of knowing what settings to use to convert them to CMYK unless a Colorsync profile is embedded or supplied. “Industry standard” settings will be applied.
     
• Any color or greyscale bitmap image where the background is transparent requires a clipping path to be applied.
     
• If you do not have access to images of sufficient resolution, please indicate this fact clearly on your order form. We will process the images to attain the proper dpi in the appropriate software where possible.
     
• As we use a composite workflow, duotones require special processing. Please advise us if you are using duotones in your document.

• Please indicate any files using transparency, as well as the flattening quality level to be used.
     
• The application of transparency in Illustrator and InDesign files is a complicated process, often with surprising results. Please refer to the specific PDF documentation on this subject supplied by Adobe with your software.
     
• Illustrator files using transparency should be flattened before being placed in Quark Xpress.
     
• Flattening an object with transparent vector layers converts parts of the vector objects to bitmaps. The extent of the conversion is determined by the flattening quality setting. This can cause problems with trapping, particularly when using gradient backgrounds.
     
• The final result of flattening can be previewed by creating a press / print quality PDF from your files with the appropriate flattening quality set.

• We support CD-ROM, DVD, 44MB, 88MB, 135MB, 200MB, 270 MB Syquest, 100-250MB ZIP, 1-2GB JAZ, 600MB optical cartridges and DDS3 2-24GB DAT tapes.
     
• Please include a hard copy proof with the file name, document size, and final output size. Label all disks clearly with your name, address and phone number.