Artwork Requirements

Please read the following document for a detailed description of our artwork requirements. However, here is a summary of the most important points to check please before artwork is sent to us:

Please outline (convert to curves) text in vector files.
Separate the artwork from the cutting diagram by keeping them on different layers.
Artwork should be created as CMYK and not RGB.
Pantone references for spot colours need to be specified.
Please check that the version of your file is compatible with the programs that we currently use.
Artwork should be supplied at 300 DPI.
All artwork should either be kept away from cut and crease lines or you should allow a bleed of 6mm. Finishing the image exactly on a cut or crease is unacceptable.
If you are sending files to us larger than 10MB, please send them by www.yousendit.com

NB: When we speak of print ready artwork, we mean that you will be supplying a document that needs no further editing before we can use it. If you are supplying us with a collection of files for us to position on the cutting diagram, this work is usually chargeable.

General information

Our prices are based on your supplying us with print ready artwork (unless otherwise stated) and colour targets where appropriate.
We can accept artwork in several different formats as detailed below. Please remember, if you need any help with any aspect of your order just call and we'll be happy to assist you.
Please give us a detailed description of your needs so that we can be sure how to proceed.
If you require changes to your artwork, we can quote for you. Our typical charge is £40 per hour.
A deadline for completion of the artwork must be agreed when ordering. Extra changes after the agreed deadline may affect timescales.
We do not require ancillary items such as JPEGs for placed images when you are sending files; we require only the document that you need us to print.
If we send you a digital proof, please be aware that the finish, texture and colours may be slightly different from your finished job, especially when we will be using a different printing process or when you have chosen an unusual board grade. Our samples are not always on your chosen board grade and the printing should be regarded as a positional proof only.

Software packages & file types we can work with

Bitmap files

Any bitmap type but .jpg, ,psd, .cpt or .tiff preferred.

CAD files

Kasemake (.agd) 9.5
.cf2
Autocad (.dxf)
Autocad (.dwg)
Adobe Illustrator (.ai) up to CS5
Adobe Photoshop (.psd)
Corel Draw (.cdr) up to X3
Word (.doc)
Postscript (.eps)
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)

Vector, text and mixed format

When sending a vector format (.ai or .cdr), save text as curves and the file format as PC and not MAC.

We do not normally use the following formats for printing:

Word
Excel
Publisher
PowerPoint
Works

If you would like us to edit your artwork:

Vector format should be saved with the text as text (rather than curves) and the file format as PC. If you are using any fonts other than the common ones such as Times New Roman, Arial, Courier etc, then send the PC fonts also.

If you need us to make changes to your file (jpeg / eps), we would require you to re-supply new artwork as either a .psd, .pdf, .cdr or .ai files as we are unable to make text changes to flattened images (.jpeg/ .eps/ .tiff).

Cladding our design with your artwork

We will supply you with an .ai file or .pdf with the cutting layout. You can import this into your graphics package and overlay your artwork. When it is complete we would like it returned with the cutting layout and your artwork on separate layers. If you cannot do this then please send in two versions:

1. Showing the cutting layout and the artwork
2. Showing your artwork but with the cutting layout deleted

Important: Our cutting layout will show registration marks in the corners. We need to print these so please make sure that they are showing on the file you return. You may choose to draw lines on top of the original marks so that they remain on the artwork layer when we remove the cutting lines.

Wherever possible try to avoid symmetrical artwork being both centred and close to cut or fold lines. If, for instance, you put a border around a panel that is 1mm away from the folding edges and if the cutting/folding registration is 1mm out, then on one side you will have a margin of 2mm and on the other side you will have the printing touching the edge. This level of accuracy is impractical for corrugated work. Keep the artwork 10mm or more away from the edges or even graduate the edges if possible; in that way any slight registration movements will not show. Where the colour is meant to bleed off the edge of the panel, a minimum of 6mm bleed outside the cut line should be allowed.

With flexographically printed work, it is preferable that the artwork does not cross any fold lines.

Saving your files

When supplying jobs to be printed in full (process) colour, please make sure that the artwork is not a mixture of RGB and CMYK colours. We need CMYK only.
For spot colour printing, we need the Pantone reference for each colour or a colour target (sample of the colour).
For any print job, if there is a specific colour (perhaps your corporate colour) that needs to be matched, it is essential that you draw our attention to this and supply the Pantone reference.
Please note that it is important when supplying a PDF from a Microsoft document that care is taken to ensure that any spot colours are created correctly in your original document. If you are using these programs please export as a JPEG or PDF file. You may incur additional costs if we have to convert these files into a print ready format.
For free PDF conversions go to: http//convert.neevia.com

PDF Files

We request that all our artwork should be supplied as high resolution (300dpi). It is important that your PDF file is prepared in the correct way:

Resolution (choose High Resolution)
Compression Settings (colour and grey scale should be down sampled to 300dpi, with "Auto Compression" set on High)
Font Embedding (should be set to "Embed all Fonts")

Colour needs to be set as CMYK not RGB (RGB artwork would need be converted to CMYK; this could affect your colours).

Illustrator

Include all embedded images and convert all text to curves. Save as an EPS file. Resolution for bitmaps must be 300dpi.

Photoshop

Resolution should be set to 300dpi when starting your new document and save the file as either tiff or jpeg.

Other files not listed above must be saved either as an eps or jpeg.

File sizes

If you are embedding bitmap files in your vector program, do not make the bitmaps too large. If the bitmap is the size of a postcard then it is unnecessary for it to be larger than, say, 5MB. Sometimes you can get adequate results with smaller files; it really depends on which print process we are using.
It is rarely necessary for finished artwork to exceed 50MB, and that would be for a large layout. If your artwork is larger then please call us to discuss.
If you are e-mailing the artwork to us, please send your files individually if they exceed 8MB, or if the combined size exceeds 10MB then please send multiple e-mails with individual attachments.
If you are working on a very large file and would like to send us an interim version, please send it as a low resolution pdf and mark the file itself with a warning that it is not a final version (to avoid early versions being used inadvertently).
If you have very large files to send then try using www.yousendit.com

Please check that all your pages are the correct size. Artwork for large format jobs can be supplied at 25% of the final print size and at 300dpi. This must be displayed clearly in the file name. All non-vector artwork (image files) should be supplied at 300dpi. Images from web pages will not be good enough to print as large format. If digital pictures are being used please make sure that the image is of high enough quality to print.