We’ve created these guildelines to help you avoid the mistakes that can happen when you’re busy trying to meet a deadline.

We’ll print your job on time, within budget, and at the highest level of quality. To help your job go smoothly, use the follow guidelines when preparing your files. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

Setting Up Your Document

Page Layout & Bleed

Define your page size as the final trim size of your document. Ensure any content (text, internal borders or critical information) is at least 5mm inside the trim line. To create a bleed, extend your page elements 3mm off the edge of the document or artboard.

If your document folds, pay close attention to your panel sizes. Generally, the width of a panel that folds into another panel should be reduced by 1.5mm. For thicker paper stocks, you’ll need to reduce your panel a bit more.

Trim Marks

Always include trim marks on your artwork (trim marks are the final size of your print job) and is the guide we use for finishing.

Spot and CMYK Colour

If your job is a two-colour job, please do not convert spot colours to CMYK. Use only Pantone or CMYK colours. Never use RGB, HSL or any other non-standard colour models. Delete any unused colours. If you have scanned colour images, be sure they are converted to CMYK.

Images

Line art should be scanned at 800 to 1200 dpi, if you are scanning at the percentage size that the image will be used. For example, if the original artwork is to be reduced to 25%, then scan at 25%. Import the image in your page layout program at 100%.

Halftone images should be scanned at 300 dpi to the size that the art will be reproduced or double the line screen used. They should be saved in or converted to EPS or TIFF format. When saving files in TIFF format, use Adobe® Photoshop® whenever possible, and do not use LZW compression.

Imported high-resolution scans should be placed as close to 100% of size whenever possible. Enlarging or reducing an image may impact its quality.

Rotate images in Adobe Photoshop prior to importing or placing them in your design program.

Do not save images as RGB. Pleas use CMYK.

Fonts

Use PostScript® Type 1 fonts. Avoid using TrueType fonts, since they contain both the screen font and printer font in a single file.

Always select font styles from the font menu in your page layout program. Do not use the measurement palette style buttons or type styles menu to change from Roman to Bold or Italic. This creates a fake bold or italic face that can render incorrectly.

Never use a city-named font! New York, Geneva, and Chicago are for ink jet printers and Web pages.

Multiple-Page File Setup

The following instructions apply if you are creating a multiple page file for print, such as a booklet or program.

In order to achieve fast turnaround times and accurate proofing from our prepress department, all files containing multiple pages should be created in the following formats:

If you’re sending a PDF FILE:

Send your PDF in single pages and not spreads. There should be a single page in your file for every page in the booklet. Please make sure all pages contain the proper bleed area. All files will be properly impositioned in our prepress department using our automated imposition software.

Example: If you’re sending an 8 page booklet, please make sure your PDF file contains 8 single pages – not 4 double pages.

If you’re sending a NATIVE FILE:

You may send your native files 1 of 2 ways. Either as single pages or as facing pages. Please be sure that the pages are in consecutive order as well. Please make sure all pages contain the proper bleed area. All files will be properly impositioned in our prepress department using our automated imposition software.

Example: If you’re sending an 8 page booklet, please make sure your document begins with page 1 and continues in consecutive order. Please do not put page 8 with page 1, page 2 with page 7, etc.

Disclaimer
We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our website.