Prepare Files for Printing

• Export or save your files as PDF using the PRESS QUALITY or PDFx-1a preset from your layout program. Please make sure it includes a min. 0.125" bleed, crop marks, Color mode CMYK.
  
• If you don't have the option to save it as PDF, you can save/export your file as TIFF or JPEG format, 300 dpi (Photoshop)-with min. 0.125" bleed, CMYK.
• If you can’t save your file as TIFF directly from the program that you created your file in, save your file as EPS then open your EPS file in Photoshop and save it as TIFF or JPEG format. Before saving your file as EPS, make sure all your fonts and placed images are linked correctly. All placed images should be 300dpi (high resolution). Convert all text/fonts to outline if you are using a vector application e.g. Corel Draw, Freehand and Adobe Illustrator.
• All jobs are subject to cancellation fee after the job has gone through preflight or production.
• We are not responsible for quality of text when you convert your files to TIFF, JPEG or EPS, as you may know this might change the sharpness of your text.

How to submit your file:

Type:

• All type should be easily read and of a dark density.
• When creating files on vector based software such as InDesign or Illustrator, all text must be converted to outlines before generating a final PDF or EPS.
  
• To maintain quality, black line copy should be a minimum 6 pts. sans serif medium font.
• Fine lines and rules should be restricted to one color.
• Specify the rule width to maintain consistency.  The use of “hairline” rules should be avoided.
• Type may be reversed out of screens, PMS areas, or separations.
• To maintain quality, reverse type should be a minimum 8 pts. sans serif bold face font.
• Please set black object and type over 18 pts. to be 60C, 40M, 40Y, 100K.
• Type should extend no closer than 1/8” of trim.
• Fonts should be Type 1 PostScript fonts or OpenType.  Type 1 fonts require screen and printer fonts to be supplied with submission.
• Please avoid the use of Truetype fonts if possible.  Truetype fonts do not yield consisted results.
• To avoid any delays to your files please outline and/or vectorized your fonts when supplying final PDFs or EPS documents.

• TIFF files should be saved with no LZW compression.
• EPS files should be saved with Mac preview and Binary encoding and no compression, outline all fonts.
• Copy Dot scans must have a resolution of 2400 dpi.
• 8-bit (grayscale) and 24-bit (color) scans should have an effective resolution between 225-350 dpi.
• Line art scans should have a minimum effective resolution of 600 dpi.
• Total ink coverage of a scan should not exceed 320%.
• Images should be scanned as close to 100% of final size as possible.
• PLEASE DO NOT SUPPLY RGB IMAGES.

• Please avoid the use of special characters in file and folder names such as: < > / \: * ? “ |
• PostScript files are to be written according to specifications outline in PostScript Submission for Computer to Plate (PDF) customer guide.
• Please supply us with die lines (set to overprint) and any other special instructions, so your file can be expedited in a timely fashion.

1. You can add multiple files to upload by either dragging the files into the window or by clicking the Add button.
2. You MUST then click the Start Upload button for the files to be  transferred.
3. As files are successfully uploaded, a message will appear below the upload engine. Make sure that all files appear in this list. You can upload as many files as you like. Once you are finished uploading, your order is complete.

1. Coated - Glossy Paper, Satin Paper, Dull Paper.
2. Uncoated - Flat Paper, Vellum, Smooth Paper.
3. Metallic - Foil Material mounted to Flat Paper.

• Metallic - Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal. This effect is best  achieved on coated paper.
• Fluorescent - Produce vibrant and bright colors, however they do not retain their colorfastness as long and may not be suited for big quantity jobs.
• Soy Based - It is made from soybeans and it is environmentally friendly. It is slower to dry than many inks and it is expensive.

• Varnish - Varnish is essentially ink without pigment. It comes in gloss, dull, and satin
• UV Coating - UV Coating is a clear liquid spread over the paper like ink and then cured instantly with ultraviolet light. It can be a gloss or dull coating, and can be used as a spot covering to accent a particular image on the sheet or as an overall (flood) coating. Keep in mind that this thick coating may crack when scored or folded.
• Aqueous - Also known as AQ, is water based. It has better hold-out than varnish and does not crack or scuff easily. Aqueous does, however, cost twice as much as varnish. Aqueous comes in gloss, dull, and satin.

• Saddle Stitching - Most common type of binding, is stapling sheets together where they fold at the spine.
• Side Stitching - Stapling the signatures together on the side rather than the fold.
• Spiral Binding - To bind using a spiral of continuous wire or plastic looped through punched holes.
• Perfect Binding - The spine or the book is cut and roughened, adhesive is applied to the rough edges and a cover is glued firmly in place. Bleeds and crossovers are also handled differently on perfect bound books.

• Cost-effective for short runs (less than 1000)
• Fast
• Variable data capability on some presses

• Looking for a full bleed? You'll need a larger sheet. Toner won't extend off the edges. For example, if you want to print a full bleed on an 8.5 x 11.5 sheet, you'll need to print your image on a larger sized sheet and trim it down.
• Thin lines or small type reproduced in color may not print as well on digital presses as on offset presses because registration is not always exact. Avoid knock-out type.
• Digital equipment does not offer spot colors or special finishing techniques such as varnishes.
• Large blocks of solid may present problems such as flaking and banding.
• Not as exact in reproducing match colors.
• Screen (match colors printed at less than 100%) may appear pixelized.

• Analog Proofs - Hard proofs because they are printed on paper or other material. 

1. Contact Proofs - A contact proof is a type of monochrome prepress proof. Bluelines and Velox are common types of inexpensive contact proofs. A contact proof is generally (though not always) meant primarily to show layout and copy.
2. Blueline - Usually inexpensive, photographic proof from negatives where all colors are shown in blue (or another color) is called a blueline.
3. Color Proofs - Also known as Colorkey or Laminate Proofs. These proofs are created from the film separations that places each ink color on a separate clear acetate sheet or film material then either stacked together in alignment (registered) over paper stock or laminated together.

•  Digital Proofs

1. Hard Proofs - A color prepress proofing method where a job is printed from the digital file using inkjet, color lasler, dye sublimation or thermal wax print technologies to give a good approximation of what the final printed piece will look like. The digital proof is generally less expensive than other prepress proofs. Digital proofs can often be produced on the actual paper stock of the job adding another element of accuracy. They aren't as accurate for checking trapping and identifying moire problems as overlay and laminate proofs.
2. Soft Proofs - Also known as PDF or Monitor Proofs are image displayed on a video monitor to visually simulate the expected printing results. It can not be used for exact color matching since it employs the RGB color spectrum of your monitor. It is useful for reviewing content and color breaks.

• Used on press checks, it is a proof from the printing press, plates, and actual inks specified for the job. A press proof is used to verify images, tone values, colors, and imposition. Because it involves setting up the job and running a proof on the actual paper to be used, it is normally done with the designer on-site (and sometimes your customer as well). It's your last chance to get it right and can add additional cost to the job.

• Head - At the top of a page, the margin
• Spine - The area in which the Front Cover and Back Cover are attached.
• Face - Front Cover
• Back - Back Cover
• Foot - Bottom
• Cross Over - An image that crossed over 2 pages.
• Head-to-Tail or Head to Foot - Imposition with heads (tops) of pages facing tails (bottoms) of other pages.
• Sheet Wise - to print one side of the sheet or paper with our plate, then turn the sheet over and print.
  
• Self Cover - Same material throughout
• Plus Cover - Thicker stock on the outside.
• 4 Page Cover - All side printed
• Proof Check - Before the presses run, the clients checks his artwork.
• Press Check - To look at actual press run.
  
• Press sheet - Equal to a form.
• Multi Page Catalog - is a signature.
• Self Cover - When the cover paper is the same basis weight as the text paper, you will call the project a self-cover book.
• Plus Cover - When the cover is on a heavier or thicker stock, you will call the project a plus-cover.
• 4 Page Cover - All side printed
• Press sheet is a form.
• CD Tray
• CD Sleeve
• 2 up
• Folding with the grain
• Ghosting - when ink presents its self on the rest of the page.
• Rip a file - to go through a file
• Brochure - is folded
• Catalogs - is stapled