GRAPHICS: EPS, TIFF of PDF format. Images must be at least 300 dpi or greater. Images submitted with less than 300 dpi are subject to pixilation during the ripping and plating process and will appear on the final project.
FONTS: PostScript (two files for each font) or TrueType fonts (one
font) are expected, PostScript fonts are preferred.
BLEEDS: 1/8" (.125) beyond document edge is required!
SOFTWARE: (If you do not see your application listed below please
contact our graphics department to ensure compatibility)
MAC
QuarkXpress 6.5
Adobe InDesign CS
Adobe Illustrator CS
Abode PhotoShop CS
Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional
PC
Adobe PageMaker 7
Adobe Illustrator CS
Abode PhotoShop CS
Adobe Acrobat 5.0
MicroSoft Publisher 2002
PLEASE INCLUDE: Hard copy lasers of the final piece, separations and composites. Hard copy colour representations are strongly recommended. Please provide a mock-up piece for all folds, perforations, scores and numbering.
TOP 10 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH DIGITAL FILES:
- Not enough graphic/scan or images to meet bleed requirements.
- Line art (logos) saved in 300 dpi grayscale format, rather than 1200 dpi bitmap format
- Inaccurate clipping paths
- Book pages set up as one double-sized page in reader spreads
- Photo’s don’t fill out picture windows (i.e. a tiny gab is left between photo and border).
- Spot colors produced in two different versions (i.e. PMS 1955C and PMS 1955U)
- Characters modified by using the style palette (i.e. bold or italic) rather than using the actual bold or italic font.
- Digital Files do NOT match the customers supplied Lasers or PDF’s.
- Low resolution graphics supplied in stead of high resolution files
- Missing FONTS
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat (planographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a water-based film (called "fountain solution"), keeping the non-printing areas ink-free.
Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the screen stencil forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas.
Flexography (often abbreviated to flexo) is a form of relief printing and is the method of printing most commonly used for packaging (labels, tape, bags, boxes, banners, etc.).
A flexographic print is made by creating a positive mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. A measured amount of ink is deposited upon the surface of the printing plate (or printing cylinder) using an engraved anilox roll whose texture holds a specific amount of ink. The print surface then rotates, contacting the print material which transfers the ink.
Digital Printing All printed output from a computer is technically digital. However, the term refers more to printing finished pages for brochures, journals and booklets from the computer rather than using an offset printing press and commercial printer. Although digital printer systems do not compete with high-speed newspaper and magazine presses, it is expected that these "analog" monsters will become all digital in time.
Most common commercial printing technology in which the image to be printed is photographically transferred to a metal or plastic printing plate which is wetted by water. The image portion of the plate repels water but picks up oil-based ink from a roller, and the non-image areas retain water but repel the ink. The inked image is then transferred first to a sheet of rubber or plastic (called a 'blanket') which transfers it to the paper. The objective of this double transfer it to avoid the printing plate's contact with paper (and thus reduce its wear) which has a rougher surface than the blanket.
Web-fed" refers to the use of rolls (or "webs") of paper supplied to the printing press. Offset web printing is generally used for runs in excess of 10 or 20 thousand impressions. Typical examples of web printing include newspapers, newspaper inserts/ads, magazines, catalogs, and books. Web-fed presses are divided into two general classes: "Cold" or "Non-Heatset," and "Heatset" offset web presses, the difference being how the inks that are used dry. Cold web offset printing is air dried, while heatset utilizes drying lamps or heaters to cure or "set" the inks. Heatset presses can print on both coated (slick) and uncoated papers, while coldset presses are restricted to uncoated paper stock, such as newsprint. Some coldset web presses can be fitted with heat dryers, or ultraviolet lamps (for use with uv-curing inks)
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