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If
your disk is PC based, we recommend sending a test file in
advance. Our Digital Department will check the files and
identify any problems or issues ahead of time.
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Laser
prints are required for reference. You should run a set of
separated lasers for yourself to check for correct color
separation. Keep a back-up copy of your files –never
send your only copy out to anyone.
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Document
layout size must match exactly to the final trim size of
your piece. Do not place crop marks manually. All text and
graphics should be a minimum of 1/8" away from the trim.
If you intend for the image to print to the edge of your
final piece, that image MUST bleed past the trim a minimum
of 1/8” .
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Never use applied styles (bold, italic or outline buttons or menu
styles). Always use plain, and select the correct typeface
from your font menu. Applied styles will most likely produce
unexpected results upon imaging to plate. Avoid TRUETYPE
fonts and Multiple Master fonts when possible. These fonts
are not reliable for imagesetting (plate output).
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All fonts must be included. If you use any fonts in the imported
graphic files, remember to include those as well. Don't forget,
Type 1 fonts (or postscript fonts) have two pieces for each
font style. There should be a postscript font for each style
(bold, italic, narrow, etc.) and a screen font for each which
is usually inside a suitcase – which may contain several
different styles for a particular type family.
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Include
ALL graphics and support files. This includes the original
illustration file, the eps file generated from it, and any
graphics placed into that file. All graphics and/or photos
must be included to ensure correct imaging. NEVER store or
embed graphics in your publication.
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If
your job is printing four color process, please make sure
all colors in all files are converted to process or CMYK.
Please delete the unused colors from all of your files.
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Only
apply trapping if you are familiar with the end results.
Make sure you call for our trapping specs. Otherwise, we
prefer to apply trapping in-house.
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Make
sure the background area of the imported graphics matches
the background of the layout document (i.e., a black background
in Photoshop may be 30C 30M 30Y 100K; make sure that the
background applied behind it in the page layout matches exactly).
Any picture boxes containing tiffs in Quark should have a
background of something other than “None”.
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We
prefer to scan any photos or artwork in-house to ensure high
quality and to meet our press specs. We are capable of scanning
art, photographs, transparencies and slides up to 8” x
14”.
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If
you have scans produced elsewhere, please specify a minimum
of 3% highlight and a maximum of 96% shadow. Photos and other
halftones or color scans must be scanned at twice the line
screen of the final output. (Ex:133 Ipi = 266 ppi scan) A
good standard resolution is 300 ppi. at 100% scale.
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Bitmapped
line scans should be a minimum resolution of 1200 ppi.
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All
full color photos and/or other full color Photoshop files
must be CMYK and either tiff or eps format. Any other format
may produce unexpected results when imaging to plate.
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Graphics
should be scanned as close to the final size as possible.
If you intend to resize the scan in the page layout, limit
it to a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 125%.
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All
graphic manipulation such as cropping, sizing , rotating,
etc. should be applied in the originating illustration or
image-editing program, NOT in the page layout program, for
best results. NEVER apply color to tiff files in the page
layout program, ALWAYS use the originating software.
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Try
to avoid using compression (LZW or JPEG) on photos. NEVER save scans or halftones with halftone screens or transfer
functions selected. NEVER change the names of graphic files
after placement in the page layout.
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Make
sure the pages are in the correct order (reader spreads)
in your layout file. NEVER USE PRINTER SPREADS. In order
to load the pages into our imposition software correctly,
the pages must be in the correct order. Please remove any
unnecessary pages from the layout. Also, remove all unused
text or graphics from outside the imaging area or the pasteboard
area of your document.
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Include
only the necessary files for your job on your disk. Extra
files can be confusing and waste disk space. Please print
out a directory of your disk, indicate the file(s) to be
output on that print out and include it with your lasers.
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Check
the picture usage or links in your publication before sending.
Make sure all graphics are updated (any modified graphic
should be double checked for correct positioning in the layout
after they are updated). Use collect for output utilities
if available.
