Artwork Requirements

Print vs Web
While computer generated artwork has become more intricate and generally easier to create for everyone, knowing the requirements of artwork for printed materials such as Business Cards, Letterheads or Envelopes is greatly different than for simply displayed art on the Web - such as logos.

There are vital differences in the creation and usage of logos for Print vs Web file formats.
- Click here for a great explanation of "The ABCs of Print and Web File Formats" by John Williams.
• John Williams is Entrepreneur.com's "Image & Branding" columnist.

This applies even more when considering 1, 2 or even 3-Color artwork for print.
The types of colors utilized (PMS Spot vs CMYK) must be taken into consideration as well.

CMYK are four printing ink colors placed on the paper in layers of dots that combine to create the illusion of more colors.
SPOT colors are specially mixed inks used in printing, commonly from the Pantone® Matching System (PMS).
RGB colors are intended only for display on your computer or other electronics, as on the internet.

Camera-Ready
Artwork may be provided to us as hardcopy, file or negative. All artwork to be done actual size only (100%). Preferably, business card art should be in a 4-up configuration with no vertical margins. Click here for a business card example (PDF file).

"Camera-Ready" means artwork that is ready for reproduction: the proper size, clean, crisp and black. Logos may be reproduced from previous samples, but quality may vary.

- NOTE: We do not proof-read customer supplied artwork for errors.

We strongly recommend laser quality artwork with a minimum of 600dpi resolution for best results. Artwork with critical registration, screens or gradients must be provided as negatives ready for stripping.

NOTE: Sorry, color printouts are not acceptable.

Email Attachments
When submitting artwork by email, please be sure to also provide any pertinent information and purchase orders sent by fax.

We do accept email attached artwork and suggest the following:

Be sure to identify your Company Name within your email message as the sender!
Also include ordering information for Quantity, Paper & Colors.
- Unidentified & Incomplete Order Information in emails received may remain unprocessed until missing information is provided.

- Referring to Previous Orders may cause delays or errors we cannot be responsible for, please provide full information on all orders!
Email attachments are accepted from Retail Vendors only.
Provide us with PDF or EPS files preferrably. Please review the File Guidelines below for best compatibility. Many graphic programs are available for use. However, cross-program and cross-platform issues can prevent us from being able to utilize your art file.
(Optional) Compress your art file prior to attachment. This provides a smaller file size and helps to protect the integrity of the art file. We can open the most common compression types including .RAR & .ZIP (PC) and .SIT & .SITX (Mac). This is highly recommended for Macintosh generated files.
Send your email Artwork only, to our Art Department:
PC based: — or — MAC based:

NOTE: We Do Not Archive or Storehouse Emailed Artwork.
- Emails are purged (deleted) after 30 days.

File Guidelines
Our program of choice is Adobe InDesign CS3 (PC version) for computer generated art. We can accommodate other types of files as shown below, PC or Macintosh.

Submitted artwork files must be final art, no modifications needed.

Press Print Colors (SPOT):

Pantone Matching System spot colors (PMS), a.k.a. Pantone Swatch Libraries within graphic programs.
1-color and 2-color artwork is our standard. We can print more than 2 spot colors, but please check with our for pricing.

* While computer generated art provides the ability to make objects and text in any color available, we cannot press-print CMYK or RGB color mixes. Please be sure not to send artwork that uses CMYK/RGB colors and separates into process colors unless following the method explained below.

We are able to utilize artwork using only any two of the basic CMYK colors:
100% Black (K) and 100% Magenta (M). This would provide suitable 2-color separations.
Make your Primary color 100% CMYK black, and the Secondary color 100% CMYK magenta.
(Your desired colors shall be printed at the presses.)
Do Not use CMYK percentage mixes (i.e. C=80%, M=20%, Y=40%, B=50%) as they produce 4 separate color screens.

NOTE:
4-Color Process Colors (CMYK) when used as percentages of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow & Black are not compatible with our presses.
3-Color Red, Green & Blue (RGB) color mode is used only by devices such as monitors & TV sets. RGB is not used in printing.

Digital Print Colors (CMYK & RGB):

* When artwork is created with CMYK or RGB colors, and is the only option, we may be able to utilize our Digital printing!
~ Please contact for details and pricing.

Fonts:

We have an extensive choice of fonts available. However, if you are using unusual or custom fonts we suggest the following:

Convert fonts to outlines (a.k.a. arcs, curves or paths) within your artwork file.
Embed fonts into a PDF file.

Logos:

When using scanned logos, scan the correctly sized art as a Black & White TIFF (recommend 600 dpi or higher).

Do not save as Raster type images: BMP, GIF, JPG or PNG files (see bottom of page).
Please do not use Raster images in your art, nor provide these files for print.

Artwork files must be accompanied by any Linked External logo files used.
(If logos files are not embedded into the saved file)

Preferred Usage: Be sure all external logos are embedded into your artwork file.

Program File Types:

The following is a list of common graphic program types and our compatibility.
Please review the File Guidelines above to avoid conflicts!

Acceptable:

Adobe InDesign CS3
Adobe Illustrator CS3 or earlier
Adobe PageMaker 7 or earlier

Non-Acceptable: (due to non-standardized compatibility issues)

Corel Draw - alternative: export as EPS or PDF
Quark Xpress - alternative: export as EPS or PDF
Microsoft Publisher - alternative: print to a PDF file
Microsoft Word - alternative: print to a PDF file (simple 1-color only)

Alternative PDF Creator Solution:

PrimoPDF - a free utility from activePDF, Inc.® to convert to a PDF from any program.
Click here to visit the PrimoPDF website for more information & download - approximately 10MB.

Generic File Types:

Providing cross-platform and cross-program compatibility.

PDF (may be Pantone colors or 100% Black only - be sure to embed or convert fonts) - preferred!
EPS (follow color, font & logo guides above)
TIF (600 dpi minimum - Black on White Only, may not be able to separate colors)
BMP, GIF, JPG & PNG (Raster type, monitor-display files are like digital photos)
- Not color separation compatible for a 2-color printing environment, typically used on internet web pages or full CMYK printing.

- Artwork & Logos of this type are Not recommended for 2-color paper printing
• Click here for a great explanation of "The ABCs of Print and Web File Formats".

- We cannot guarantee results due to inherent dithering & anti-aliasing which creates fuzzy edges (stair-step looking edges) when printed on paper.

Wholesale Printing to the Trade

North American Thermographers

Artwork

Acceptable:

Non-Acceptable: (due to non-standardized compatibility issues)

Alternative PDF Creator Solution: