Quick Check for Digital Files

Have you? -

• checked for software compatibility?
• laid out your entire layout on one page in one digital file?
• supplied ALL printer and screen fonts?
• supplied ALL support art?
• checked to be sure that your scanned art is high enough resolution?

Print your layout out to 100% size -

• Are your color seps printing out correctly?
• Double-check your layout dimensions against supplied template(s).
• Do you have enough bleed? (1/8"poly - 3/8" vinyl - 7/8" turned edge - 1/8" inserts/embedments)
• Does your artwork interfere with exposed rivets?
• Is art content complete, in position and accurate?
• Make sure all cropmarks, register marks, color bars, etc. fall outside the bleed area.
• Send color-broken, marked up hard copy along with digital files, it gives us something to check against.

Tips for Successful art Set up

• Create your entire layout in one software package when possible. Keeping your layout simple, down to the lowest common denominator allows for easier toubleshooting and file manipulation.
• There is no need to create a background color that represents the material color in your digital file. If using white as an ink color, assign a visible color in your digital file and define it as printing white.
• Using a vector based program (ie: Adobe Illustrator®, Macromedia Freehand®) facilitates trapping and color blends.
• Large, single colored shapes or solid type will silk-screen with better edge quality if created in a vector- based program (ie: Adobe Illustrator®, Macromedia Freehand®) as opposed to a rastor-based program such as Adobe Photoshop®. Rastor (scanning) software will show a bit-mapped edge no matter what the resolution. It may also be recommended to print solid colored shapes or type in a spot color instead of 4 color process. This will give a nice, clean edge made out of a solid flat color, not dots.
• Be sure to set up color blends from spot color to spot color; it is easy to translate spot color to process if needed, but not the other way around. Never set up blends from spot to process or vise-versa.
• Scan line art at an input resolution of 800ppi-1200ppi. If vector converting software is available (ie. Adobe Streamline®) your line art will have higher edge quality if streamlined and adjusted.
• When scanning continuous tone images that are intended for press it is important to know your printer's printing resolution. Rule of thumb is: Input scanning resolution should be twice what the printing resolution(screen frequency) is. Also keep in mind that the more you enlarge a continuous tone image in your layout, the more resolution it loses. It is best to adjust the resolution and size of your image in your rastor (scanning) software. Remember to make sure the image you are scanning is a good clean quality image, the better the image at the start the better will be your result in the end product!
• Because vinyl binders are constructed with material over board it is important to keep critical art 1/8" away from sealed edges or hinged seal bars. Be especially aware of this on spine art. You will lose 1/8" on the sides due to the material curling around the board.
• Be aware that when silk-screening bright colored UV inks on dark colored materials that an extra hit of white may need to be added to retain the original hue of the ink color. A white backer may need to be built into the digital files.
• When building color traps, a silk-screening trap is generally .5pt trap.