Below are guidelines and tips that will assist you in the saving and sending of your files to printing4pros.com.
Should there be any problems that are not covered in the following page please feel free to contact us at prepress@printing4pros.com
Optimum Scanning or Image Resolution Convert all images to CMYK before sending Image Color Space Microsoft Publisher 2000 Adobe Photoshop 6 Corel Draw 9 Adobe Illustrator 9 Quark Express 4.1 Adobe Pagemaker 6.5 Image File Formats File Bleed and Safe Area Convert Fonts to Paths When Possible Use a 'Rich Black'
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS: Detailed instructions on saving and sending us your files are detailed below. Please follow the outlined steps very carefully. There may be several ways or options for saving and sending us your files, but not all of them result in a printable format. Following our procedure exactly will greatly increase your chances of success with predictable results.
PHOTOSHOP ILLUSTRATOR QUARK XPRESS COREL DRAW
Adobe Acrobat
OPTIMUM SCANNING or IMAGE RESOLUTION 300 dpi (dots per inch) at full size is optimum ... When you first begin working with digitized images, the term resolution can be confusing. While several types of resolution are important, we are most concerned with device resolution, which refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi) that the output device such as a monitor, laser printer or commercial imagesetter can produce.
Any images you send to us for printing will be output on high-resolution devices (2,450 dpi). If the supplied image resolution is too low, our systems will use the color value of a single pixel to create several halftone dots. This results in pixelation, or very coarse looking output. If the resolution is too high, the file will contain more information than we need.
Our normal printing standard is 2,450 dpi at 175-lpi (lines per inch) line screen. The optimum scanning or image resolution for supplied graphic images is 300 dpi (sometimes also referred to as pixels per inch or ppi).
If the final image will be larger than the scanned original, you need additional data to produce a final image with the correct image resolution. For example, if you scan a 2" x 2" photo at 300 dpi and then enlarge the image to 4" x 4" (200%), the resolution will drop to 150 dpi (50%). To allow for this 200% intended enlargement, you would need to scan the original image at 600 dpi to ensure there is sufficient digital data in the file to achieve your goal.
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Convert all images to CMYK (cyan magenta yellow black) before sending Desktop scanners and computer monitors use the RGB gamut or color system. The gamut of a color system is the range of colors that can be displayed or printed. Full color printing reproduces colors inside CMYK (cyan magenta yellow black) color system. Not all RGB colors can be reproduced in the CMYK color system. Most scanned photographs contain RGB colors that are within the CMYK gamut, and all the colors are converted with little or no substitution when you change the image to CMYK mode. Images that were created or altered digitally, however, often contain colors that are out of gamut. You may notice a significant difference in appearance when you convert these images to CMYK.
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Image Color Space There are two basic color spaces used in graphics and printing. One is RGB (Red, Green and Blue). Scanners, monitors and digital cameras use a combination of red, green and blue light to display and create your images. The combination of red, green and blue light can create more visible colors than the combination of cmyk can.
The other space is CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Printing presses, color copiers and most inkjet printers use these four ink colors to create your images. This is also known as 4-color printing, and is how most magazines and other color materials are printed.
Here are some common programs with the instruction on how to confirm that you are working in CMYK color space. Most of these apply to all versions of their respected program.
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Microsoft Publisher 2000 Microsoft Publisher defaults to RGB. It is easy to convert everything to a CMYK color space or to start a new document using the CMYK color space.
Use the following menu options: Tools/Commercial Printing Tools/ Color Printing and select Process colors (CMYK). Please note that all images incorporated into a layout need to be linked and not embedded in order to maintain the CMYK color space within the image. Using the following menu options does this: Tools/Commercial Printing Tools/Graphics Manager and highlight the embedded image. Click Link and click Browse to locate the original file and link to it. You will then need to send both the images and the layout file to us for printing.
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Adobe Photoshop 6 If the file already exists select the following menu options: Image/Mode/CMYK When starting a new file select CMYK for the mode before clicking OK.
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Corel Draw 9 Select each object you want to convert. Select the Fill tool and click Fill Color Dialog. Make sure the Color model is CMYK. For each object with an outline: Select the Outline tool and click the Outline Color Dialog. Make sure the Color model is CMYK.
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Adobe Illustrator 9 Use the following menu options. For an existing file select Edit/Select All and then Filter/Colors/Convert to CMYK. For a new file, select File/New and select CMYK color for the Color Mode.
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Quark Express 4.1 Use the following menu options: Edit/Edit Colors/Show Colors in Use/Highlight Color and click Edit. Change model to CMYK and deselect Spot color. Remember to send us your layout and linked images!
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Adobe Pagemaker 6.5 Use the following menu options: Window/Show Colors. Double click "colors" in palette and select Model to be CMYK and Type to be Process. Please be advised that Pagemaker does not successfully represent CMYK color on the monitor.
If you do not see your program listed here, or are having difficulty converting to the CMYK color space, please email prepress@printing4pros.com
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Image File Formats Please save all bitmap images (like those out of Photoshop) as a tiff or eps format if you will place them in a layout program. If it is for final printing, tiff, eps or jpg with maximum quality format is acceptable. We cannot print gif, pict, dcs, ping, psd, cds, etc. formats. Please do not save your images with LZW compression. Placing an unacceptable format in an acceptable format does not make it useable.
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File Bleed and Safe Area If your image is not white on all four sides, you MUST include bleeds in your files. Add 1/8 of an inch (.125") to each side to allow for cutting. For example, a 4? X 6? postcard with a full bleed the image size should be submitted at 4.25? by 6.25? .125" (1/8?) on each edge (top, bottom, ,right, left) of the card will be trimmed off during the cutting process. This will leave you a 4? X 6? inch standard post card
Safe area, will be ?? or .25? inside the final size of your finished piece. (.i.e. 4? x 6? postcard will have a safe area .25? in from each side yielding your live area of 3? x 5?) Live area is the area that contains important type such as you name, phone, and other vital information.
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Convert Fonts to Paths When Possible Whenever possible, convert all text/type in your documents to paths or outlines, eliminating the need to send fonts you used with your files. This is easily done in programs like Illustrator, Freehand and CorelDraw. When using Photoshop, flatten files before submitting, which automatically rasterizes all fonts used.
Windows? Text Compatibility
Windows? users must save text as curves (Illustrator or Mac Format when available). Look for this option when exporting your file. Graphics and text must be properly sized and in position.
Macintosh Font Usage
Mac users must save text as curves whenever possible. Look for this option when exporting your file. Mac users must include both the screen display and printer extension portions of ALL fonts used in both graphic and typeset documents. TYPE 1 fonts only, no True Type fonts or we will have to substitute fonts. return to the top of this page
Use a 'Rich Black' Fill solid black areas with a "Rich Black" rather than black only. Rich Black is made up of 30% Cyan, 30% Magenta, 30% Yellow, and 100% Black. This will keep solid black areas from looking gray, and should be used for larger solid areas or heavy type over 36 point.
For normal body text, use 100% black, do not use Rich Black. Do not use 90-100% of each color to create a rich black. This will cause problems on the printing press due to layers of ink getting put down in one spot, This could increase the dry-time. There may also be a registration issues.
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DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS: Detailed instructions on saving and sending us your files are detailed below. Please follow the outlined steps very carefully. There may be several ways or options for saving and sending us your files, but not all of them result in a printable format. Following our procedure exactly will greatly increase your chances of success with predictable results.
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PHOTOSHOP: (converted to TIFF [preferred] or JPEG Format) To convert your Photoshop files to either of these formats, follow these steps carefully... Flatten all layers and convert artwork to CMYK mode, 300 dpi resolution If a bleed is required, set the document size to 1/4" larger than the final trim in both dimensions and center all artwork. CAUTION: Remember that 1/8" will be cut off from all four sides when trimmed to final size Restrict text and images to within the "Safe Print" zones (about 1/4" from the final paper trim edges) In the file menu select Save As and type in the name of your file. From the pop-up menu select either TIFF [preferred] or JPEG. TIFF options - Byte order; select PC or Macintosh. DO NOT select the LZW compression option! JPEG options - Quality factor should be 12 (maximum quality or largest size), in format options click on the first option - baseline (standard). Click OK. Your file is now saved. Assemble project file(s) into a single folder and compress into a single ZIP (PC) or SIT (Mac) file.
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ILLUSTRATOR: (converted to EPS Format) Convert any linked or placed images to CMYK mode, 300 dpi resolution If a bleed is required, bleed should extend 1/8" beyond final paper trim. Restrict text and images to within the "Safe Print" zones (about 1/4" from the final paper trim edges) Select All text (Select all) Under text menu select "Convert to Outlines" Under file menu select "Save As" Type in your file name. In Save As Type field select "Illustrator EPS". Use the following options: Compatibility - select "Version 8" or less Preview - 8 Bit Options (if available) Include placed images - ON Include Document Thumbnails - OFF Use Japanese File Formats - OFF Include Document Fonts - OFF Click Save. Your file is now saved in EPS Format. Assemble EPS file(s) into a single folder and compress into a single ZIP (PC) or SIT (Mac) file.
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QUARK XPRESS: (converted to EPS Format) Convert any linked images to CMYK mode, 300 dpi resolution @ 100% If a bleed is required, bleed should extend 1/8" beyond final paper trim. Restrict text and images to within the "Safe Print" zones (about 1/4" from the final paper trim edges) Set all colors used in the document to CMYK and ensure the "Spot Color" box does not have a check mark. Under file menu select Save Page As EPS. NOTE: You will need to save each page in your document individually. Type in your file name. If you see a Save As Type field under the File Name field, select EPS Files. Use the following options: Page - the number of the page you are saving Format - Color (For those that have a MAC or PC choice, either one is OK). Scale - 100% Preview (if available) - TIFF Bleed (if required) - .125" Data - Binary OPI - Include Images Click Save. Your page is now saved in EPS Format. Repeat the above for each page in your document. Assemble EPS file(s) + any required screen and printer fonts into a single folder and compress into a single ZIP (PC) or SIT (Mac) file.
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COREL DRAW: (converted to EPS Format - Corel version 9 or 10 only) Convert any linked images to CMYK mode, 300 dpi resolution @ 100% If a bleed is required, bleed should extend 1/8" beyond final paper trim. Restrict text and images to within the "Safe Print" zones (about 1/4" from the final paper trim edges) Select "Export" from the File Menu Dropdown Select Export as EPS - Encapsulated Postscript Click on Export Select "Include Header" with settings at TIFF, 8-bit, 72DPI Select "Export Text as Curves" Set "Send Bitmaps" at CMYK Set "Fountain Steps" at 256 Click on OK. Your file is now saved as multiple files (1 per page). Assemble EPS file(s) + any required screen and printer fonts into a single folder and compress into a single ZIP (PC) or SIT (Mac) file.
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Adobe Acrobat: (converting to a PDF format) Converting to PDF is accepted as well.
Please embed all fonts and high res images when saving as a PDF
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UNSUPPORTED SOFTWARE FILES: Export to .tif, .eps .pdf or .jpg format if not using supported software ... Files from unsupported software programs need to be submitted in TIF, EPS, PDF or JPG format (TIF, EPS,and PDF are preferred, as the JPG format uses a form of compression which discards data in order to save space).
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Same Image on Both Sides If your postcard or other piece will print with the same image/file on both sides, please click that option on the order page. We will hold up your job while we trying to locate the second file when you only intended to send one. If you send two files that are the same please notify use in the comments box
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PACKAGING YOUR FILES FOR UPLOADING: Collect and assemble files, fonts & images into single compressed file - ZIP (for PC) or SIT (for Mac) ... Use WinZip or similar PC based software to bundle all your project components, including fonts and graphic images, into a single compressed ZIP file. On the MAC, use Stuffit to create a SIT file (DO NOT make the file into a self extracting SEA format).
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File Names Please use unique file names that will clearly identify your files. (i.e. tv pc front.tif and tv pc back.tif, rather than card a.tif, card b.tif) If you must resubmit your files, change the file names to reflect that it is a new, different file (i.e. new tv pc front.tif) Whenever possible, have the file name and job name you assign when ordering the same or similar. This helps us match up your files with your job orders. Also try to keep your names a short as you can while still being descriptive.
