Artwork Specifications
In order to process your order more efficiently please review the following art specifications.
Software Compatibility
· ILLUSTRATOR 8.0 (Preferred) C .S.1-C.S. 4 • PHOTOSHOP 5.0-C.S.4
(Along with your art files, please include a PDF or jpg file for viewing and accuracy purposes.)
· Art should be set up at 100% size to fit the die (cut) line.
· Minimum line weight must be 1 point (hairline).
· Gradients must have a minimum 10% dot in all colors.
· Position all art at least 1/8” inside the die or cut line.
· Placed graphics (EPS/TIF) should be single subjects.
· Do not use layers in Adobe Illustrator. Artwork must be flattened.
· Use of transparency in Adobe Illustrator should be avoided. This may cause unpredictable results in file output.
Fonts
· Convert all fonts to outlines/paths. Fonts converted to outlines/paths are no longer live type and make it no longer necessary to supply fonts. (TO CREATE OUTLINES IN ILLUSTRATOR: SELECT THE TYPE, GO TO THE TYPE MENU AND SCROLL DOWN TO “CREATE OUTLINES.”)
Printing with Process & Spot Colors
· Specify/Set UP Art Files as to how the job will be printed:
PMS Pantone (Spot) Colors
Four Color Process (CMYK)
CMYK plus PMS Pantone (Spot) Colors
· Delete unused colors in swatch pallet.
· Spot Black (2nd black) is recommended for all text and solid areas. Opaque White is recommended to add density to printed colors on transparent material.
· Vector art is needed for spot color printing. For more information on vector art, please visit our web site under the topic “Art Specifications.”
Art Documentation for Printed Pieces
· Preferred documentation of your provided art is a color laser with separations printed out at 100% size. However, grayscale lasers with color breakdowns.
· Laser proofs provided must be the final version of file. They must match artwork given. Any differences could slow processing through the pre-press or estimation process.
Images
· All images must be cropped, sized and rotated in the native application prior to placement.
Images must be saved in the following Photoshop formats:
· Must be minimum 300 dpi (dot per inch)
· CMYK.TIFF/EPS (DO NOT USE RGB COLOR) Four-color process jobs must be saved with minimum 10% dot, to hold smoothly on the screen without hard edges on open white areas.
· Grayscale images must have a 10% minimum dot and are subject to conversion to a dither/bitmap for open white areas.
· Bitmap images must be at least 600 dpi for solid reproduction to film and screen.
· Low Res/FPO (for position only) images must be clearly marked and labeled accordingly in the file name with the HI Res equivalent provided for replacement.
Provided Digital Media
· Clearly label disks/cartridges with company name, disk number, purchase order number & attach a printed directory of the disk/cartridge contents.
· Give each file a simple descriptive name.
· Give revised files a new file name (i.e. ver_#2).
· Include all linked files (EPS, TIFF, etc.).
· Copy files so that links will be maintained (i.e. the same folder) when files are opened.
· Make compressed files self-extracting. Convert PC files to Mac files when possible.
· We have the ability to accept files on the following media: 100 & 250mb Zip Disks, Superdisk 120 MB, 3.5" Diskette, CDs or E-mail.
E-Mail
· We can accept your art in any of the formats mentioned above via e-mail.
· E-mail requirements: Stuffed/self extracting, Compressed or Zipped (limited to a maximum of 5MB each attachment).
