How to Format Your Design File

Formatting Your Design Files

Specifications

Accepted File Types - PDF, JPG, PSD, TIF, EPS, AI
Color - mode should be set to CMYK
Resolution - should be at least 300dpi
Bleeds - must have .125 inch bleed on all sides
Borders - should be at least .25 inches wide (.375 inches from the bleed edge)
Safe Zone - all text must be at least .125 inches from finished size of the piece (without bleed)
Flatten Your Images - layered or linked files not accepted
4/1 Files - black side must be 100% K build only
Printer’s Marks - Turn off all crop marks, registration, titles before exporting your PDF file.

Accepted File Types

We accept a wide variety of PC graphic design programs such as Adobe Indesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, as long as they are submitted as one of the following formats: PDF, JPG, PSD, TIF, EPS, AI. We accept MAC files only in PDF format. We do not accept files submitted in the following formats: MS Word, MS Publisher, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, or Printshop.

Color

Design files should be created and submitted in CMYK color mode. Most software programs offer the choice of working in RGB color or CMYK color. RGB color mode utilizes Red, Green, and Blue to create the palette of colors. RGB is used for web graphics and is how computer monitors display colors. CMYK uses Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black to create the palette of colors. CMYK is often referred to “Full Color” or “4 color” and is used by printing equipment and presses. You should create your design files in CMYK as design files that are created in RGB must be converted to CMYK before printing. The conversion process can result in an undesirable color shift.

Resolution

We strongly recommend that you use only images of 300 DPI resolution or higher. Using images that are lower than 300 DPI will result in reduced print quality. If you elect to use low resolution images –you will be required to sign a waiver. Note: DPI stands for Dots – Per – Inch and represents how many dots of color are used to construct the image. The higher the DPI (more tiny dots of color) - the higher the quality of the image. The lower the DPI (less dots of color) - the lower the quality of the image.

Border

We strongly recommend that all borders on the edge of your piece are at least .25 inches thick from your finished size. Although we make every effort to cut your pieces as precise as possible – due to tolerances in the cutting process we cannot guarantee perfect cuts every time. As a result borders that are less than .25 inches thick will often have an uneven look to them.

Bleeds

All design files must have a .125 inch bleed on all four sides. This ensures that even with the inherent tolerances in the cutting process your design will still cover completely to the edge of the piece without any of the white paper stock showing on the edges.

Safe Zone

All text and important design elements should be at least .125 inches from the finished edge of the piece. Although we make every effort to cut your pieces as precise as possible – due to tolerances in the cutting process we cannot guarantee perfect cuts every time. Therefore text and other content should be kept at least .125 inches from the finished edge to prevent the possibility of being cut off.

Flatten Your Images

Before you send your design file, you must flatten your images and convert text to outlines. We do not accept layered or linked images. This prevents font defaults and other issues.

4/1 Files

If your project is color on one side and black only on the other – you must construct (create) the black only side as 100% K only. Your design file cannot have any C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) in it.

Printer's Marks

Turn off all crop marks, registration, titles before exporting your PDF file.

Have Questions?

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