PRINT CHECKLIST

Please follow this guide to reduce potential problems, avoid additional costs and speed up production and delivery

1. SCAN/SAVE

Scanning resolution is usually twice the output line screen. A resolution of 300 dpi or close is ideal when scanning color and grey scale materials. B/W art should be scanned not higher than 600 dpi. Text should be at 400 dpi. Always scan at 100% of the final size of your document.

2. COLOR MODES

No RGB images. RGB is used for viewing images on a monitor. Please convert to and save all your images in CMYK mode. Your images will not output properly if your files are not set up in CMYK.

3. BLEEDS

A bleed occurs when the ink prints to the very edge of the paper. For bleeds, you must extend your artwork beyond the border page by 1/8 inch.

4. PROOFREAD

Please spell-check your document and review all other information carefully before submitting your files to us to ensure accuracy.

5. IMAGE FILES

Please submit all image and graphic files used in your document
Include the original copies of each graphic file.
Include all supporting files used in the document
Send the linked file of “placed images” in Illustrator or Quark.
Do not embed image files into your layout

Quick Facts about Bitmap Images

Bitmap images are made up of colored dots (pixels) in a grid
Also known as raster images
Resolution dependent – resizing affects image quality
Scanned images and digital photos are bitmaps

Quick Facts about Vector Images

Vector Images are made up of individual objects composed of lines and shapes with different attributes such as color.
Resolution Independent – scaling images does not affect quality
Smaller file size
Not suitable for photo-realistic reproduction
Fonts are vector objects

6. IMAGE RESOLUTION

Resolution refers to the number of colored dots or pixels that make up an image.
It is commonly expressed in dpi or dots per inch.

Resolution Rules-of-thumb:

The higher the dpi, the greater the resolution, the better the image quality. But don’t go overboard. Higher resolution images create larger file size. Image resolution is directly and inversely proportional to an image’s physical size. When you increase the resolution of an image, reduce its size. When you enlarge an image, lower the resolution. Otherwise, the image will print poorly. For printed images, the ideal resolution is 300 dpi for images and 400 dpi for text at the final printed size.

More Helpful Tips:
Your screen resolution doesn’t accurately reflect your image resolution because monitor displays usually have about 72 to 116 ppi. To view print resolution of your image, zoom in up to 300-400%. When taking pictures from a digital camera for your print project, it’s best to set your camera to the highest resolution setting. Four-Color Process Printing uses the CMYK color mode. Convert RGB images to CMYK using graphics editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. Save your images in a lossless file format such as .tif and .eps to maintain accuracy and quality.

7. FONTS

Please submit your files with all the necessary fonts included – both screen & printer fonts used in your document. Without the printer fonts we cannot create a proof or plates for your print job.8. PRINT GUIDE

Please send us a mock-up or dummy of your job to serve as a guide.

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

All files and medium sent to us should have client’s complete name and contact information.

10. CHECKLIST

Please include a print out or checklist of each item you are sending.

11. CONTACT US

For further assistance, contact one of our Customer Service Representatives at (334) 213-1116