Print Specifications
|
GUIDELINES TO CREATING YOUR OWN ARTWORK Before you start to design your artwork, please read our print specifications and guidelines. You might think that something you've done in word or publisher looks great but it's produced in a different language to print. Design and print is a complex process and if you’ve not done it before there are some important rules you have to follow. |
|
|
TEXT AND FONT ADVICE When using small text, use colours which contain only one ink. It’s fine to use mixed coloured text in headlines or type larger than 12 point size. If you reverse white text out of a background colour that uses more than one ink, use white or 100% yellow for best results. When you send your artwork, you must Include all the fonts that you have used. However, if you send us a PDF you won't nee to. |
|
|
COLOUR ADVICE RGB - Red Green Blue - Are used by digital cameras, computers, scanners and monitors. All your RGB images must be converted into CMYK best done using Adobe Photoshop. You may use a colour that does not have a CMYK equivalent and may print very different from the colour you intended. Unfortunately this is unavoidable. If using spot colours, use Pantone, but make sure you converted to CMYK or your colour will not print. In large areas, keep the total % below 220% (i.e. 60% Cyan + 50% Yellow + 80% Magenta + 30% Black = 220%), In small areas, you can go up to 270%. Avoid going over 270% total mix. Avoid large areas of the same colour. Instead, use images, textures or leave white. USING BLACK Black can be produced from 100% black ink (ideal for text or solid areas less than 25mm square) For areas above 25mm you need a denser black consisting of 100% black plus 40% cyan. Please do not reverse out text that is less than 8pt in size. Black in a photograph will have a different CMYK make-up to other parts of your design. If you want to place a photograph with a black background over a black area, you need to find the CMYK mix and use it. |
|
|
IMAGES DOs - Scan at the actual size required. Scan at 300dpi. Scan Line art (ie logos) at 800 - 1200 dpi Save as EPS or TIFF. Save Colour as CMYK DON’Ts - Don't save as png, gif or jpg files, these are only suitable for the website. Don't use internet images (usually copyright protected) |
|
|
MARGINS AND BLEEDS It’s good practice to leave a clear margin of 3mm from the edge of your artwork. This will look more professional and objects won’t appear to be falling off the page. If any part of your design bleeds off the page, please ensure your image extends beyond the page bya further 3mm. |
|
|
SOFTWARE WE ACCEPT IDEALLY, we prefer High Resolution PDFs using packages that generate PDF Files. DON'T WORRY If you don't have Adobe PDF writer. A FREE download is available from http://www.primopdf.com This acts like a printer from the application you use to create your artwork and produces a PDF file instead of a hard copy. Choose ‘Pre-Press’. CREATING PDF FILES Sometimes PDFs change your artwork but follow these guidelines and most problems are avoided. MORE HELP CREATING THE RIGHT PDF FILES Firstly, create your artwork to our specifications and export your artwork as a PDF We need PDF files created for Pre-Press so locate the following options If you have the option to EXPORT ALL TEXT AS CURVES, select it. (no fonts need sending) If you select any box that enables FONTS TO BE EMBEDDED, (no fonts need sending) Do not compress - always select NO COMPRESSION When exporting - ALWAYS SELECT CMYK Select the option to INCLUDE TRIM MARKS Select the option to BLEED PAGE ITEMS We also accept files created using the following applications Quark Express / Photoshop / Illustrator / Adobe Acrobat / InDesign. |
|
