Our goal is to provide you with a quality product, on time. This guide contains many helpful tips for the most common concerns associated with file preparation. However, we acknowledge that every project is unique and may have issues that are not addressed within these pages. Should you have additional questions we invite you to contact our prepress department or browse the downloads section of our website at http://www.digitalgraphicsinc.net.
Specializing in Quality Service & Printing 2017 S. Harvard • Oklahoma City, OK 73128 • (405) 682-4385 • E-mail: print@digitalgraphicsinc.net
General Production Data: We like to know if your document was made on a PC or a Mac, as well as the software version you used. Digital Graphics accepts PDF’s and application files. PDF’s are the preferred file type. Software: We support the latest versions of the most popular page layout, image editing, and illustration software on both Macintosh and Windows platform. Laser Prints/Proofs: We prefer a current set of laser prints with each job submitted. Without current proofs we have no way to proof your copy. It is to your advantage to provide laser prints as this can help stop additional fees for corrections that could have been made earlier on. Document Size: We request that you create your document at the trim size. Please build the document as single pages. We do not want them sent in readers or printers spreads. Bleeds, and Margins: Any objects that bleed should extend a minimum of a 1/8” beyond trim size. All live area that does not trim must fall at least 1/4” inside trim area. See page 7 for examples of bleeds and margins. Folding: It’s a good idea to furnish us with a folded example of any project that is to be folded. It is very easy to make costly layout errors in a folded piece, particularly if the fold is unusual. Colors: This section includes some of the most common mistakes made when creating a CMYK document. Eliminate all unused colors in your document palette and graphics files. This includes the pre-defined colors of RGB (red, green, blue, and auto) Check any colors which have been created and make sure they are defined as “spot” colors or CMYK process, depending on how you want them to print. When printing with specific colors, they should be defined and named consistently throughout your files. If not, your job will have multiple spot color plates. For example: Pantone 301 CV Pantone 301 CVC Pantone 301 CVU
This is not seen as a 1 color job , this is seen as a 3 color job. To make it a 1 color print job the color names must be exactly the same. (For example name all to “PANTONE 301 CVC”)
Underlines or Stokes: When you include lines in your documents, we recommend using nothing smaller than a ½ point size. Lines under a 1/2 point or set to hairline may not print well. Modified Graphics or Links Files: If you modify a graphic file, please go back in to your page layout document and update the links to where your graphics are stored. If the link to the graphic file is not updated, the files will appear to be modified and may cause unpredictable results. 4-Color Black: When first opening up Adobe Photoshop, the color selected as black is actually the black used for web design. It defaults to 75% Cyan, 68% Magenta, 67% Yellow, and 90% Black. 4-Color Text will look muddy when printed. If you must do your text in Photoshop, please be sure to set the black channel to 100% and set the other channels to 0%. Rich Black: While it is important to make sure text is set to only 100% black, large areas of black on a page, such as backgrounds, should be made into a rich black. A rich black is a mixture of 60% cyan and 100% black.
Fonts: If you are sending application files, please remember to include your printer fonts and screen fonts. Postscript fonts are the best choice for creating your document. There are less problems associated with Postscript fonts. True Type fonts should be avoided if possible. There are cases where reflow or defaulting to other fonts may occur Menu/Stylized Fonts: Be aware using menu stylized fonts, it creates a fake bold that does not print correctly. It is best to use the italic, bold, or bold italic version of the font. Also, using the underline menu style may not print. It is recommended to manually draw lines underneath your text. PDF Files: If you are sending PDF files (which are preferred) please embed all the fonts. If you need more information on embedding fonts, check our website for other documentation. Raster/Vector Type: Please keep your type vector instead of rastering it. Raster type is made up of individual pixels, meaning it cannot be fixed later on and can look pixelated on output. Vector type is resolution independent. It can be scaled up without any loss of clarity. If you send your file as a jpg or a flattened photoshop file, you can be sure you are sending rastered type instead of vector. Fonts in Support Graphic Files: If you are creating a graphic with a illustration program like Illustrator, Freehand, and CorelDRAW, it is a good idea to send two copies of the graphic to the printer - one copy with the text still editable and the other with all the text converted to curves.
Scanning Graphics: Photos should be scanned at twice the line screen at which it will be printed and at actual size of finished piece. Example: If your print job is going to be printed at 150 lpi, your photos should be scanned at 300 dpi. LPI X 2 = DPI Line art or 1-bit graphics are an exception to the rule. They should be scanned at 600 - 1200 dpi to maintain the quality of the artwork. Sizing Graphics: You should resize your graphics in Photoshop or other graphic programs to the size you want, then import the graphic at 100% into your file. Keep in mind when resizing an image that it is ok to reduce a picture in size without effecting the quality. When enlarging an image you will reduce its resolution and images may look fuzzy or pixelated. If your image is enlarged in a layout program, it also will reduce the sharpness and resolution of the original file. If your image is reduced in a layout program, it may become muddy and will take longer to process. This may create an undesirable product. Graphic Formats: Save your artwork as TIFF or EPS graphics in binary mode with no compression. Other file formats, such as “PICT” are not supported. Obscure file formats are not optimized to output to high resolution devices, and may print low resolution or cause postscript errors. Color Graphic: RGB Graphics must be changed to CMYK. Spot colors should be clearly defined. Do not use Postscript color management or color profiles, we do not support these at this time. Colorized images should be done in Photoshop as a monotone or duotone and saved as an EPS with Binary encoding, but with no Halftone screen, Transfer function, or Color management . They may not separate properly if saved as a grayscale TIFF and colorized in your application. Graphics Clipping Paths: For best results all images which require clipping paths should be created in an application such as “Photoshop” and saved as an EPS with Binary encoding. Simplify your paths (anchor pints) since complex paths may not print.
Not to scale
To avoid any potential problems or delays, we have compiled this checklist to help you prepare your files for press. This will not prevent all problems, but does eliminate the most common mistakes A final spell check has been done. 1/8� Bleed has been added where necessary. All scans images have been converted from RGB to CMYK or Grayscale. All images are at high resolution. (300 dpi for photos and 1200 dpi for line art) All used graphics have been included. You have both the printer and screen fonts available for all type faces. All colors are defined as spot or cmyk, depending on how it prints Delete any unused spot colors. No duplicate file names Final lasers proof of all documents are included. Note any special instructions