File Preparation

Desktop scanners and computer monitors use the RGB gamut or color system. The gamut of a color system is the range of colors that can be displayed or printed. Full color printing reproduces colors inside CMYK color system. Not all RGB colors can be reproduced in the CMYK color system. Most scanned photographs... more

There are two basic color spaces used in graphics and printing. One is RGB (Red, Green and Blue). Scanners, monitors and digital cameras use a combination of red, green and blue light to display and create your images. The combination of red, green and blue light can create more visible colors than the combination... more

300 dots per inch at full size is optimum ... When you first begin working with digitized images, the term resolution can be confusing. While several types of resolution are important, we are most concerned with device resolution, which refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi) that the output device such as a... more

Please save all bitmap images (like those out of Photoshop) as a tiff or eps format if you will place them in a layout program. If it is for final printing, tiff, eps or jpg with maximum quality format is acceptable. We cannot print gif, pict, dcs, ping, psd, cds, etc. formats. Please do not save your images with... more

If your image is not white on all four sides, you MUST include bleeds in your files. Add 1/8 of an inch (.125") to each side to allow for cutting. For example, a 4” X 6” postcard with a full bleed the image size should be submitted at 4.25” by 6.25” .125" (1/8”) on each edge (top, bottom, ,right, left) of the card... more

Whenever possible, convert all text/type in your documents to paths or outlines, eliminating the need to send fonts you used with your files. This is easily done in programs like Illustrator, Freehand and CorelDraw. When using Photoshop, flatten files before submitting, which automatically rasterizes all fonts used.... more

Mac users must save text as curves whenever possible. Look for this option when exporting your file. Mac users must include both the screen display and printer extension portions of ALL fonts used in both graphic and typeset documents. TYPE 1 fonts only, no True Type fonts or we will have to substitute fonts.  more

Fill solid black areas with a "Rich Black" rather than black only. Rich Black is made up of 30% Cyan 30% Magenta 30% Yellow 100% Black This will keep solid black areas from looking gray, and should be used for larger solid areas or heavy type over 36 point. For normal body text, use 100% black, do... more

Collect and assemble files, fonts & images into single compressed file - ZIP (for PC) or SIT (for Mac) ... Use WinZip or similar PC based software to bundle all your project components, including fonts and graphic images, into a single compressed ZIP file. On the MAC, use Stuffit to create a SIT file (DO NOT make... more