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Before you submit a design...
Press-ready artwork means your design fits certain criteria. By taking these guidelines into account at the beginning of your design, you will ensure that your printed piece is the best it can be as well as eliminating or minimizing additional time and costs for correction. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the key concepts listed below.
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| Digital File Formats: |
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James Allyn can print from all common design and desktop publishing file formats/extensions, such as .pdf, .tiff, .jpg, .eps, .ai, .doc, .indd, and .qxd. If you are uncertain if your software can save in one of these extensions or if it used an extension not listed, please call us at 877.828.5530.
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| Image Quality: |
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For best quality, images submitted to James Allyn as part of your design should have a resolution value of 300 dots per inch (dpi). Internet-quality images are 72 dpi and should be avoided since they will result in choppy (pixelated) images, especially if small images have been stretched to fill a much larger area.
Click here to view resolution comparison.
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| Color Models: |
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Computer monitors use 3 colors, Red, Green, Blue (RGB) to create all the other colors in an image. Printing presses use 4 colors, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK). By sending files in CMYK rather than RGB, you can be more confident that your design will more closely resemble the colors you intend because converting an image from RGB to CMYK will alter the amount of certain colors in the image.
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| Pantone Color Matching System (PMS): |
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For designs that require a specific mixed color, please identify the correct PMS color code(s). If you are unsure about the PMS code, provide James Allyn with the CMYK values.
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| Safe Area: |
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Printing presses require a blank area on the edge of paper they print on in order to put it through the press. If your artwork is designed to extend to the edge of the paper (bleed line), then it has to be printed on larger paper and trimmed to the final size. In that case, the press-ready artwork must extend .125" beyond the edge (trim line) of the printed piece on all sides to accommodate the slight shifting that occurs during printing and cutting. Additionally, all artwork not intended for cropping should be .125" within the final trimmed dimensions.
Click here to view a diagram.
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| Postal Guidelines: |
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If your designed piece will be mailed, through James Allyn's mailing services or otherwise, remember that the U.S. Postal Service has guidelines to ensure the quick processing and delivery of your mailer.
- Shape - all mailed pieces .25" thick or less must be rectangular, at least 3.25" high and 5" long.
- Thickness - pieces 4.25"(wide) x 6" (long) or smaller must be at least .007" (7pt.) thick.
Any piece larger that those dimensions must be at least .009" (9pt.) thick.
- Address Orientation - with the exception of 3rd class carrier-route pieces, whichever edge is parallel to the address line becomes the width of the piece. Address orientation may cause an otherwise mailable item from meeting the minimum size standards.
- Postal Template - certain areas on a postcard must be reserved for postage, bar code and mailing address. Any background images in these areas should have a density of 7% or less.
Click here to view a postal diagram. |
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