The following guidelines are provided to assist
graphic artists in submitting digital art that will ensure seamless
and timely completion of any order.
General Art Guidelines
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ART BASICS: We utilize state-of-the-art
digital Direct-to-Plate and Direct-to-Press technology in our printing
process. This eliminates the use of film and it's accompanying
chemicals. To avoid additional charges and potential delays, all art
must be camera-ready, separated artwork (all camera-ready art is
scanned) or output-ready digital files and should conform to the art
specifications found below.
SM@RT CODES: Art requirements for all of
our products conform to PPAI's Sm@rt Code 4C and 4S art
specifications. (300ppi Raster Image, or Vector Elements in Spot (PMS)
colors or CMYK colors.)
ART SERVICES: Any time art must be
created or modifications must be made, the following art services will
be available: typesetting, minor corrections to submitted art, art
creation, art reconstruction, significant modification to submitted
art.
SCANNING: Both reflective and transparent
media can be scanned. Our scanner has a maximum image size of 12"x18".
On request, art that is larger than specified can be photographically
reproduced on a transparency and scanned. Please remember that
enlarging an image from a 35mm slide to mousepad size will usually
result in image degradation. Submit 4" x 5" or larger transparencies
when possible.
CALIBRATED COLOR TARGET: A color target
is required to verify that our printing processes have accurately
reproduced your desired image. When a calibrated color target is not
supplied with digital art, one will be provided for an additional
charge.
BORDERS, REGISTRATION & BLEED: When art
includes a border or other art element that runs parallel to the
mousepad's edges, the naked eye can distinguish slight variations in
print positioning (registration). For this reason, we do not recommend
the use of a border because the nature of manufacturing limits
registration capabilities to ±1/16". A 1/8" bleed on all sides of the
finished, composed art is required for art that extends to the
finished edge of the pad.
Digital Art Guidelines
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Images: Always remember that submitted
images are printed "as is." When professionals submit digital art, we
assume the work is color corrected, the images are adjusted to your
satisfaction, all text is correctly spelled, and that the original
submitted art is correct.
Software: We accept files created with or
convertible to the following Mac/PC software: QuarkXPress,
InDesign, Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDraw, PageMaker and
Freehand. If you must use a program or file format not listed
here, please contact us to discuss options
and charges.
Graphic File Formats: An editable version
of all files, including linked and placed images, must be submitted.
All graphics should be linked to - not embedded in - the layout
document. Photoshop files should be submitted in TIFF (preferred) or
EPS format. Illustrator and Freehand files should be in EPS format.
All files should be saved at the desired size and rotation in the
originating program. See Software
Guidelines for specific program information.
Fonts: We recommend that all text be
converted to curves/outlines by the originating program. This avoids
the many problems associated with various font styles, formats and
originators. While this will render text uneditable, it can be sized
and manipulated like any other graphic element. If the text must
remain editable or if the text cannot be converted to outlines, the
screen and printer fonts must both be submitted with the job. Please
do not embed fonts in Corel Draw.
Colors: The format of colors that are
included in any image must match the intended output format. For
example: PMS colors included in a CMYK print should be defined in CMYK
terms (unless they are to print as a separate, additional color). Spot
or PMS colors should not be defined in CMYK terms if the color will be
printed on a plate as submitted. Colors should be defined only as spot
or CMYK. Colors defined as RGB (screen colors) must be redefined as
spot or CMYK. Spot colors will be matched to the Pantone® COATED color
guide. Converting spot or RGB colors to CMYK will usually change the
appearance of the color, sometimes dramatically. Please be aware
of this potential change when submitting RGB images or spot colors
that are to be converted to CMYK process inks.
Trapping: Our trapping software
automatically traps all color information per the parameters of our
press and production requirements. We can adjust our process when art
is submitted with special trapping or overprinting situations.
Digital Media: 3.5" floppy disk; 100Mb &
250Mb ZIP® disks, 1Gb & 2Gb JAZ® disks, CD-ROM, DVD.
Email: We accept art submissions via
email. Please be aware that the Internet/World Wide Web is not the
most dependable transmission medium for the high resolution graphic
files – .tif or .eps – we require to produce quality images. If you
send files via email, also send the same art on disk along with a
printed sample of what you expect the art to look like. This will
ensure your art is received in a timely manner should problems with
the email submission occur. Files over 2Mb should be submitted
on CD.
Software Guidelines
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QuarkXPress, InDesign, PageMaker: Quark
is our graphics department’s preferred layout software. In Quark, the
picture boxes housing imported TIFF files must have a background color
even if it is set to white or 0% black. Selecting "NONE" as a fill
color may cause the images to have jagged edges. If background colors
are not possible, we recommend an EPS format with a clean clipping
path. In either case, all placed images should be sized at 100%, not
enlarged or reduced in Quark or PageMaker, and original TIFF and/or
EPS files must be provided with the Quark or PageMaker document. EPS,
PDF and Quark layouts can be downloaded from our Stock Shapes page.
Photoshop: We use Photoshop to edit and
correct all photographic images and complex illustrations. As with all
submitted work, images should be sized and cropped to final size.
Although Photoshop will allow you to convert selections into a
clipping path, we prefer that you avoid this process because it
usually results in a large number of control points. When a clipping
path is needed, create it by using pen tools and establish the fewest
number of control points possible. When saving a file with a clipping
path, please set flatness to at least 3 pixels.
The following outlines specific Photoshop
considerations for our different processes:
Standard Offset: Images submitted for
printing with "regular" ink are printed as submitted. Image resolution
should be set at 300 ppi for output at 150 lpi - remember that
effective image resolution is decreased when an image is enlarged in a
layout program, so images should be sized at 100% in the Quark or
PageMaker document.
Sublimation: All photographic images and
images including half-tones or screen tints will require some
adjustment in order to work well with the sublimation printing
process. Please be aware that changes to photographic files can be
quite dramatic. Image resolution should be 300 ppi - remember that
effective image resolution is decreased when an image is enlarged in a
layout program.
Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw: Make
sure colors are defined as either spot or CMYK depending on the
intended final print. Convert all text to curves/outlines whenever
possible to avoid font problems. Do not embed fonts in Corel Draw.
Avoid placing images in these programs if possible. "Nested" EPS and
TIFF images may cause unusually large file sizes and may cause output
problems and delays. If images must be placed in the illustration,
make sure they are properly sized and cropped in the originating
program prior to importation and include the original placed images
with the job. Set output resolution to 2540 dpi.
Analog Art Guidelines
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Camera-ready (Analog) art is defined as artwork
that is complete, ready to be taken to the camera, and then shot
directly to final film (which is required). In other words, the most
we will do to the art is enlarge it or reduce it to create final film.
Our all-digital workflow requires that
traditional "camera-ready" art be scanned to create a digital image.
Digital files used to create the camera-ready art should be submitted
if available. |
