Preparing Files for Print
There are several simple guidelines you can follow when creating and preparing electronic files for professional printing that can help eliminate common production delays and associated costs. The following information addresses some of the most frequently misunderstood file requirements and helps to avoid unexpected setbacks when submitting project files to your service provider.
Images & Fonts
Images should be 300 dpi (dots per inch) at the final size in the layout.
Text should be 400 dpi at the final size in the layout.
Use TIFF or EPS file formats to achieve the best color quality and sharpness of image. Other file formats tend to remove some of the original images. Images originally taken with a digital camera usually appear in JPEG format and should be converted to a TIFF or EPS format. If your image is a photograph, we recommend an EPS file format.
Try to avoid using images from the Internet or websites. These images usually appear in GIF, JPEG or PNG file formats, all of which remove color and resolution to achieve a low dpi to allow for rapid online transfer. Such images would appear fuzzy or dull if used for print.
Make sure all photos are set in the proper mode (CMYK).
Make sure your files are linked, not embedded, and that you send all layout, image and font files (both screen and printer fonts).
File Compression
Save JPEGs at the highest quality compression level.
When saving a file as a TIFF, do not turn on LZW compression if it is available.
When saving files as EPS, make sure that preview is set to Macintosh or TIFF, 8-bits/pixel and set Encoding to Binary.
Creating Bleeds
Creating a page that has a full bleed (ink all the way up to the edge of the sheet) requires printing the page on a larger size of paper and cutting to size. To set up your file to accommodate a bleed, be sure to extend the bleed area at least an 1/8 of an inch beyond all edges of the page that bleed. This will allow plenty of room for trimming and eliminate any of the paper’s original color from showing at the edge.
On projects that do not include bleeds, make sure to leave an area around all four sides of the page where there is no copy within at least a 1/4 inch of the edges.
