File Preparation Guide

Please use the following guidelines to ensure the best reproduction possible.
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Our page transmission format is PDF.

Page Numbering:
Page Numbering is an essential key to
successfully flowing pages into our prepress/plate imaging system after upload to our FTP site.

Our page numbering scheme is strict and must follow:
  • <MM_DD_YYYY ?????????pg??>
  • Use [UNDERSCORE] after MM and DD
  • Use[SPACE] after YYYY, but use underscore
    after that for any spaces
  • Name must be at least 22 characters long
  • When numbering pages, use 2 numbers, ex. 01,02..11,12 exc...
Type:
Please embed complete fonts (not subsets) in the PDF.

An “outline” can be performed for limited usage of a font, such as a headline. In this process the resulting outline is handled as a graphic. Please note that
you cannot edit the font (graphic) after an outline
is created.

Suggested minimum text sizes recommended
for black are text are:
  • San-serif type – 7 pt
  • Serif Type – 10 pt
Suggested minimum text sizes for reversal
in to a color background:
  • All Type - 12 pt
Trapping:
A trap value of .0005” or .36 points to is suggested
to achieve the appropriate overlap of images for
best registration.

Four Color vs. Black:
All black text and lines should reproduce
in black ink only.

RGB vs. CMYK:
Save all images as CMYK Process only. RGB, Pantone and/or LAB Color cannot be accepted.

Spot Color vs. CMYK:
Spot color will not be identified in our process
and will be omitted from the processed page.
Metallic inks cannot be reproduced in the
four-color process.

Page Size:
The printed page size will be defined in
the pre-press setup process.
Image Size:
The maximum image size will be defined in the pre-press setup process.

Trims and Bleeds:
Overprint areas are required for a trim to a bleed
and will be defined in the pre-press setup process.

Pages must always be single pages, unless a double truck has been identified. Printer’s pairs are not accepted.

Photos:
Please consider and incorporate your sizing and cropping information into your photo planning prior to placement on the page.

We recommend photos and screened art at 200dpi to achieve acceptable file sizes and optimal resolution.

Scaling photos to a level of more 110% may produce unacceptable decreases in sharpness or introduce digital artifacts into the final output.

The PI prepress system does not employ independent color correction of photos or graphics, our goal is to as closely as possible, replicate the images that the customer supplies.
  • Digital:
    Please consider your output resolution when
    managing the photos as mentioned above.
  • Scanned:
    Rescanning of preprinted photos is not recommended and can produce undesirable moiré patterns. A high resolution copy dot scan is recommended.
  • Line Art:
    Line Art should be scanned at 600dpi
Proofs:
Proofs are not available unless arrangements have been made in the quoting process.
Should a proof be needed, extra time and expense will be allotted to the preparation process.

Reproduction:
Print Innovators employs Kodak’s Stacatto screening process for all publications.
Stacatto stochastic screen ruling is 36FM.
SNAP standards are maintained in ink formulations and coverage.

Compression:
MAC – Self-Extracting Archive (sea)
MAC – Stuffed File, Bin Hex
Windows – ZIP