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Electronic Artwork Guidelines

Free electronic artwork file conversion!

• Please contact us by email or phone if you have any questions about submitting your artwork.
  
• It is not as complicated as this form may imply! The form is a guideline, you don't have to actually fill it out.
  
• In addition, minor changes that must be made by the printer cost you only $15. We will do basic file conversions and simple color separations for free: just ask!
  
• The vast majority of the time, we can help get your files in shape at no extra cost to you.
  
• But if you are on a tight deadline, remember: any additional work on your art can slow down the process by a few days.
  
• As a rule of thumb, if you have the artwork you submit to your printer for letterhead or business cards, that quality and format should work fine for us.
  
• Our preferred file format is black and white generic pdf. Scanned images must be at 600 dpi. Please include Mac fonts or better yet, convert all type to outlines.

Sample Included? ❒ Yes ❒ No
Final Output Size: __________ X __________ Bleeds (No. of sides) _____
Software Used:
Macintosh: ❒ QuarkXPress (v. ____) IBM/PC: ❒ QuarkXPress (v. ____)
❒ PageMaker (v. ____) ❒ PageMaker (v. ____)
❒ Illustrator (v. ____) ❒ Illustrator (v. ____)
❒ FreeHand (v. ____) ❒ FreeHand (v. ____)
❒ Photoshop (v. ____) ❒ Photoshop (v. ____)
Files Included: ❒ EPS ❒ TIFF ❒ PDF
❒ Did you include a composite file of your layout? File name: _________________________________________
❒ Are there screen and printer fonts included (Mac files only)? ❒ Yes ❒ No (Since we are Mac-based, we
cannot install PC fonts. Please “create outlines” on all text within PC files.)
❒ Did you use/send any TrueType fonts? ❒ Yes ❒ No (We cannot accept TrueType fonts.)
❒ Are all files colored correctly per our guidelines? (This is important for internal grouping purposes.)
❒ Are the colors for all spot orders set to be spot, and all full-color and Creative Colors orders set to be
process?
❒ Did you delete any extra colors from the file that are not destined to print?
❒ Are all full-color files set to CMYK, not RGB?
❒ Has trapping been applied if needed?
❒ Did you use the actual typestyle of the font, not the style palette?
❒ Have you made all hairlines or rules thicker than .2 pt. width (ink) or .5 pt. width (foil) so they don’t break?
❒ Is the status of all imported pictures/graphics “OK”, not “Modified” or “Missing”?
(Use the Picture Usage Box in QuarkXPress or Link Box in PageMaker to check.)
❒ Did you set up the file on the correct size document for exact positioning?
❒ Is all art and text set away from the edge of the stock at least 1/8”?
❒ Is all scanned line art and type at 600 dpi
and at the correct size to print?
❒ Are all full-color and/or grayscale photos at 300 dpi
and at the correct size to print?
❒ Are all placed graphics in EPS or TIFF format?
❒ Did you include all supporting files?
❒ Do all bleeds extend beyond the edge of the page by 1/8”?
❒ Did you send only the files that are needed for output?

• Please note, if there is a photo to be printed, we will need a Photo Authorization form submitted with your order, for the protection of the press and ourselves.
  
• The production times are based on all files being set up according to required specifications. If these instructions are not followed, you may be asked to fix your files and resend them, resulting in a resubmission fee each time you resubmit. Production time will begin when files are approved.

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