The following information was compiled from frequently asked questions. We hope that it will answer yours. If further clarification is necessary, please feel free to contact us by email or by phone.

Computers have streamlined and shortened the production of many print jobs. Unfortunately, computers and the electronic files they produce can also be the bottleneck of many print jobs, if they are not prepared and delivered properly. Many of these problems can be prevented by following industry standards for preparation and submission of electronic files.

Here are just a few guidelines to follow:

Composition Files

We support files created on both the Apple Macintosh and IBM/PC compatible platforms. We support the following page layout applications:

We support the following applications for electronic file jobs:

Please contact our prepress department for a consultation before beginning your job or submitting files created in these applications.

Graphic Files

We support the following graphics imaging and illustration applications:

All graphics used should be in a PostScript format (TIF, EPS, JPG). All scaling and rotating of images should be done outside the page assembly application prior to placement in the final document. In other words, do these manipulations at the scanner itself or in a graphics application such as Photoshop. Readily available clip art in the PICT, Paint, or Windows Metafile formats should be converted in Photoshop prior to use in a final document. For best output, all photos should be saved as TIFF's or EPS's.

File Formats

We support the following file formats:

Fonts / Typefaces

We support the following file formats:

Whether you use a Mac or PC, you should make sure that you use fonts for each type style in your document. Do not use an "attribute or style button" in your application to apply type styles. For example, if you are using the font Palatino and you want to make a heading bold face, then you will need to select the font Palatino Bold from your font menu. Do not select the heading and then click the bold attribute or style button in your layout application. The bold will be lost when Post Script is generated.

In illustration programs such as Illustrator or Freehand, convert all fonts to paths or outline. Text converted to paths can no longer be edited as text. So, you might want to keep a copy of the original with text not converted to paths in case corrections or changes are needed to the text portion of the illustration.

Color Selection

When submitting multi-colored documents, be sure to name all colors accurately and consistently. If spot colors are used in EPS files or duotones, they should be named in agreement with the colors used in the base document. If the document is to print in process colors, PMS (Pantone® Matching System) match colors should be set to CMYK. If the document is to print using other than process inks, the document colors for those inks should be set to SPOT, not CMYK. All unused colors should be deleted from the document color palette prior to creating PostScript files or submitting application files.

All graphics to be printed as process should be converted to CMYK mode. RGB, Indexed Color, and other modes common to clip art will not separate to process colors. When specifying colors from a color matching system like Pantone®, refer to the printed Pantone® color swatch book for color correctness.

Please note that when converting PMS spot colors to process color that the process color is only an approximation of the spot color. For color accuracy, check the "Pantone® Solid to Process Guide."

File Collection

Page assembly applications such as Quark, PageMaker and Publisher have a feature that will automatically collect all items necessary for the successful output of your electronic file. In PageMaker it is called "Save for Service Provider;" in Quark it is called "Collect for Output;" and in Publisher it is called "Pack and Go."

Media Formats

We support the following media:

We support the following compression application:

Stuffit Deluxe is capable of decompressing just about every compression format commonly used. When possible it would be advantageous to make compressed files self-extracting.

Printed Hardcopy

Please include a printed hardcopy proof of your electronic file job. Print this proof AFTER you have completed all last minute corrections or additions. Your proof should exactly match the file you send us. If possible, print your job out at 100%. Indicate the color breaks by supplying a color proof or a black and white proof with color breaks clearly marked. If you are delivering your electronic file via email, either mail a hard copy proof to us or, last and definitely least desirable, make a PDF file for a proof.

File Backup

Please maintain a complete backup of your submitted files. DO NOT SEND US YOUR ONLY COPY.

If you have any questions regarding the preparations of your files please contact us. We will be glad to assist you. We also encourage you to send us a test file for our electronic prepress department to evaluate.