Artwork Guidelines
File Formats
Our workflow is based on PDF format. Ideally you should send your files to us in this format. The PDF should be prepared at press quality.
Alternatively we can accept files as flattened tif (Tiff) or jpg (Jpeg) format. The disadvantage of sending files in this format is that all text and graphics will be Bitmap rather than Vector quality. If the file is High Resolution (300 dpi size for size) then in our experience the results are generally acceptable.
We will accept the most common file formats:
Adobe CS, CorelDraw, Quark, In Design, Freehand, Photoshop etc.
If your not sure, feel free to call us on 01698 45 7000.
Client Proof Copy
A Client Proof Copy is key to our system. It may be defined as a master, which is correct in all respects, against which we can check all that we do.
It is vital that the Client Proof Copy is a perfect representation (content-wise) of the job to be produced. We strongly recommend checking it carefully before sending it to us.
When a high resolution (Press Quality) PDF, jpg or tif file is provided as the origination for printing then this file can also serve as the Client Proof Copy - CPC.
With a CPC to refer to when our designers work on your files they can be confident that the text is all present, that the fonts are correct, that the photos have not moved etc.
Historically a CPC used to be a print out from your own printer which was checked before it was sent to us with your disc and order in the post! Later they were commonly sent by fax with the files being sent by Email. We are still very happy to work in either of these ways but in the Digital age there are other ways of producing your CPC.
As mentioned on the previous page we are happy to accept your design in the format of the programme you used to create it. In this case the CPC needs to be sent as a separate file.
You may choose to send it as a low resolution PDF, jpg or tif along with your High Resolution file.
Alternatively it is possible to produce one by simply opening the page you would like us to print so it fills your screen and performing a 'Screen Grab' (On a PC press the Print Screen button to the right of F12, on a Mac press buttons Shift and 4 together). Paste the clipboard into a Bitmap programme such as Paint and save the file.
Layouts
Please supply everything 'one up'. It is more successful if you leave us to sort out the imposition for printing. e.g. Provide one business card on a 90mm x 55mm or 85mm x 55mm page.
Bleed and 'Quiet Border'
Understanding the need for 'Bleed' and a 'Quiet Border' is vital if, as partners, we are going to achieve our joint aim of an excellent finished print job.
We require Bleed to allow for the tolerance of our Guillotines (the machine used for cutting your job after printing). Even with our 'state of the art' equipment there is a margin of error in the operation.
If your image finishes exactly at the edge of your required finished size then these small deviations may produce unsightly white flashes at the edge of your print. By extending your background colour or image beyond the edge of your finished job the consequences of such a deviation are not perceptible.
We recommend that elements intended to go to the very edge of your finished job should extend 3mm beyond the edge.
A Quiet Border is the distance you should allow from the edge of your finished page size to text or diagrams etc. The reason for this border is again the tolerance in cutting.
If you have a design where the text runs to the very edge then a cutting deviation will actually cut off some of your text! A very small quiet border can result in a finished job looking very uneven.
We recommend a quiet border where there is no text etc of at least 5mm around the edges of your job.
Fonts
We carry all the most popular Mac and PC fonts, please confirm at the time of ordering.
Where you have used a rare font outside the 'normal' range we recommend converting the text created with this font into curves. This means that we no longer require the original font when we print your job.
Where you are supplying your work as a PDF, tif or jpg, fonts become much less of an issue since these formats generally embed the fonts required to print.
Colour Matching
There are a large number of variables which can affect the colour produced in Full Colour Printing. Simply looking at the appearance of colours on a monitor, especially if no monitor calibration has been carried out, is unlikely to produce predictable printed results.
In just the same way an un-calibrated desktop printer, such as a laser or inkjet may well produce very different colours to those produced on a professional printing press.
We can supply Pantone® Colour Swatch books. If you would like information on the books available, please contact us.
Please note: Where you have a particular colour issue, for example a requirement to match to a specific company colour this MUST be brought to our attention at order stage.
If you have a swatch of the colour required please include a hard copy of that with your order. We cannot be held responsible if your printed work does not match your requirements unless those requirements are brought to our attention before we print.
We are pleased to check your artwork specifically to ensure that the highlighted colours have the correct CMYK values in your origination to print correctly.
Photographs and Graphics
Photographs should be scanned size for size at 300dpi and saved as CMYK images.
Please send the original photo for us to match to. We can also retouch photos, cut out backgrounds, make good blemishes etc. The cost of these additional services would be fixed prior to ordering.
We also offer a scanning service for photos, film and transparencies. These can be dropped into the artwork you supply on disc, or sent back to you for incorporation in your design. Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.
File Pre-flighting
Every job sent to us is carefully checked by an experienced designer.
We are committed to ensuring that finished work is the best we can achieve.
Where we find potential problems with the files you have provided we work with you to resolve the problems. It may be that a new file is required or alternatively we can often correct the issues.
Please note: there may be a charge for these corrections.
Proofs
Our normal service includes proofs. We produce three different types of proof.
Pdf proofs: these are sent digitally via Email. They are ideal for checking layout and content but are not colour accurate and so are of little use when there are issues of colour, such as matching to a House Colour.
Laser Proofs: these are sent by post and provide something tangible to look at. Again these are not colour accurate and their use is limited to content and layout proofing.
Wet proofs: these are an exact match to the job which will eventually be printed since they are a small run of the finished job on press. We would always recommend a small run of print (to be used as a wet proof) prior to any very large run of print.
In preparing your artwork remember about:
Bleed: 3mm
Colour scheme: CMYK
300dpi resolution image files
Text needs to be converted into paths or outlines
Transparencies need to be flattened
'Overprint' needs to be turned off when originating files
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Dreamworks Media Ltd. Active Business Centre Allanshaw Industrial Estate Hamilton ML3 9BG