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FILE SPECIFICATIONS Download this page as a printable PDF
In order to assist you, our valued customers, below we have listed
some guidelines as to how to layout your files. Because of the
varying levels of expertise in graphic designers, we attempt to be as flexible as possible. So if you have a question not addressed below, please give us a call. (1-888-703-3331)
PREFERRED FILE FORMATS:
Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Pagemaker,
Quark 6.5 or earlier, PDF, .EPS, and .TIF are all preferred file formats. JPEG, CorelDRAW, Freehand, and Microsoft Publisher are acceptable as well. See the “Advanced File Specs” for specific requirements for each format.
IMAGE SIZE: 1/8” Bleed
Please include at least 0.125” bleed for all files that have artwork to the edge. Example: Business cards that finish cut to 3.5” x 2” should have artwork that is 3.75” x 2.25”.
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COLOR: CMYK ( U.S. webcoated SWOP v2 )
To make sure your colors are not changed when your file is processed, please convert everything to CMYK color mode. (NOTE: This is not default for all programs and is explained more fully in “Advanced File Specs”). Also convert all spot colors to “Process CMYK”.
TEXT: Include Fonts, Fix Blacks
Although we have a large library of fonts, please send us all fonts used in your file. Another option is to convert all text to outlines.
For sharper text, make sure all black text is just black. (CAUTION: When you convert to CMYK from RGB, black fills are often changed to a build of all four colors. Make sure all black text is actually C-0, M-0, Y-0, K-100.) Whenever possible, please set all black text under 24pt to overprint.
IMAGES: >300dpi, CMYK
For best results, use images that have a resolution of 300dpi or preferrably 600dpi. Lower resolution pictures look crunchy and have noticable blocks of color. (NOTE: Images from the internet are 72dpi which is too low for quality printing.) Make sure all images are CMYK color mode.
ADVANCED FILE SPECS
Introduction
We hope this information will help you understand more about the 4-color process printing we do here at Wizard Graphics. Knowing this will help us produce the highest quality product for you or your customer with the quickest turn around time possible.
CMYK and RGB color modes
CMYK stands for Cyan Magenta Yellow and Black, the four ink colors used in process printing to simulate full color. RGB stands for Red Green and Blue, the colors used by a computer monitor or television. Each color mode has a gamut or range of colors it can produce. Be aware that while most colors are reproducible with both modes, some colors can be made with one and not the other. For this reason, some colors on your monitor may not be able to be reproduced in print. In summary, we highly recommend working in CMYK color mode for all files going to print. Below is an illustration of RGB and CMYK color models:
FONTS
For all simple orders, we would greatly prefer that all fonts are converted to outlines.
When outlines are not possible/practicle, we happily accept open type, truetype, and postscript (type 1) fonts. If all of your fonts are not converted to outlines, we require that you include a full copy of every font family used. While we have an extensive font library, we cannot guarantee that our font copies will exactly match the typefaces that you have used in your document. If you are using Type 1 or postscript fonts, please be sure that the fonts that you send us contain both a screen (bitmap) and printer (postscript) component.
Rasterized file specifications ( example: Adobe Photoshop )
- Preferred file formats: PSD ( large file with editing features ), TIF ( medium file size no loss ), JPG 12 ( small file size slightly lossy ), DCS 2.0 (for multi-channel).
- Resolution, Dots per inch (dpi):
files with GRAPHIC ONLY ( 300 - 600dpi )
files with GRAPHIC AND FONTS ( 600dpi )
- Color mode for color files: CMYK.
- Color profile for color files: U.S. webcoated (SWOP) v2.
- Convert black and white files to gray scale 20% dot gain.
- Convert duotones to CMYK.
- All small black objects and text should have a color build of:
Cyan=0, Magenta=0, Yellow=0, Black=100 and set to overprint where necessary.
- Send all fonts used with your file ( if you have layers ).
- Include 1/8” bleeds to files with objects going off the edge of the final trim size.
- Convert all colors used to process colors.
Vector file specifications ( example: Adobe Illustrator )
- Preferred file formats: EPS, AIFF (Adobe Illustrator), PDF.
- Resolution, Dots per inch (dpi): 2400dpi .
- Color mode for color files: CMYK.
- Color profile for color files: U.S. webcoated (SWOP) v2.
- Color graphics should have a resolution of >300 dpi, CMYK color mode,
U.S. webcoated (SWOP) v2 for the color profile, and imported into vector program.
- Black and white graphics should be set to grayscale in a rasterized program, have a
resolution of >300 dpi and imported into your vector program.
- All objects and fonts that are black should have a color build of:
Cyan=0, Magenta=0, Yellow=0, Black=100 and set to overprint where necessary.
- Include 1/8” bleeds to files with objects or text going off the edge of the final trim size.
- Insert crop marks.
- Convert all colors used to process.
- Convert all fonts used to outlines or send all fonts with vector file and images.
- Do not add a bounding box for thin indication.
- Avoid using transparencies, masks and clipping paths if not necessary.
NOTE: programs such as Adobe Illustrator allow the user to covert all fonts to
outlines and embed all graphics into the vector file. Graphics embedded into a
vector file will increase the size of the vector file because they are included in the
file. This means you don’t have to send the images seperately. All graphics not
embedded should be sent with vector file and fonts. Fonts that are outlined do not
need to be sent with the vector file. In other words, if you’re able to embed your
graphics and outline your fonts, your job has a better chance of making it to press
faster.
PDF ( Portable document format ) file specifications ( example: Adobe Acrobat professional )
- Color mode for color files: CMYK.
- Color profile for color files: U.S. webcoated ( SWOP ) v2.
- Fonts: embed all fonts.
- Images: embed all images.
- Compression: None.
- Subset: It is OK to subset fonts below 30%.
- Black objects and text should have a color build of:
Cyan=0, Magenta=0, Yellow=0, Black=100 and should be set to overprint where necessary.
- Include 1/8” bleeds to files with objects or text going off the edge of the final trim size.
- Insert crop marks.
Multi-Page Layout Programs
(InDesign, Quark Xpress, PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher)
When using Multi-Page layout programs, always be sure to “Collect For Output”, or “Package” your files. This gathers together, in one location, all of the images and fonts used in your document for easy portability. If you cannot package your file, please create a separate folder for fonts, images, and color profiles (where applicable), and include all typefaces, images, and icc files. Please be sure to always save your document with the latest image updates before sending it to us.
When setting up the layout for a book or catalog, you may use reader spreads or printer spreads. Please, either clearly number your pages, or carefully communicate to us how the pages should go together.
Indesign & Quark Xpress
We will happily accept all Indesign and Quark files, both PC and Mac. We frequently update our software, so rest assured that we are using the latest versions.
Any Mac version of PageMaker may be used. Unfortunately, we can only accept PageMaker 7 files that are created on a PC (no OpenType fonts may be used in PC PageMaker files). For PC PageMaker files other than 7, we can usually open your file in InDesign, but we cannot be responsible for text reflow, etc. If you are using PageMaker on a PC, we strongly recommend that you export your document to .PDF format.
Microsoft Publisher files are accepted with caution. We cannot guarantee color or layout accuracy. Be especially careful in reviewing your .PDF proof when submitting Publisher files. It is always better to submit a .PDF when working in Publisher.
Many of these topics are discussed in greater detail in our
PREPRESS FORUM available online at http://www.wgiprint.com/wgblog
A glossary of printing terms is available online at
http://www.wgiprint.com/glossary.html
Download this page as a printable PDF
Recommended Reading:
Download Adobe's Color Guide for CMYK workflow
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