|
Artwork
Specifications
Your artwork files must be supplied on Precision
Disc design templates.
Your artwork files must conform to the
specifications as noted herein.
Your artwork files are considered to be supplied
to Precision Disc in "final form"
which means they are supplied ready to
print without requirement for revision or
modification of layout of colour
values.
|
| |
 |
Don't
let artwork issues delay your order - learn
the 6 simple mistakes that cause over 75% of artwork related delays and
problems [download]. |
| |
 |
Don't
let artwork issues delay your order - learn
how to properly sequence your stapled
booklet into printer spreads [download]. |
| |
|
PLATFORM/SOFTWARE:
We
recommend the use of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe
Indesign, and Adobe Photoshop design programs. FREE
30 day trials can be downloaded from Adobe.
To
avoid compatibility issues caused by different
computer platforms, software and font types, we
require that:
Your
artwork files are to have all text converted to
outlines/paths.
If
using Photoshop for text you must rasterize each
font layer.
Supply Illustrator
designs in .AI format.
Supply
Indesign designs in .INDD format.
Supply
Photoshop designs in .PSD format.
Designs from all other programs (including Quark) are to be supplied
in .EPS or
hi-res .PDF format.
GENERAL
DESIGN RULES:
Your
design page properties must be set to 300dpi (dots
per inch)
Your
design page must be set to the CMYK colour mode (not
RGB).
All
bitmaps should be created at 300dpi and supplied in either CMYK
or Grayscale
as applicable.
Processing/saving
your bitmap images as .TIF (or .TIFF) files will
produce better
results than .JPG .GIF .PNG or .BMP
Acceptable
colour tonal range is between 15% and
85% - tones outside that
range may not print.
This includes anything that is less than 100% solid
colour
(eg: transparencies, drop shadows, gradients,
etc.).
Always
allow at least 1/8 (3mm) of bleed past the
finished edges of the design.
Dont
crowd the finished edge of your design with text and
imagery unless it
actually bleeds off the edge of the design.
We recommend leaving a minimum
gutter distance of 1/8" (3mm) to
1/4" (6mm).
Artwork
files for stapled booklets are to be supplied in printer-spread
format.
Delete
all images, text and/or layers that are not required
in the design.
Name
your files so they can be easily identified (eg:
traycard_cover.eps).
Indicate
whether your CD/DVD disc artwork requires a white
flood/backprint.
TEXT:
Minimum
recommended type size for positive print: 5 points
Minimum
recommended type size for reversed print: 6 points
IF
USING PHOTOSHOP: Because text tends to be pixelated
when included in
bitmap images, we highly recommend that
Photoshop be used to process images
but not for typesetting. For
best results it is preferable to export your
images
from Photoshop as .TIF (or .TIFF) files and
then typeset in a program such as
Illustrator.
SILKSCREEN
PRINTED DISCS:
For
spot colour silkscreen printing - the design must be
colour separable. It is
recommended that each individual colour is
designed on a separate design layer.
For
spot colour silkscreen printing - best results come
from line-art graphics and
text. Bitmap images tend to be jagged in
appearance and don't print well.
For
silkscreen printed discs - refrain from using
transparencies, gradients and
screens in your design. When screenprinted,
anything less than 100% solid colour
will print as a dot pattern and will not have
the consistent and smooth
appearance that you see on your computer
monitor (see example shown below).
For
spot colour silkscreen printing you must specify
Pantone Matching
System (PMS) Solid-Coated colour
numbers. The PMS designation is C.

SUPPLYING
YOUR OWN FILM FOR DISC PRINTING:
We do not
recommend that clients supply their own film
unless they are very
experienced in designing artwork for
commercial print. Please note: When film is
supplied the job will go to print as per the
film supplied and no proofs are
generated for approval.
IMPORTANT: If
supplying film, you must use our design
templates. Failure to do
so could result in the rejection of your
supplied film.
FILM SPECS
FOR SILKSCREENPRINTING (PMS/Spot or CMYK):
Positive,
emulsion up, round dot, output resolution 2400
dpi, line screen 100 LPI
Film
angles: Yellow: 0 / Magenta: 75 / Cyan: 15 /
Black: 45
Film
must be free of pinholes, contamination,
creases, scratches, etc.
All
layers must be labeled with the job number,
project name and date.
All
layers must be labeled with the appropriate
PMS colour # or CMYK value.
All
layers must be labeled with the type of
product being printed (CDROM, DVD5,
etc.)
FILM SPECS
FOR OFFSET CMYK PRINTING:
Negative,
emulsion down, round dot, output resolution of
2400dpi, line screen
200 LPI
Film
angles: Yellow: 0 / Magenta:
75 / Cyan: 15 / Black: 45
Film
must be free of pinholes, contamination,
creases, scratches, etc.
All
layers must be labeled with the job number,
project name and date.
All
layers must be labeled with the appropriate
CMYK value.
All
layers must be labeled with the type of
product being printed on (CDROM,
DVD5, etc.)
WHEN
YOUR DESIGN IS FINISHED:
Leave
the design template in the design for our visual
reference but ensure it is
on its own layer. Never flatten the design
template into the artwork.
Convert
all text to outlines/paths. If using Photoshop
please rasterize all text
layers.
If
you are designing using linked images please supply
those images in a separate
folder.
Place
all of your relevant design files/folders into one
folder. Name the folder with
your Job Number and Project Name.
MAC
Users - Use Stuffit to compress your
design folder. Name this file with your
Job Number and Project Name.
PC
Users Use Winzip to compress your
design folder. Name this file with your
Job Number and Project Name.
Submit
your design file on CDR or upload to our FTP.
Contact your Sales
Representative for FTP instructions.
PROOFING
OPTIONS:
Your
supplied artwork files are expected to be
ready-to-print without changes or modifications
being required. Precision Disc provides three
proofing options as noted below.
PROOF OPTION A Electronic Proofs
This is Precision
Disc's default proofing option.
One round of electronic proofs are included in
your quoted price.
Design files are reviewed and electronic proofs
(PDF format) are provided.
For confirmation of the physical layout only
not for color accuracy.
Written approval required.
PROOF OPTION B Hard-Copy Printed
Proofs
This proofing option must be specifically
requested.
Hard-copy proof fee: $50.00 for each round of
hard-copy proofs.
Electronic proofs must be approved prior to
supply of hard-copy proofs.
This proofing option is for confirmation of
physical layout & color accuracy.
Up to 5-10%
colour variation between hard-copy and finished
product may be
unavoidable
due to tolerances inherent with offset printing
processes.
Colour adjustment of hard-copy proofs is not
possible for print produced on
offset printing presses.
Written approval required.
PROOF OPTION C Pre-Approved
This proofing option must be specifically
requested.
Client supplies pre-approved artwork files,
by-passing review and proofs.
No proofs supplied. No layout or color warranty.
VIEWING
THE PROOFS:
THE
PURPOSE OF THE PROOF is to give you one last chance
to review the design for overall accuracy and
completeness of the design components before it goes
to print. Any errors or omissions that you do not
correct in the proofing stage will be present in the
finished product.
IMPORTANT:
View your .PDF proofs with Adobe Acrobat and ensure
the
Overprint Preview function is turned on.
PROOF
APPROVALS:
It
is the sole responsibility of the client to review
all details of the supplied proof,
which includes (but is not limited to)
layout/design, page sequencing, dimensions,
spelling, and punctuation.
In
order to proceed with production the client must
submit written approval of
the proofs via fax or e-mail. A specific and
clearly worded approval is required (ie:
Proofs are approved for printing).
Verbal approval cannot be accepted.
By
providing an approval in writing, the client
indemnifies and holds Precision Disc
free from responsibility and liability for
any errors or omissions in the proofs that
are not found and corrected by the client.
Furthermore, the client acknowledges
that the reworking and/or reprinting of
materials due to client error is at the sole
expense of the client.
Such costs will be formally quoted in writing
and must be
approved by the client in writing before any
additional work can take place.
ARTWORK
REVISIONS & CHANGES:
IMPORTANT:
The requirement for revisions or for the supply of
new artwork files
may delay your order.
As
noted herein customer-supplied artwork files must be
supplied in final form
(ready to print without revisions). If
revisions or new artwork files are required
after proofs have been generated, the
Pre-Press and Proofing process must begin
again. Due
to the work involved additional charges may be
incurred by the client
(except in instances where the required
change to the proof is due to the
vendors error in generating the proof).
COLOR
MATCHING
Electronic
proofs are never to be used to evaluate color accuracy because
computer monitors typically dont represent
color values accurately. If color
correctness is a concern you must request
hard-copy printed proofs for final
approval (see Proof Option B as noted
above).
Due
to variations inherent with offset printing
processes, a color variation of up
to 5-10% between the printed-paper proofs and
the final printed product may be
unavoidable and this is considered to be
within acceptable industry tolerances.
For
orders that proceed based on Proof Option A
(electronic proofs only) the
client-supplied designs will go to print
based on the color values as supplied in the
imagery.
For Spot Color
Screenprinting: Clients must specify Pantone
Solid Coated (C)
color values. Colors will be mixed according
to the PMS color value formula and
cross-referenced to the PMS Solid Coated
reference guide.
CLIENT
SUPPLIED COLOR SAMPLES
For
CMYK Disc Printing: A client-supplied sample
print can be accepted for CMYK
color reference, but an
exact CMYK color match cannot be guaranteed. For color
warranty you must
request Proof Option B.
For Gang-Run CMYK Print:
Client-supplied samples cannot be used for color
reference on gang-run CMYK printed materials.
For color warranty you must
request Proof Option B for hard-copy
proofs.
READY-BY-DATE:
IMPORTANT:
We
strongly recommend that you do not (A)
schedule the release of your product, (B) book a
product release event, or (C) schedule a trip or
tour prior to receiving your product.
Every effort will be made to fill orders within the
timeline quoted at the outset of the project,
however, quoted ready-by-dates are to be considered
estimates only and are not guaranteed. Though
uncommon, delays can occur and the vendor assumes no
responsibility for any damages growing out of or
owing to any delays.
|