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Learning to prepare your electronic artwork files for best output results can save you time and money when working with printers. Costly time delays and additional re-working costs can result from poorly-prepared artwork. While this is an enormous subject, we've tried to outline some of the basics here.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding file preparation for your print projects. |
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- Unwanted items have been deleted, not covered with a white box.
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- 1/8" bleed and trim properly applied?
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- Linked image files verified and updated?
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- Panel sizes and fold lines clearly indicated?
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- Document page size is 100% of final trim size?
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- If diecutting, is your dieline file included and indicated on your proofs?
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- If your project foils or embosses, have you followed our file preparation recommendations for die art creation and FPO placement?
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- If your project contains multiple pages, is your document built as single pages (not spreads)?
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- Have you verified that your art was created in an application that is PostScript-compatible OR supplied as a reliable PostScript or correctly-formatted Press-Ready PDF file?
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- Are borders and rules properly built?
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- No "hairlines" (less than .5pt) used?
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- Is the flatness value of your clipping paths and vector art properly set?
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- Placed images are at 100% of output size?
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- Placed images are scaled and/or rotated in their source application?
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- Blends and gradients properly built in Illustrator?
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- Any UPC codes placed have been correctly built and electronically verified?
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- Text used in placed images spell-checked and converted to outlines?
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- Hi-Res raster images are at least 225 ppi and no more than 300 ppi?
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- Placed image file formats are correct?
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- Trapping vs Overprinting considerations have been made?
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- FPO images clearly indicated as such?
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- Were page-to-page cross-over images placed by "X&Y coordinates" and verified as accurate?
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- No RGB images or colors used in document or placed files?
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- Color space of placed images either Greyscale, CMYK or PMS spot color with attention to Separations On/Off?
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- Rich Black process builds use correct percentages (C:60% / M:40% / Y:20% / K: 100% ) and used where appropriate?
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- Color names used in placed images match those used in your page layout application?
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- Process color build values used in different applications are the same percentages?
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- Have trapping/butting color considerations been made?
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- Are duotone (EPS) or process + spot color images (DCS) correctly built?
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- Any special colors such as spot varnish, varnish tints, flourescent or metallics clearly indicated as such?
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- If metallics are used, has overprinting been avoided?
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- Have the limitations of CMYK procees color builds vs Pantone spot color swatches been discussed and understood?
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- Have fonts been properly selected? (NO Style Attributes applied?)
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- Have reversed/knockout text and outlines been properly built?
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- Have small type (less than 8pt) reverses/knockouts been avoided?
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- Have small type single-color screens and process color builds been avoided?
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- Has use of small type in bitmap/raster images been avoided?
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- Has all text been properly aligned as intended?
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- Has all text been spell-checked and verified (including text in placed images)?
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- Has text in placed images been converted to outlines, or has have you verified that you are providing all fonts used in placed images?
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- Has any foreign language text been thoroughly proofread and converted to outlines?
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- Are all fonts used either PostScript, OpenType or TrueType?
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- Have both the Screen and Printer versions of each PostScript font been included in your collect-for-output fonts folder.
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- Don't assume that the printer's versions of fonts used in your project are the same as yours. Supply your versions of ALL fonts used, regardless of how common they are.
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- Have you included a keyboard map for any foreign language fonts used that have not been converted to outlines?
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- Have you followed our general font management and collect-for-output recommendations?
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- If sending files via FTP, have you included an accurate PDF proof or faxed black & white lasers and a File Directory to us?
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- If sending files via FTP, please contact us to verify that they were received and are intact?
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- Is your media clearly labeled with information relevant to your project and contact info?
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- Does each file on your disk have a unique and obvious name?
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- Have all revised image files been updated and verified as present in your layout application before transferring your files to disk?
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- Are all linked-image source files included? (Don't trust you software application's Embedded Image or Collect-For-Output utilities!)
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- Have you provided a File Directory printout of your disk that shows ALL final files used, where they are located on the disk and which file is you final intended output file?
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- Have you furnished either printed proofs or hi-res "Print Quality" PDFs that accurately reflect your final art.
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- Do the proofs clearly indicate whether your job prints as CMYK only, Spot Color only or CMYK + Spot Color?
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- Are any PMS spot colors or special inks, varnishes or coatings clearly indicated?
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- Do your proofs clearly indicate whether the image is shown at 100% of final size or what percentage they are scaled down to?
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- Do your proofs clearly indicate bleeds, final trim and fold lines?
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- If your piece diecuts, is the dieline shape and registration clearly indicated?
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- If your piece foils or embosses, is the die shape and registration clearly indicated?
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