SLB Printing’s - File Preparation
Guidelines
Are you ready to send us your files?
Go here to File
upload to send files up to 10 mg
(PLEASE STUFF OR ZIP ALL FILES. Your files may not open properly on our system
otherwise.)
For file uploads greater then 12 mg, please
call customer service at 310-289-1968 to obtain upload site
information.
General Guidelines for offset printing:
1) Use high resolution images
for all your pictures and graphics. 300 dpi for gray
scale & full color images, 800 to 1200 dpi for 1 bit black
& white (line art) images.
2) Try to limit your font usage to 1 or 2
different types of fonts. It helps if the fonts have
several different variations, such as bold, condensed, heavy,
etc. This allows for a more uniform look in your design
with the option of changing emphasis on special words, phrases
or titles.
3) Call our customer service staff at
310-289-1968 and ask questions before submitting your file.
File submission:
This will vary based on the process we will
use to produce your order.
If you submit files in the program you used
to create it, you’ll need to be sure to either embed or
include the fonts and linked images as well. You
don’t need to include embedded images, embedded fonts or
most standard type fonts. The simple alternative is to supply
the file in Illustrator eps, Photoshop eps or Adobe PDF.
If you submit files in the program you used
to create it, you’ll need to be sure to either embed or
include the fonts and linked images as well. You
don’t need to include embedded images, embedded fonts or
most standard type fonts. The simple alternative is to supply
the file in Illustrator eps, Photoshop eps or Adobe PDF.
Should be submitted in either Illustrator eps, Photoshop eps or
Adobe PDF file formats. We prefer to use an
Illustrator eps file with the fonts outlined, layers flattened
and all raster images embedded. Quark files are
acceptable for some jobs, please call customer service for
details at 310-289-1968.
If you submit files in the program you used
to create it, you’ll need to be sure to either embed or
include the fonts and linked images as well. You
don’t need to include embedded images, embedded fonts or
most standard type fonts. The simple alternative is to supply
the file in Illustrator eps, Photoshop eps or Adobe PDF.
Bleeds:
If your artwork runs to the edge of the
paper, you’ll need to add a “bleed” area.
Increase your page size by .125” on all 4 sides and
do the same to the image that runs to the edge of the paper.
Safe Area:
Keep any critical text or graphics
.125” away from any edge. This is the
“safe” area where we cut the paper.
Fonts:
The best practice to use with fonts is to
outline them if your program allows. Call our customer service
staff at 310-289-1968 if you need assistance with outlining
fonts. We have the basic fonts that came with programs such as
Illustrator, Corel, Publisher or other MS products. But
if you know that you are using a special font, the font will
either need to be imbedded, outlined or provided with the file.
Keep in mind, fonts can have different creation dates, even
some of the most basic fonts can be revised. So if in
doubt, either outline the font, embed it or supply it with your
file.
Layers:
Always reduce your final file to a single
flattened layer. You can review “flattening layers”
in all the major software programshelp files. In most
instances, when you go to save a file as in eps format, an
option to flatten layers will be on the screen. Be sure
to select this option.
Number 1 rule with resolution is NEVER try
to increase it! This is called
“interpolation”. What interpolation does is
allow your computer to fill in the gaps, that you have just
created, with a color that the computer, not you, chooses.
Resolution (using dpi) is basically a mathematical
formula that calculates how much file information is just right
to display or print your image. 72 dpi is what you
monitor needs to display an image cleanly with sharp detail.
However, this is far from enough file information needed
to print a high quality image using a press, color copier or
inkjet printer. But...here’s where the math part
comes in. Lets say you’ve just taken a great
picture with your digital camera, you go to Photoshop and load
the image and see it’s resolution is only 72 dpi, but
it’s image size is 14” x 20”. If you
take this picture and place it into your design, then scale
down the picture size within your design program, you’ll
find that you will have enough resolution to get you by.
You’ll need to scale the picture down to about 33%
of it’s original size to reach optimum printable quality
for printing (about 5” x 7”).
Set the Color
Mode in the New Document window to CMYK (even if
you’ll be using Pantone spot colors). Outline all
your fonts when your design is finished. When placing
raster images, please be sure to embed the file (deselect the
“link” option). Flatten all your layers and
save your file in eps format. For spot colors, use the Pantone SOLID Uncoated
pallet found in the window menu, under Swatch Libraries.
For full color CMYK files, you can use the standard CMYK
color pallet to choose your colors. Be sure to stay away
from the RGB color pallet.
ALWAYS use the CMYK mode from the image drop down menu for your color files. Do
not use any images copied from the internet. Use Gray Scale mode for 1 color artwork that
contains 1/2 tones or gradients in your images. Use
Bitmap for your line art images that don’t contain and shades of gray.
Not an acceptable format for our Full Color Post Card or Full Color Business Card specials promotion pricing. These special projects must be submitted
in CMYK eps format with fonts outlined, images embedded and
layers flattened.
For all other types of orders, use
“collect for output” in order to gather all your
pages, images and fonts into a transportable folder.
You must own a copy of Distiller standard
or professional in order to create a high quality pdf suitable
for offset printing. When distilling PDF files, prepared
using Acrobat Distiller, use the “press” settings
from the configure menu. Make sure the fonts are imbedded
and any spot colors are specified properly. PDF files made with
the native MAC OSX print as pdf option will NOT work for
commercial color printing purposes.
Copyright © by SLB Printing, Inc.
2005-2007