Capitol Press - Printing Essentials reference guide.

Submitting Artwork for Print

Things YOU need to LOOK at:

Color - All images are CMYK.
To avoid surprises don't use "illegal" RGB colors when designing for print. "Illegal" RGB colors are those not available in the CMYK palette. We will convert RGB files but this may effect color.

Resolution - All CMYK / Grayscale images are 355 dpi or higher. Bitmap images are 1200 dpi or higher and brought in at 100%.

Fonts - Do not use Truetype or Stylized fonts.
Special effects with truetype fonts do not work. (Note: Bring into Illustrator and convert to paths then import.) When using fonts in a layout program, use the actual font (i.e. if bold use bold; don't select the box for bold while using a light or medium font).

Proof Your File - What you should look at:
Review copy for typos. Double check photo(s) for blemishes. Check keyline around photos for gaps-Quark tools enable you to zoom in 1200%. Stay away from using hair-lines in dialog boxes. Use registration color for crops. Extend images past trim for bleeds. Output separated lasers. If applicable, make sure layout conforms to US Postal Mailing Regulations.

Organize Files - Label your disk with contact name, contact telephone number and list of contents. Do not send any unnecessary files. Provide final layout file. Create folders to organize other necessary files. For example, include all image files used, tiff, EPS etc. in an "image" folder and include ALL fonts used in a "fonts" folder.

Hardcopy - Always provide a laser or hard copy of the final layout file at 100%. Large documents are tiled, not reduced. Be cautious of relying on a fax as the transmission may be altered.

Output Separations - to check number of plates.

Solids - When printing screens inside a solid reduce screen percentage for dot gain.

NEXT: PROOFING YOUR WORK»

Things We look for:

Banding - This occurs in gradations when a too small of a screen percent change is made over too large of an area.

Under color - In process work black is strengthened by adding a % of cyan, magenta and yellow to create a rich black.

RGB images - Need to be converted to CMYK for printing.

Trapping - Refers to how much colors overlap to eliminate white lines between printed colors.

Fine type reversing in solids - This effects readability.

Resolution - The file size and amount of resolution determines the quality when printed (smoothness of image).

Ghosting - When too much ink is printed in one area effecting the ink density of another area.

File Transfer Protocol, FTP:

FTP is preferable, over e-mail, to transfer files larger than 2MB from one computer to another on the internet. To use FTP you must have FTP Client Software, like FETCH, to control the transfer of your files. ALWAYS provide the printer with a hard copy of the final layout at 100%.

Capitol Press operates an FTP Server for clients CONTACT US for more information. (You can download FTP Client software from links on our website.)