We want to make using our printing services an easy task. To help make the pre-press phase of your projects trouble free, outlined below is our electronic file specifications and pre-press information.

An Electronic Ad Submission Checklist must be filled out and submit with your files. Download checklist now!

 

 METHOD OF FILE TRANSFER

  • We accept files for both PC (Need test file prior to acceptance) and MAC and PDF.
  • CD ROM, DVD ROM, FTP.
  • Softwares: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe inDesign, QuarkXpress, Macromedia Freehand.

(ALWAYS keep a copy of any files sent to us. Certified Ad Services is not responsible for the contents of any media sent to us. On request, we will attempt to return media sent to us, but in the event media it is lost in transit or elsewhere, Certified Ad Services will replace it with new, like media (CD-R, DVD-R etc.).


SUPPORTED FILE FORMATS

  • Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe inDesign, QuarkXpress, Macromedia Freehand, Corel Draw,
  • PDF files optimized for print or press.


DOCUMENTS

  • Only send the documents that you want us to output.
  • Make sure the document is the actual size being printed. If not, please specify enlargement or reduction for imaging.
  • Gather all "output documents", "fonts" and "supports" and place them into three individual folders.
  • When creating a book, have all the pages in one document as single pages, not spreads.
  • Always supply laser prints with your job. We need these to compare to the proofs.

Some Notes About Ad Sizes: Incorrect ad sizing is one of the most common design mistakes, but one that is easily avoided.


FONTS

  • Supply only fonts used in the job (screen and printer fonts, or truetype fonts).
  • Avoid assigning type attributes (bold, italic, bold italic); instead, use the correct font. (This will avoid using a type style you do not have an actual screen and printer font for.)
  • Avoid Multiple Master fonts.


GRAPHICS

  • Bleeds: Any image that bleeds off the page must extend at least 1/4" (.25").
  • Image Area: This is your graphics and type that cannot bleed or it will be trimmed into during finishing/bindery. All type and graphics not intended to bleed, must be a minimum of 1/4" clear and free from the head, foot, face, gutter or trim area.
  • Rasterized Art: (art consists of pixels, all photoshop files are raster art) must be at least 200 dpi.
  • All raster art must be in CMYK (No RGB files) and No EPS files with JPEG encoding.
  • Vector Art: (art consists of lines and curves with fill and/or strokes. Illustrator and Freehand create vector art) must have all fonts used included.
  • Supply all fonts and placed images with your linked supports.
  • When creating silhouettes use the path tool. (Remember to turn clipping path "on" and flatness setting of "8" when saving your EPS.)
  • Rotate and size images in the original program: Illustrator, Freehand, Photoshop, before importing into Pagemaker or Quark; they will image faster.
  • Do not embed graphics. If graphics are embedded, supply the original graphics with the job also.
  • In Quark, when placing Tiffs in boxes, make sure the background is set to "white". If the background needs to stay "none", then create a clipping path if a silo is needed.
  • To reduce banding in gradations, use a broad range (e.g. 5%-95% as opposed to 40%-60%).
  • Do not use JPEGS. Support files need to be EPS or Tiff files.
  • Delete extra channels from Photoshop files (if applicable)
  • In a CMYK job, all colors must be defines as Process or CMYK, never SPOT or RGB.
  • For SPOT Color jobs, delete all definitions of unused colors. If possible, print separations of your spot color job to a postscript laser printer to verify correct separation of color.
  • Lines weights are not too small: Single ink lines (e.g.. black, cyan or spot color) must be at least 0.4pts. Multiple lines (e.g.. 100% Cyan & 50% Magenta) must be at least 1pt thick. Lines that are thinner will shop up on proof but will not reproduce well on press. (It is your responsibility to make sure all line weights meet these minimum requirements. Remember that a 0.4pt line weight in art that is reduced to 50% will be only .02pts which is too small).
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