Artwork Specs

It is recommended, that whenever possible, you supply your files in PDF format. This is the safest way to provide files in regards to layout and font issues. It is recommended all Word and Publisher files be supplied as a PDF. We unfortunately cannot guarantee there will not be problems as Word and Publisher documents are prone to have layout issues when opening and printing from different computers.

If your job is single sided then you simply supply a one-page PDF. If your job has two pages then provide a front and a back as a two-page PDF file, the first page of your PDF will be the front page and the second the back page. If you have a job with multiple kinds then please supply a PDF for each kind.

If you are creating a coloured document, please use either CMYK or Pantone colour pallet in your design program. Micrsoft Office programs are not capable of producing CMYK output. It is also important to convert all of your images from RGB to CMYK before sending them to us. If your job is CMYK please convert any spot PMS colours in your file to CMYK. If you require a spot colour printed job then choose whatever Pantone colours are required.

Before creating your final document please ensure all images and logos are of appropriate size. For example if you have an A5 flyer to be printed, when creating the artwork re-size your images proportionally before importing into your document. Resize it to the size you want in Photoshop or another program before importing into your document. This helps keep your files at a manageable size while retaining print quality.

We accept all industry standard programs – InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark Xpress. We do however prefer print ready PDF files, created as high resolution print quality with bleed and trims. Files provided in another format such as Word or Publisher may incur a small artwork charge. Or of course we can create your artwork completely from scratch!

Resolution is the number of pixels within an image. Generally speaking, the higher the resolution, the better the final result of your job will be. To obtain best possible quality and sharpness for your job, your images and logos need to be supplied in high resolution. A minimum of 200 DPI is required, with 300 DPI preferred when it’s at full size.

We have approximately 10,000 fonts yet it is impossible to have all the fonts that are available. For this reason it is recommended that you outline your fonts before saving as a PDF. This is not always possible in all programs, but if you can, it will avoid having font problems which can be very time consuming to fix!

If your job requires trimming to size after printing please always supply the file with trim marks and bleed. Trim area is the actual final size of your page.

We require 4-5mm of internal bleed on all files (7mm on all booklets) – that means you need to keep all your important information away from this area

If your document has colour that prints right to the edge of the sheet, you must supply your file with a minimum of 3mm bleed. Bleed is the image area extending past your trim area and allows for a small amount of movement that may happen when guillotining your finished job. This is a very important step, and if not done the correct way, we may not be able to print your file.

If you are unsure about this process, please call us on 9248 6477 before creating your file and we may be able to assist you.

The maximum ink coverage possible in our printing process is 400% – however, if we were to print a file with this amount of ink coverage, the ink would never dry and your shadow areas will “bog in” ! That is why we recommend the maximum coverage is 280% – 300% .This means total ink percentage when you add together cyan, magenta, yellow and black does not exceed this number.

If you are looking for a deep, rich black for backgrounds etc. then use a combination of 100% K and 40% C – Please note this is not advised for small areas or text.

When naming your file, keep it simple and descriptive, for example: company ABC are sending us their business card so they name the file ABC Bus cards.PDF. Please try to include only alphanumeric characters and limit the total length to a maximum of 16 characters.

We hope the above will be useful in helping you prepare your files, however, if you are still needing more information then please feel free to contact us by phone or email.