ARTWORK GUIDELINES
We can only achieve speedy accurate output if your files are set up correctly. Our prices and time promises are usually based on our receiving 'output-ready' files supplied at the promised time, in one packet.
Order Acknowledgement - All orders are acknowledged by email, fax or post within hours of receipt. This will show; your job number, the details of your order as we understand it, estimated final costs and your payment status - you can pay online if you do not have a credit account with us, or you can ring us on 01228 513 513 with your payment; see also Payments. Please check your Acknowledgement carefully, as changes at a later date may incur extra costs.
Proofs - Your PDF files will generally be shown back to you as a 'screen grab' for approval, or checked against your supplied print-out already sent to us. We accept no responsibility for any content or colour accuracy variations from what you have sent us. Please save your PDFs as ‘Press Optimised’ with bleed, cropmarks and fonts embedded and follow the 'imported photos guidelines' below, as faults in PDFs cannot be easily fixed later if you get it wrong. Send just ONE copy of each page; do not impose small jobs several to a sheet.
Other formats are accepted if all the related files and fonts are included. Pages must be set up to the correct size with 3mm bleed. Formats accepted are: Quark, InDesign (Mac), JPG, EPS, Postscript, TIFF or PDF. Freehand, Illustrator and Coreldraw files are acceptable ONLY if saved in .EPS format. Bleed and cropmarks must be included. See web pages for current costs.
Photoshop or similar files should be supplied as 300dpi; Highest quality JPG is acceptable. Bleed and cropmarks must be included. Do not send PSD files unless agreed.
Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint need to be converted to PDF format - you can download a PDF Maker from Useful Information - or most software now has a built-in PDF Writer.
Books or booklets need to be in multiples of 4 pages. Any that have over 4 pages must not be supplied as 'spreads' - always create a PDF containing individual pages.
Imported Photos - Photographic images should be supplied as 300dpi (all as CMYK, TIFF or EPS, unless we are charging to assemble the job for you) and placed into your document at 100%. Any images with clipping paths should be saved as EPS .
Imported Graphics - Should be in .EPS format with fonts converted to vector paths or curves. Please note that Word art is low resolution and does not print sharply.
Exhibition Stands - for exhibition stand designs that cover more than one panel (eg Popup stands) set Quark Xpress / InDesign documents up as ‘spreads’ eg 5 x pages for 3x3 and 6 x pages for 3x4, do not supply as one ‘big’ page. This is unless you can only supply a .TIF or .EPS as these are the exceptions and must be provided as one ‘big’ page WITH cropmarks drawn on clearly for each panel and bleed all round. Avoid characters which cross panel gaps as we cannot guarantee that these will always line up accurately. If text does cross panel gaps try and use tracking and kerning so that the gap runs in between two characters.
Tints & Solids - We recommend you avoid using flat tints of 8% or less, as these can sometimes print poorly. Also try to limit large solid areas of any flat colour: - textured areas or Photoshop effects will always print much better. In fact we suggest being as adventurous as possible for the most dramatic results. For a Rich Black use 100%K with either 40%C (cool) or 40%M (warm).
Colour and Colour Matching - Make sure all colours in your document are specified as CMYK. If you have used RGB colours or images you must convert them to CMYK. Note that Pantone colours cannot be accurately reproduced in the CMYK process, but you can add a request for a Colour Proof or see your Pantone Solid to Process colour swatch)
Fonts - Do not use bold, italic or other type options from the menu bar; use the proper bold or italic fonts. If you have used any ligatures in InDesign please make sure you advise us. These do not always print as expected and some cases do not print at all - an outline box will be printed instead.
Maximum sheet size for litho and digital presses: SRA3 450mm x 320mm. Maximum image size in one piece (on our 60" plotter) : 1600mm x 15 metres approx. depending on material used.