Preparing Your Digital Files

Before you send your electronic design files, please review this quick checklist. We want to ensure that your project is completed correctly and on time. Please consider this information as important and crucial for the proper production of your file. It can save valuable time and money.

When you send a digital file out for film or printing there's more that needs to go along than just your PageMaker or QuarkXPress document. You may need to send fonts and graphics too. These are some of the basics you need to know in order to give Graphics Plus what we need to process your job.

After you review the list and want to send us your files, be sure to check out our section of Sending Us Your Files.

  • Please reference our Acceptable Software list to be sure we can support your application.
  • A laser copy of the latest version of your file at 100% of original size. If your final size is larger than your laser printer size, mark your printout as REDUCED. Also make sure any final changes are marked as "'Fixed on Disk".
  • Accurate document size of electronic file.
  • Folding panels are accurate and Bleeds (minimum 1/8 inch) are pulled out. Call us for more specific information about size of panels before sending your file to us.
  • Single page format. It is best if your file is set up as single pages. If using facing pages, or spreads, please lay it out in reader's spreads (i.e. Page 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) Do not use printer's spreads.
  • Be sure ALL used fonts are included. Provide all fonts used in the project, including fonts used in eps images (illustrator, freehand, CorelDraw, etc.). See our section on sending Graphics Plus your fonts. Even when you use common, classic typefaces you'll need to send the copies of the actual font files that your document contains. Fonts can vary from vendor to vendor and there are differences between the TrueType and Type 1 versions of fonts. If you don't supply your own fonts, Graphics Plus may substitute our own version. This might work. Or it might result in subtle or obvious differences in your document including text reflow.
  • Send both screen and printer fonts (for Type 1 fonts).
  • If you have embedded EPS files that include text that is not converted to curves, be sure to send the fonts for those images as well.
  • Avoid mixing TrueType and Type 1 fonts in the same file.
  • Send the same version of the font (that is, if you used TrueType fonts but send the Type 1 version of that typeface you may see errors).
  • Do not use the applications "type styles." Another words, DO NOT apply BOLD or ITALIC stylizing to typefaces. Choose the actual typeface to accomplish this. (i.e. BTimes Bold, ITimes Italic).
  • For full-color images, use CMYK format. DO NOT USE RGB FORMAT FOR SCANS! If your job is printing in four-color process, be sure that all scans you supply are in CMYK format. If you supply files in RGB format, they will not separate at the imagesetter, resulting in wasted film, costing you extra time and money.

    RGB images may look great on screen or printed on your inkjet printer but they usually don't print well to PostScript output devices. Convert your images to CMYK. While RGB has its place (on the Web, for example) it isn't suitable for most PostScript color printing.

    Save your original RGB file for later use or modifications. In your graphics application convert a copy of the RGB graphic to CMYK then place it in your page layout program. Send the CMYK version of your graphic to the printer.
  • Avoid complex images. If you have a file that contains complex images such as gradient fills or nested EPS graphics, planning ahead may avoid surprises. Our PostScript device may be unable to handle the image and if you know in advance you can try simplifying your file or converting it to a bitmap. One test of your file is printing it to your own printer. If your file won't print to your laser printer it probably won't be output correctly on an imagesetter. Even invisible parts of an image add to the complexity and can cause output problems. Delete unnecessary nodes, paths, and channels from your graphics.
  • Do your scans contain sufficient resolution for production? Scanning your image at 300 d.p.i. at the size you will be using will ensure good results. Never increase a small image beyond 120% when placing it in your document file. (72 d.p.i. is for web use only, and will not reproduce well.). Please be aware that digital cameras are great for taking pictures to show friends and family but an inexpensive 1 or 2 megapixel digital camera may not create an image with enough resolution for high-end production purposed. Also, digital camera images are saved in RGB format (see note above).
  • Be sure all used images are included. Provide all images and graphics used in file (even if the image is embedded instead of linked). Don't change graphics file names unless you first re-link them in your application file.

    Missing graphics can result in delayed printing or if you don't proof carefully enough it can be an expensive error when you find out later that the image is missing or a low-resolution screen version was printed instead. Graphics may appear to be missing if you change filenames after linking. If you find that you need to change the name of a graphic file, re-link it in your page layout program before sending the graphics and application file.
  • Save scanned images as either TIFF or EPS formats. There are dozens of graphics file formats but only two -- EPS and TIFF are the standards for commercial high resolution printing. Beyond file type other graphics issues that can jeopardize your printing project are color, compression, complexity, and completely missing images.

    When you send your document to Graphics Plus, we often can and do take the time to fix some of the common problems listed below. However, there may be instances in which we would have to charge for any additional time spent. Save time, money, and frustration with proper preparation and submission of your graphics for printing.
  • If FPO images are used, be sure they are clearly marked in file and on laser copy. Provide us with ONLY the most recent file.
  • Remove unused colors from your file and from the color palette as well. Be sure you do not have multiple colors that are similar but slightly different in name (such as using PMS 486 CV and then another color named PMS 486 CVC.) Also confirmed that the colors used in the file are the same specified for final production - if not, please note on file or hardcopy. TIP: To see how your job will separate in production, try printing separations to your laser printer first.