A Guide to Correct File Setup

Adobe Photoshop:

COLOR MODE - CMYK
LAYERS - FLATTENED (if file is camera ready). If additional changes are required, leave the layers available.
RESOLUTION - 300 dpi.
SAVE AS - EPS, TIFF, or PSD
If entire job is composed in Photoshop please save as an EPS. Our EPS settings are PREVIEW: 
Macintosh JPEG ENCODING: JPEG Maximum Resolution, all boxes should be unchecked. 
If layers are included, save as TIFF.

Adobe illustrator:

COLOR MODE - CMYK (or selected Pantone colours).
FONTS - Convert to outlines or EMBED the fonts.
IMAGES - Should be linked, supplied, and the images should follow our Photoshop standards
(no RGB files or JPEG'S).
SAVE AS - EPS
If the entire job is composed in Illustrator, please set the crop area (using the crop area tool)
to include the bleeds.

QuarkXpress:

COLOR MODE - All colors should be converted to CMYK color space.
PAGES - Each side of your job should have it own page and the page size should match the final 
trim size. Remember to leave bleeds (min. 1/8" but perferably 0.25").
FONTS - MUST BE collected and packaged in "Collect for output".
IMAGES - MUST BE INCLUDED, linked, and the images should follow our PHOTOSHOP standards.

JPEG WARNING: JPEG'S give inaccurate previews at times when using a layout application. If you have been using JPEG images, dont just resave them in an acceptable format. You also MUST go into the layout program and update the images before saving the Quark file. The reason being, there could be a shift and size position due to the JPEG's preview you were using.

Specific scores on files by making a black line outside of the guides where the piece needs to be scored. Label the line "Score Here". You can also use guides when using Photoshop or Illustrator to indicate scoring lines.

Resolution Settings:

• 1. On almost all jobs your resolution should be 300 dpi at final print.
• 2. Images on websites are low resolution (72 dpi) and they are unusable for printing.

Bleeds & Safeties:

When you create a new document, set your page size to the final trim size of your piece. A business card should be 3.5" x 2", a catalog sheet 8.5" x 11", and so on.

Many people become confused with the terms trim, safety and bleed. Quite simply, trim is the final size your piece will be cut to. The safety is the distance your text must be placed inside of the trim (appx.: 1/8") to ensure that it is not accidentally cut off in the bindery. And finally, bleed is the distance an area must protrude beyond the trim so that a color or picture comes right to the edge, or trim of your piece.

Do not draw in cropmarks. QuarkXpress and most other desktop publishing programs all create cropmarks to the proper document size with an option enabled in the print dialog box.