Tips on preparing your files
We at Outreach Graphics would love to design for all our clients, but some customers have their own design resources. If you desire to send us your print-ready files, this checklist will insure your job will output correctly for premium printing:
BEFORE DESIGNING:
Start your document in CMYK (if applicable).
Add 1/8” (.125) bleed to your document. In Document Setup, add the bleed if you plan for any images to go to the edge of you page. All images need to extend 1/8” past the edge of the document for trimming. If your document has white border that contains no text or images within ¼” (.25) on all sides, you can skip this step.
Make sure all colors used are mixes of CMYK.
WHILE DESIGNING:
Place images into your document at 100% size. (If you are planning to use four 3” wide pictures in your design, do not place 6” photos in your document and then reduce 50%. The image does not reduce in file size, just in shape only. Doing this will make your final document size much larger when saved and exported.)
All images used need to be at least 300 dpi and CMYK. A low resolution image cannot be adjusted from 72 dpi to 300 dpi unless you constrain the proportions in an image editing program which reduces the file size approximately 25%. (i.e. – an 10” picture at 72 dpi, when adjusted, will become 2.5” at 300 dpi.)
JPEG color or grayscale photos/images saved at maximum quality will be
the best solution for the lowest final file size.
Line art (black and white images or logos) should be saved/scanned at 1200
dpi.
AFTER DESIGNING:
If sending us the entire file…
Please use your programs option to “Collect for Service Provider” or “Package
for Printer.” This process will collect your design document, all
fonts, images and support into one folder to send to us.
Winzip, Stuff or Archive the above created folder for internet delivery.
Go to our Uploads page to send us your file.
If sending us a PDF file…
Export in Press-Ready (high resolution) mode with crop and registration marks.
Go to our Uploads page to send us your file.