Information
Preparing Files for Digital Printing
Please adhere to the following file preparation guidelines to enhance
results. Non-conforming files are subject to surcharges.
Supported Applications
We require all files be saved and exported as PostScript, PDF or EPS, except
QuarkXPress, and InDesign, native applications which are supported. The advances of our new iGen3 Technology allows us more options and opportunities to better service you, including the ability to print Pantone and spot colors.
Detailed PostScript Considerations
Layout/Printable Area
Maximum printable area is 14.3" x 22.5" including full bleed. Make
bleeds 0.125" (1/8").
Black Area Fills
All Blacks should be 100% black only. Avoid Rich blacks.
Fonts
Use PostScript or Truetype fonts. Include all fonts on
disk for both Mac and PC formats. Choose the precise font. Do not use styles. Example: Times BoldItalic with font menu and not Bold and Italic in the styles menu.
Images
All images should be a final resolution size of 300 dpi and placed in the page layout at a size of 100%. Images can be in RGB, CMYK or grayscale color spaces. Pantone and spot colors are supported. Do not use JPG or LZW compression. A total ink limit of 325% is acceptable.
Blends/Vignettes
For best results, produce or rasterize gradients in Photoshop. Shorter
blends from 1" to 4" perform best with minimum banding. Lighter colors
with a gradient change of 50% creates better with darker colors improves
consistency with less obvious banding.
Flat Tints/Large Areas of Color
Generally, lighter color areas perform more consistent than darker color
areas. Reducing solid colors areas to less than 50% screen tints
improves consistency. Adding noise or textures enhances blocks of
color.
Trapping
Black elements overprint. Traps built in illustration programs are
supported. Trapping in layout programs are not recognized.
Highlight/Shadow Dots
The optical highlight is 5% cyan, 3% yellow. An optical shadow is 84%
cyan, 77% yellow and 82% black.
Page Positioning
Multiple documents must be provided reader spreads. Position
multiple-ups on 8.5" x 11", allowing for bleeds.
Illustrator/Freehand
TIFF and EPS should be placed in QuarkXPress and not in Illustrator or
Freehand. Set the printer Resolution to 2400 dpi and enable split
complex paths before saving EPS. Placed TIFF and EPS files must be linked and
not embedded. Convert type to outline/paths/curves. Include Freehand
information in file when exporting to EPS files.
QuarkXPress
Keep picture box polygons simple. Always specify a picture box fill of
white or 0% of a color for TIFF files and none for EPS or bitmap. Picture
boxes, themselves, may be rotated. However, images should be skewed or rotated from the original application like Photoshop.
InDesign
Set printer resolution to 600 dpi in Page Setup. Set Link Options to
link rather than embed graphics.
Portable Document Format (PDF)
PDF files must be created as postscript and distilled with correct high resolution specifications. Exporting a pdf and not distilling may cause undesirable results. Please avoid using transparency. Embed all fonts and no rich blacks. Include bleeds with your document. For example, if your document is 8.5"x11" with bleeds then size it as 8.75"x11.25" when saving. Please ask your digital printing representative for proper settings before distilling.
Variable Data
This is a InDesign and Quark/MAC function, use the same specs as above. Data is best
supplied Excel Comma or Tab Delimited Text Files.
Corel Draw
To get the best results, properly do all image work in Photoshop
(Photopaint functions are not supported and most likely will not be applied to the
image) and import in to Corel Draw. For type, create outlines/make
paths.
Pantone and PMS colors can be used for best results.
Microsoft Word / Microsoft Excel /
Microsoft Powerpoint / Publisher
Be aware that these programs convert all colors to RGB. We
can convert them back to CMYK but we do not have control on the proper CMYK
color breaks. Again convert images to TIFF or EPS format,
and when importing graphics from Excel copy and paste them rather than special paste.
Note to Designer:
Corel Draw/Publisher/Powerpoint have definite quality issues but we can
print them. Not recommended, but supported. It is best to convert as
PostScript/PDF.
Please fill out forms below online; then print, sign, and
fax to CSA Graphics at (602) 254-2012.
- W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification
Number and Certification)
- Form 5000 (Arizona Department
of Revenue Transaction Privilege Tax Exemption Certificate)
- Form 5000A (Arizona
Resale Certificate)
- Credit Application
If you do not have the free Adobe Reader program necessary
to open these documents, click here.
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