ARTWORK GUIDE
File Type
We prefer all artwork to be supplied as high-resolution PDF format with fonts embedded.
Correct Preparation of PDF Files
When creating a PDF in Acrobat Distiller, there are job options which must be set for commercial printing. These include default resolution, compression settings and font embedding. Where possible ensure a 300dpi PDFx1a ‘print’ or ‘press ready’ PDF is outputted. Please include a 3mm bleed, crop marks and supply as single pages.
Please ensure you choose high resolution. Compression settings for colour and greyscale should be down sampled to 300dpi with “auto compression” set on high. Font embedding should be set to “embed all fonts.”
Bleed
One of the most important elements in artwork for printing! Please ensure there is 3mm bleed all round the PDF, i.e. save the PDF with 6mm added to each measurement (i.e. for A4 usually 210mm x 297mm, save as 216mm x 303mm). Crop marks may be included if you wish. If your artwork is supplied without bleed we may not always be able to add it on for you and you may have to amend and re-supply the artwork.
CMYK not RGB
Please ensure that all embedded images are CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) files. RGB images may look good on your screen but final output to print is always in CMYK. One should be aware that files converted from RGB to CMYK may alter the colour composition significantly!
Microsoft Office Files
If you are creating a PDF from a MS Publisher or Word file, care must be taken to ensure spot colours are created correctly in your original documents. Do not set to RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colours as they cannot be printed as such.
Booklets
If you are supplying a document with multiple pages, please supply as single pages in page order. Also, please remember to allow for “creep” – we suggest you keep all text and copy at least 5mm away from the trimmed edge.
Fonts
Include all fonts you have used in the file.
Sending Artwork by Email
Please address it to artwork@ElixirPrint.co.uk with any relevant information regarding the job. Maximum file size preferred by email is 10mb. Files larger than this should be uploaded to our FTP site.
If you need to talk to an expert and get advice on file preparation please contact us