It’s always best to send a print ready pdf, when submitting your own files. Include the live files as well as all fonts and images used, in the event that the file needs corrections.

PDF: High Quality (also called: 300 dpi, high resolution or press quality) is best for submitting files for print.

Best Programs: When possible, use these programs:
• InDesign and/or Illustrator (layout and design)
• Photoshop (for preparing photos)
• CorelDraw (layout and design)
• Publisher
• Microsoft Word

Color: Use CMYK (not RGB) as the color format for your images. CMYK (Cyan/Magenta/Yellow/Black) is the color format used in printing. We are also able to use in PMS spot colors.

Margin: Best size for outside margins: 1/4″ to 1/2″ (0.25″ to 0.5″) or more.

Bleed: If you want the printed color or art to touch the edge of the page then extend the art or photo 1/8″ or more beyond the trim edge. This area will be trimmed off to create a clean look with no unwanted white areas around the trim edge.

Crop Marks: Marks that indicate trim edge for final size.

Vector versus Raster images:                                                                                

Vector – (logos or illustrations) The file format is usually: .ai, .cdr, .eps, and .svg, are made of lines, shapes and fills that can be reduced/enlarged and will maintain image quality.                                                                                    

Raster – (photo usually .jpg, .tif, .gif, psd, .bmp, and .png) Made of pixels and loses image quality when enlarged past the original size. Photos are always raster files.
Saving a raster/photo image to a vector format does NOT turn it into a vector.

One way to determine if your image is vector or raster: enlarge the image to twice its size or more. Check the edges, if they are fuzzy or made of tiny squares or dots then it is a raster file. Scanning an image will always create a raster image.

We are always willing to create the layout and design for you for an additional fee.