File Preparation

Feel free to contact us at 954-973-2670 if you need assistance setting up your files.

FILE HANDLING: Our system is compatible with the following transfer media: CDs, DVD disks or, use our file uploader or call us for a password for ftp access.

In order to simplify file handling, and to insure trouble-free printing, we suggest that you prepare all files at full size.

We recommend you choose either Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe InDesign for your file creation. We have found that the Adobe software produces consistantly dependable files for output. They also allow you to convert fonts to outline, which removes a source of many production bottlenecks. We do not handle native Quark files, so you’ll have to output them as pdf’s to send to us. Make sure that you use high res output settings, and remember to double check all measurements since you’ll be working at a fractional size.

If working in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or InDesign, please be sure to set up enable color management and choose U.S prepress defaults as your setting.

In Illustrator, choose the document color mode based on your prefered way of working, RGB or CMYK. Please select all text and convert to outline. (Make sure no text is locked before doing this). Save as a copy, using compression and be sure to embed the icc profile. Very Important!-Be sure to link graphics (do not embed) and send us a folder of all linked images. For best results, images should be in the same colorspace as the AI file.

In Photoshop, please create your file at 200dpi if possible. Please save as a copy the file as a flat tif using lzw compression and embed the color profile.

In InDesign, select all text and convert it to outline. Save as a copy, and then package. Compress the package and send to us.
Alternatively, export using the PRESS setting, and send us the pdf file.

PDF's
We are happy to work with pdf's. However, you must make sure to produce a pdf suitable for High Quality Print reproduction.

FONTS: Please let us know if you are Mac or PC based. The only fonts that seem to work well between platforms are opentype fonts. It's better to avoid font issues by converting text to outline in all instances.

GRADATIONS AND BLENDS: Banding can be a problem in 8 bit color systems. Be sure to view your file at Print size and look for banding. If you see banding on your monitor, you'll see it on our prints.
We recommend working in 16 bits for designs where a smooth gradation is desired. We have a 16 bit workflow available on our printers.

RICH BLACKS AND BACKLIT PRINTS: When creating a file that contains large areas of solid black, it is very helpful if you can define your solid blacks (rules, boxes, text, black areas of EPS graphics) as a “rich black”. Do this by creating a black in the color palette that is composed of 60% C, 60% M, 20% Y, and 100% B. This process will give you a much more opaque black image.

SCALING AND PROPORTION: One of the most common problems encountered are requests to print files that are not proportioned properly for the final output dimensions desired. Please make sure to print a small version on a laser printer and measure it or use a proportion wheel to check the proportions. It’s far less expensive for you to fix any problem then for us to rework the file for you.

COLOR Please discuss any particular needs you may have regarding custom color. We can usually reproduce most colors within and beyond the SWOP gamut, however certain Pantone mixes may not reproduce with accuracy. Unless you work with color management enabled, use a properly calibrated montitor,save files with embedded profiles, and specify important Pantone colors in writing, we can only approximate what you might be seeing on screen. DO NOT use TINTS of PANTONE COLORS. They will not work.

Color tests are available at additional cost .