Please read and follow the artwork specifications listed below; this will allow our Pre-Press department to create a better product and serve you more efficiently.

           

Electronic Artwork

File Formats:

All digital artwork should be submitted using one of the following formats:
 

	Program Software	File Type(s)
	Adobe InDesign	.indd
	Adobe Illustrator	.ai, .eps
	Adobe Acrobat (PDF)	.pdf
	Adobe PhotoShop	.tif, .psd, .eps
	Quark Xpress	.qxp

If these options are not available to you, please contact us for additional options.

 

File Details

Include Fonts and Images:

• Fonts - Include all fonts used in your project; both screen and printer fonts are needed when using postscript fonts. 
• Linked Graphics – Be sure to include all of your placed / imported images when you send your artwork.  Missing graphics and fonts can cause your job to be delayed.

Resolution:

• Rasterized art should be at least 300 dpi.
• Final resolution of scanned color or grayscale images should be 400 dpi. 
• Final resolution of scanned line art should be 1200 dpi at 100%.         

Document Size / Printable Areas:

• Set your document page size to the final size of your printed page.  Avoid manually drawn crop marks.
• Extend bleeds 1/8” past page edges.
• Be sure to keep non-bleeding items at least ¼” from any edge or bindery operation.           
• Please refer to the templates on our website www.BlanksUSA.com

Color Management:

• All files should be set up as CMYK color (not RGB as RGB color may drastically change).

Spot Color Documents:

• Specify Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors.
• Delete all unused colors in your documents; be sure the rest are defined as spot colors.
• Be sure the colors defined in your graphic files match those in the document. 

Process Color Documents

• Delete all unused colors in your documents; be sure the rest are defined as process colors.
• Be sure all placed graphics are CMYK.  Double check any embedded bitmaps.

Halftones and Tints

• Attempting to achieve a color with halftones or gradients is not recommended (screening back PMS colors by changing the opacity or transparency).  Selecting a solid spot color will result in more accurate printing.
• Gradients will result in banding.  Avoid gradients if banding is not acceptable.
• Avoid using halftone fonts; the print quality is much cleaner if solid colors are applied.

Sending us your Artwork:

• Please use your company name and order number to identify your file.
• E-mail attachments may be compressed/zipped using Stuffit or other compression software. 
• Total size of all attachments per e-mail should be under 10 MB.  Files larger than 10 MB should be delivered via optical media (CD-R or DVD), USB drive or uploaded to our ftp site.
• Please e-mail artwork and/or copy to:  prepress@blanksusa.com

Questions?

If you have further questions, please contact the Blanks/USA pre-press department at 1.800.328.7311.