Answers to common Graphic File questions…
How to Set Up Your Documents So That Your Printer Won’t Hate You
What are the basic guidelines for submitting artwork?
What file formats do you accept?
What if the file format I have is not listed? I want to send an InDesign file.
What color mode should the file be built in?
How should I set up files that utilize spot or Pantone colors?
How can I ensure that no important text/imagery will be removed in cutting? What 'margins' should I use?
What Is Bleed?
Build your files 1/8″ larger than the final trim size. For example, if you have designed a standard 3.5″ x 2″ business card with a red background covering the whole area, you will need to enlarge that red background to 3.75″ x 2.25″. This will make the red background extend 1/8″ on every side of the page.
Why is adding a Bleed necessary?
Small mechanical variations can end up leaving a hairline white edge where there should be no white edge at all, if the image is not extended beyond the final trim size. Extending images 1/8″ beyond the final trim size guarantees that images truly will go all the way to the edge of the
printed paper.
How do I add bleed to my design?
Adobe Photoshop
Open Photoshop and click File > New…
Enter the FULL BLEED dimensions. That is, 1/4″ extra both vertically and horizontally.
Set the Resolution at 300 pixels/inch
Set the Color Mode to CMYK
Adobe Illustrator
Open Illustrator and click File > New…
Enter the TRIM dimensions in the Width and Height boxes (for example, the trim dimension on a standard business card would be 3.5″ x 2″)
Enter 0.125 for the top, bottom, left and right bleed
Set the the Color Mode to CMYK
Adobe InDesign
Open InDesign and click File > New > Document…
Enter the TRIM dimensions under Page Size (for example, a standard business card would have trim dimensions of 3.5″ x 2″)
If you do not see “Bleed and Slug” at the bottom of the window, click the “More Options” button.
Enter 0.125 for the top, bottom, left and right bleed
How Should I Setup Bleed?
Bleed must extend past the cut-line and will be trimmed from the product during the final cutting phase. When the image is required to extend all the way to the edge, bleed is needed to preserve the finished look and the quality of the final product.
Please keep all text at least 0.125″ inside the cut-line.
– The bleed for Standard Products is 0.125″.
– The bleed for Booklets and Presentation Folders is 0.25″.
I do NOT want a white border of any kind around my page? What size bleed is required?
Are there any special considerations when laying out a book/catalog?
Is there a limit to the file size you'll accept?
What fonts can I use? Are there any special considerations when choosing a font?
Always choose the appropriate font face from your font menu and avoid clicking the bold or italic buttons. Though they may look fine on screen, and even print correctly on a laser printer, if you don’t actually have a bold face available in your font menu it will not always come out bold on your final printed piece.