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File Requirements

Color Printing Pros is dedicated to keeping our prices as low as possible. In order to do that your submitted files are assumed to be created correctly to industry standards and conventions for postscript file output direct to plate (DTP) 4 color printing. Although we do our best to preflight all files to check for errors and omissions in formatting, we cannot be responsible for your errors. Please understand that you assume final responsibility.

FILE SUBMISSION CHECKLIST:

BEFORE uploading, Be sure you have the following requirements for your file:

  • RESOLUTION
    Make sure all your images are 300 dpi or higher in order to produce best detail. Anything less will result in poor quality. Although 72 dpi looks acceptable on your monitor, 72 dpi will result in poor image quality on printed products.
  • CMYK
    (All files must be CMYK (process color) . Do not use rgb, lab or any other color system as they will not give a true representation of what will print.
  • BLEED
    If you want any of your printed pieces to print to the edge of the paper (BLEED), make sure you provide a 1/8 inch of extra image all around .
  • TRIM AREA
    Keep all borders, text and important images at least 1/4 inch away from edge of trim . Free templates are available below giving guides.
  • CROPMARKS
    Cropmarks are extremely important if you are using spot UV. They give the exact positioning you are requesting. Free templates are available below with cropmarks.
  • RICH BLACK
    Any black background should have these percentages (60-C, 40-M, 40-Y, 100-K) in order to obtain a rich black. On your monitor, blacks will appear the same but when printed it will show dramatically different. Keep all type only 100% black (0-C, 0-M, 0-Y, 100-K) especially font sizes under 28 pt for legibility.
  • FONTS Fonts are not needed with high resolution PDF files (which is preferred). If fonts are not embedded, be sure to send with file.
  • SPOT UV For spot UV jobs, be sure to send additional file (grayscale) specifying spot colors . See spot UV page for detailed instructions.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, go to our FAQ Section

 

WE RECOMMEND:

HIGH RESOLUTION PDF with all files imbedded are preferred.
(low resolution PDF are not acceptable)

 

FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON
CREATING A HIGH RESOLUTION PDF FROM YOUR FILES, CLICK HERE.

 

ILLUSTRATOR: - BEFORE SUBMITTING THESE FILES, BE SURE THAT

  • All type, curves, paths, or outlines have been converted to vector art.
  • All linked images and graphics are CMYK.
  • All photos and images are saved as eps or tiff only.
    (We do not accept jpegs and gifs or any other format.)

FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON
PREPARING FILES FOR PRINTING IN ILLUSTRATOR , CLICK HERE.

 

QUARK:- BEFORE SUBMITTING THESE FILES, BE SURE THAT

  • All printer fonts and screen fonts in a font folder with my file.
    (Truetype fonts are not recommended, they are unstable and can confuse the RIP.)
  • All linked images are CMYK.
  • All Images are 300 dpi at 1:1. (size used)
  • All photos and images are saved as eps or tiff only.
    (we do not accept jpegs and gifs)
  • All colors used are CMYK. Spot colors are not acceptable.
  • All fonts used are not stylized by using the style palette. Use only the actual font.

FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON
PREPARING FILES FOR PRINTING IN QUARK , CLICK HERE.

 

PHOTOSHOP:- BEFORE SUBMITTING THESE FILES, BE SURE THAT

  • No Small font sizes are created. In photoshop small fonts will reproduce poorly.
  • File is in CMYK and 300 dpi for photos, background and images.
  • Files have been flattened and save as eps or tiff.
  • There are NO embed color profiles. Discard any embedded profiles - Don't color manage.
  • All printer fonts and screen fonts in a font folder with your file.
    (Truetype fonts are not recommended, they are unstable and can confuse the RIP.)
  • All bleeds extend at least 1/4" (.25) beyond each of the trim edges to bleed.
  • All critical design elements are placed 1/4" (.25) inside from the trim edge.
  • All images are at the size they will be used (100 percent).
    Quality of the image will degrade if it is less than 300 dpi or enlarged from 300 dpi.
  • If images that are lower than 300dpi are increased to 300 dpi in photoshop they will still be undersampled.
  • We suggest that if black is being used, you make it from a rich Black consisting of 100% black, 40% cyan, 40% magenta, and 40% yellow.

 

FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON
PREPARING FILES FOR PRINTING IN PHOTOSHOP , CLICK HERE.