General Guidelines

• Did you include ALL fonts used in your electronic file?
• Include both screen and printer versions of the font. Do not use styles palette to bold or italicize fonts.
• Did you include all graphic files?
• All graphics should be in their native software. – Duotones and files with clipping paths must be submitted as EPS.
• All four-color images must be submitted as CMYK, NOT RGB
• Photographic Images must be at least 300 dpi and saved as Tiff or EPS
• Graphics pulled off of the internet are low-res and should not be used.
• DO NOT embed images in your layout program – it increases file size and makes it hard to detect possible problems.
• Did you remove all fonts and graphics not used in your file?
• Removing un-used items from your pasteboard will eliminate the possibility of them being used in error.
• Did you define spot and/or process color correctly?
• Set full-color jobs to process color and spot color jobs to spot color.
• Watch for duplicate instances of the same color being used within your file.
• ALWAYS keep black text 100% black, not rich black
• Did you define YOUR PAGE SIZE AND bleeds correctly?
• Design all artwork to your final trimmed page size.
• Make sure all bleeds extend over the page by 1/8” (.125)
• All art and text with no bleeds need to be at least 1/8” (.125) from the edge of the page.

PDF Preparation Checklist

• Do not over compress the file – It is better not to compress if possible.
• Embed all fonts.
• Apply a 1/8” (.125) bleed on document.
• do not include marks, color bars or page information.
• do not allow any color conversion.

Acceptable File Formats

• Adobe Indesign, illustrator or photoshop
• Quark Xpress, freehand and pdf
• if designing in any microsoft programs such as word, publisher, etc., please save as a pdf before providing your file to us.