Accepted file types

We are able to accept artwork in any of the following programmes and file formats:

(Please ensure images are CMYK set to 300dpi and fonts supplied)

Supplying PDF files for printing

PDF stands for Portable Document Format and is universally accepted as the most convenient file format to use when sending documents to print.

The key word is 'portable' as PDF's are intended to appear exactly the same on any computer or application.  With most, if not all of its editing capabilities prohibited, it is the most reliable way of ensuring that the document you design is reproduced correctly, providing that the PDF is made correctly of course.

A PDF can be made by either creating a PostScript file and processing it through Acrobat Distiller, or using the native application to export layout as PDF.  In most cases the default Press Quality setting is sufficient, or at least a good starting point.  However, to help you get the best results from your printing project, we have detailed a few guidlines to help you properly configure the PDF settings.

EMBED FONTS
Embedding fonts ensures the fonts used in the document are contained within the PDF file, and all text will be correct when we receive the file.  The Embed Font tick box is usually checked by default in the PDF dialog window - just check to make sure.

RESOLUTION
Any photos used should be at 300dpi.  Most PDF settings allow the user to down-sample to a lower resolution.  This is not necessary and should be left at Keep Resolution.

COLOUR
All photos should be CMYK format where possible, so the PDF setting should leave the colour unchanged.  Just check it is not set to convert the colour to RGB.

CROP MARKS AND BLEED
Bleed is a term used to describe elements of artwork that touch the edge of the page and consequently extends (bleeds) beyond the trim edge.  This extended edge is then trimmed off, ensuring a clean cut with no white margin.  Bleed is added manually at the designing stage by hanging any pictures or graphics of the edge of the document boudaries.  We recommend 2mm bleed.  By setting the bleed option in the PDF dialogue box to 2mm, this extra artwork is captured by the PDF.  Crop Marks indicate to us where the trim edge is, and can be added to your PDF, but we can add these to your artwork before printing.  Please provide a PDF with 2mm bleed.

COMPRESSION
PDF Compression is used to cleverly discard some data and reduce the size of the file.  Ideally, use no compression, but this can result in very large files in some circumstances. Otherwise ZIP is perfectly suitable for just about anything.  JPEG will discard some information and could decrease the quality of the photographic images.

For further information about supplying the correct file types, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to lead you through it.