Artwork Guidelines
- All artwork supplied on CD / DVD must be accompanied by a colour proof. Any artworks supplied electronically must be accompanied by a proof PDF.
- Artwork for printing must be supplied as either QuarkXpress or InDesign files, together with any elements that are placed into these files (see "Acceptable imported file formats") including all fonts that have been used.
- Print optimized PDFs may be provided for printing, however we will be unable to make any colour adjustments to these files. Print PDFs must include sufficient bleed and have embedded fonts.
- PDFs cannot be accepted for vinyl output.
- Elements created in Illustrator or Freehand must be saved as an EPS file and placed into a QuarkXpress or InDesign file for printing. Any fonts used in these Illustrator or FreeHand files must be converted to paths. Scans/images must never be placed into Illustrator or FreeHand files.
- Acceptable imported file formats: Illustrator EPS, FreeHand EPS, PhotoShop TIFFs, must not have LZW compression
- Artwork for vinyl-cut lettering and decals must be supplied as a vector based file (Illustrator or FreeHand) with compound paths (i.e. no overlapping paths) and no strokes. Any fonts used in these files must be converted to paths.
- Never use QuarkXpress EPS files.
- All artwork must be created either at full size, or in proportion to the full size, preferably half pro, quarter pro or tenth pro.
- Where any item needs to bleed off the printed area, add bleed in proportion to 20mm at full size on the artwork. This bleed must extend beyond the area of the printed artwork.
- Any elements which are not required on the final printed artwork must be removed.
- Any colours that you use which will require matching must be Pantone spot colours – do not convert these to CMYK or RGB. If there is a specific colour which does not have a Pantone equivalent, please supply a sample of this colour and clearly label that a match is required.
- Colour correction can only be made globally to flattened PhotoShop files. If selective colour balancing, colour matching or retouching is required, layered PhotoShop files must be provided.
- Avoid styling fonts, i.e. Helvetica, style Bold. Use the correct fonts, i.e. Helvetica Bold.
- All scans must be supplied as RGB or CMYK flattened PhotoShop TIFFs when possible, with a canvas size not exceeding 50cm on the longest length. PhotoShop files must not contain any unused paths or alpha channels. Minimum recommended image resolution is 100dpi at full size.
- All Photoshop documents should have an input icc profile.
Please call Mike Lunnon or Ian Ovenden for any technical assistance.
Please note that failure to comply with these guidelines could result in errors, poor quality print production, added artworking costs and failure to meet deadlines.
