Preparing Files
Click any of the links below to learn more:
Bleeds and Crop Marks
Colors & Color Modes
File Formats & Size
Typeface & Fonts
Resolution
Perfect Binding
File Orientation
Bleeds & Crop Marks
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What is a bleed?
What is a Bleed?
In printing terminology, the bleed is the extra margin on a print product that is meant to be trimmed off when the product is trimmed to its final size. Bleed basically means that the color and graphics on a product "bleed off the page" to ensure continuity of the color to the edge of your product.
When we print products such as business cards and postcards, we do not print on paper of that size. We gang-run print, which means that we organize several print jobs next to one another on a large sheet of paper, print, and then trim each individual product to its final size. Jobs cannot be trimmed perfectly on the trimming line each time. During the trimming process, a product may be trimmed within or beyond the trimming line. As a result, the product may have a white edge, or a portion of the artwork from the surrounding jobs. Thus, we require a bleed on each individual product so that when the product is trimmed, there is an extra margin to prevent imperfections.
A full bleed is required for all print-ready files. For the correct bleed for your product, please view the list below. For example, business cards have a 0.1" bleed, so a 2" x 3.5" business card will have a bleed size of 2.1" x 3.6".
0.1" bleed: most business cards, folded business cards, bookmarks, CD packages, club flyers, collectors cards, DVD packages, event tickets, most postcards, rack cards, rip business cards, rolodex cards, stickers, table tents, greeting cards, "wink" special shapes.
0.125" bleed: a-frame signs, brochures, door hangers, envelopes, flyers, hang tags, illumaprint panels, folded hang tags, letterheads, mini menus, notepads, posters, retractable banner stands, staggered cut flyers, banners, Large Format Posters, window clings, window decals, yard signs.
0.125" bleed: booklets, calendars, catalogs
0.3" bleed: folders
0.325" bleed: business cards with round corners in either 2'' x 3.5'' and 3.35'' x 2.17'' size. Postcards with round corners in the following sizes: 4'' x 6'', 5.5'' x 8.5'', 4.25'' x 5.5'', 5'' x 7''. All special shapes, except for "wink" special shape, which is 0.1".
0.125" bleed: roll labels
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What are crop marks? How do I create them?
What are crop marks? How do I create them?
Crop marks are lines on the design that serve as a guide for where the image or product will be cropped. To create crop marks in Photoshop, follow the steps below:
1. Open your file in Photoshop
2. Choose File > Print
3. Select "Output" from the drop-down list on the pop-up menu
4. Check off "Corner Crop Marks"
5. Click "Print"You may submit your files with crop marks that are added outside of the design itself, but please ensure that crop marks are not within the design, as we will not remove the crop marks from the design.
Creating Crop Marks -
What are guidelines, and how do I prepare guidelines in my artwork?
What are guidelines, and how do I prepare guidelines in my artwork?
It is helpful to use guidelines in your artwork for print-ready files. Guidelines such as the safe zone, the trimming zone, and the bleed help designate where your product will be trimmed, as well as help you keep important elements such as text and graphics away from the trimming margin. Please provide us with a bleed all around your artwork, and make sure to keep all critical elements such as text and graphics within the Safe Zone.
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What is Image Area?
What is Image Area?
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What is the Safe Zone?
What is the Safe Zone?
The Safe Zone is the area where all the critical elements (text, images, logos, etc.) must be placed, so that they are not trimmed off when the product is trimmed to the final size. Please make sure to remain within the Safe Zone, as elements on the Safe Zone line may be cut off during trimming.
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What is the Trimming Zone?
What is the Trimming Zone?
The Trimming Zone, or the trim line, is where the product will be trimmed to its final size. The trim line indicates the final size of the product. Please keep in mind that variations may occur during the trimming process, and we cannot guarantee that your product will be trimmed perfectly along the trim line.
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Can I have borders in my artwork?
Can I have borders in my artwork?
Borders are not recommended due to cutting shifts. If your product is not trimmed exactly on the trimming line, borders may appear uneven. Especially for small products such as business cards, even half a millimeter of cutting shift may cause the borders to look uneven.
Colors & Color Modes
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How do I match the foreground and background colors on my design?
How do I match the foreground and background colors on my design?
To achieve a matching background color to that of your logo, e.g. a logo that is a square and has a black background color that needs to be placed on 2" x 3.5" business card template, please do the following:
Open your logo in your design program (likely Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop). With the Eyedrop tool, click on the background color of your logo - in this case it will be black per the example above. Write down the CMYK percentages of the black that you just sampled.
One example would be C=0, M=0, Y=0, K=100. (Standard 100% Black) Another example would be C=40, M=30, Y=30, K=100. (Four-Color Rich Black)
Once you're in the Advanced Designer software, and prior to placing your logo, fill in the background color using the percentages you wrote down which are those of your background logo. This will ensure that there won't be two different shades of black when your cards are printed.
This method is the same for other colors as well. -
What are the color options?
What are the color options?
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What is the acceptable color mode?
What is the acceptable color mode?
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What is CMYK?
What is CMYK?
CMYK indicates Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Keyline (Black). These 4 colors of ink are used for offset printing. Cyan is a shade of blue found in the 4 primary color printing process. Magenta is a shade of hot pink found in the basic 4 color printing process.
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What is four color process?
What is four color process?
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What is RGB color mode? How can I convert RGB to CMYK?
What is RGB color mode? How can I convert RGB to CMYK?
RGB color mode combines three colors, Red, Green, and Blue. Your computer monitor, scanner, and digital camera all use a combination of these three colors to produce the final colors. Presses, however, require four different colors, CMYK, to produce the final printed material. Thus, RGB must be converted to CMYK for print.
- You can convert a file from RGB to CMYK, but cannot convert a file from CMYK to RGB. If you attempt to do so, some of the image data in that file may be lost and become unrecoverable.
- Keep in mind that your image may be created in RGB, but it will print in CMYK.
- RGB color mode may look sharp on your computer screen, however, it will not print as it appears.
- Convert RGB files into CMYK in Photoshop by simply clicking on Image > Mode > CMYK.
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How important is it to convert my files to CMYK?
How important is it to convert my files to CMYK?
It is imperative that you convert your files to CMYK, since this is the only color mode that we accept for printing. Any other color mode will not produce optimal printing results. Most commercial printers accept RGB images, however, using images that are in RGB color mode may ruin the appearance of the final printed material.
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What are image tones and highlights?
What are image tones and highlights?
Continuous tone imagery contains an infinite range of shadows and mixed colors.
- Duotone: Halftone reproduction of an image using 2 colors.
- Halftone: Continuous tone imagery through the use of dots.
- Middle tone: Tone in an image conveyed by highlights and shadows.
- Highlight: Lightest part in the image.
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What is grayscale color mode? What is rich black?
What is grayscale color mode? What is rich black?
Grayscale color mode, also known as black and white color mode, is composed of two colors: black and white. It is used to reproduce an image with different shades of grey.
A computer monitor represents only one form of black. In print, there are several ways to represent black, including "rich black". Rich black is a darker, deeper black that combines a percentage of all the four CMYK inks. The values to create rich black for coated stocks are: C = 30, M = 30, Y = 30, and K = 100. The values to create rich black for uncoated stocks are: C = 20, M = 20, Y = 20, and K = 100. For gray densities, we recommend that the file have the following color values: C=10, M=10, Y=10. For the K value, anything under 100 would be considered a gray. -
What color profile should I use when working with Ai, PS, PDF, and JPG?
What color profile should I use when working with Ai, PS, PDF, and JPG?
You should select the GRACol2006_Coated1v2.icc color profile to ensure your final printed product matches your design.
File Formats & Size
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What is a bitmapped image?
What is a bitmapped image?
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What is a vector image?
What is a vector image?
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What type of print-ready file formats are acceptable for uploads?
What type of print-ready file formats are acceptable for uploads?
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What is the difference between a .TIF and a .TIFF, or a .JPG and a .JPEG?
What is the difference between a .TIF and a .TIFF, or a .JPG and a .JPEG?
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What is the maximum file size acceptable for uploads?
What is the maximum file size acceptable for uploads?
Typeface & Fonts
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What are typefaces and fonts?
What are typefaces and fonts?
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How do I prepare my fonts and files?
How do I prepare my fonts and files?
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What are embedded fonts?
What are embedded fonts?
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What are decorative fonts/decorative typefaces?
What are decorative fonts/decorative typefaces?
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What is Serif and Sans-serif?
What is Serif and Sans-serif?
Resolution
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What is resolution?
What is resolution?
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What is the acceptable resolution?
What is the acceptable resolution?
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What sources may I obtain high-quality images from?
What sources may I obtain high-quality images from?
Perfect Binding
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Can I use crossover images and/or copy for my booklets and catalogs?
Can I use crossover images and/or copy for my booklets and catalogs?
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Where can I find the spine widths for perfect bound catalogs for setting up my design?
Where can I find the spine widths for perfect bound catalogs for setting up my design?
Spine Width*
Please refer to the chart below for the spine width of your booklet/catalog.
Stock/Caliper (in.)
Page Count (excluding covers)
70 lb. Opaque Smooth White
0.00535Recycled 80 lb.
0.0036580 lb. Gloss Book
0.00345100 lb. Gloss Book
0.0046Spine Width (in.)
Spine Width (in.)
Spine Width (in.)
Spine Width (in.)
44 0.1188 0.0803 0.0759 0.1012 48 0.1296 0.0876 0.0828 0.1104 52 0.1404 0.0949 0.0897 0.1196 56 0.1512 0.1022 0.0966 0.1288 60 0.1620 0.1095 0.1035 0.1380 64 0.1728 0.1168 0.1104 0.1472 68 0.1836 0.1241 0.1173 0.1564 72 0.1944 0.1314 0.1242 0.1656 76 0.2052 0.1387 0.1311 0.1748 80 0.2160 0.1460 0.1380 0.1840 84 0.2268 0.1533 0.1449 0.1932 88 0.2376 0.1606 0.1518 0.2024 92 0.2484 0.1679 0.1587 0.2116 96 0.2592 0.1752 0.1656 0.2208 100 0.2700 0.1825 0.1725 0.2300
NOTE: 1 Sheet = 2 Pages (front and back)
*These numbers are approximate values of the spine's width in relation to page count. Actual final size cannot be guaranteed as variations occur during the binding process.
File Orientation
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How should I rotate my files to ensure they are printed correctly?
File Orientation Instructions
For vertical files, the top of the front file will be printed back to back with the top of the back file.
In the example above, the front side and back side will be printed back to back
For horizontal files, the right side of the front file will be printed back to back with the left side of the back file.
In the example above, the photo (Front Side) and the tooth logo (Back Side) will be printed back to back.
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How should I rotate my Folded Business Card files to ensure they are printed correctly?
How should I rotate my Folded Business Card/Greeting Card files to ensure they are printed correctly?
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How should I rotate my Folded Greeting Card files to ensure they are printed correctly?
How should I rotate my Folded Business Card/Greeting Card files to ensure they are printed correctly?