File Preparation
File Preparation and FAQ
For the best finished product we recommend you send a Press Quality (CMYK) PDF file with bleeds and crop marks.
A one-up file to size, centered will go through our process with the least delays.
Acceptable Mac & Windows Software:
Program Recommendations
• QuarkXPress 7 Include all fonts and images. Page size must be set to the trim size of your job. Bleeds should extend 1/8″ beyond the page area. (please save Quark 7 back to Quark 6.5)
• PhotoShop CMYK or Grayscale, 300 dpi, flattened, no layers, saved as TIF or JPG. Image size must be set to the trim size plus 1/8″ bleed all around if necessary.
• Adobe Illustrator Save as EPS file, fonts converted to paths or outlines
• InDesign Save as PDF for Acrobat 5.0, Press or Print Optimized. Remember to include bleed.
• PDF Press or Print Optimized for Acrobat 5.0. Include at least 1/8″ bleed all around. Images & graphics must be in CMYK format.
• Publisher, Word
If you send us a job in the native program you will need to approve the PDF we send you before we will print it. This may delay your job. FOR SPEED AND ACCURACY WE RECOMMEND YOU SEND YOUR JOB IN PDF FORMAT.
Bleeds: Bleed is a printed image, graphic or background that extends beyond the trim edge. For cutting purposes, bleeds must extend 1/8″ beyond intended trim. If your file is missing bleeds it will be under trimmed or enlarged which ever maintains the integrity of the project. We reserve the right to contact you concerning this.
Borders: Borders and text must be at least 1/8″ inside the trim edge. We don’t guarantee perfectly even borders.
Rich Black: Black backgrounds run best with a mixture of 40% Cyan, 30% Magenta, 20% Yellow and 100% Black.
How well will my job match what I see on my monitor?
Most people are surprised at how well their job matches what they see. But because of wide differences in monitor calibration and the different technologies used, some printed colors may not exactly match the colors on a your specific monitor. We do our best to make your job look good.
Is there an extra charge for bleeds?
No. Unlike many other companies, all our prices include full bleeds free of charge.
Can you print jobs that are different than the standard formats that you offer?
Yes. Email us the specs and we will send you a quote.
Will my printed piece look exactly like it does on my computer monitor?
There are some small differences. Scanners and digital cameras create images using combinations of just three colors: Red, Green and Blue (called “RGB”). These are the colors that computers use to display images on your screen. But printing presses print full color pictures using a different set of colors: Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), Yellow and Black (called “CMYK”). So at some stage your RGB file must be translated to CMYK in order to print it on a printing press. This is easily done using an image editing program like PhotoShop or Corel PhotoPaint.
Caution: It’s Best If You do the RGB-to-CMYK Conversion of Your Images!
You will have more control over the appearance of your printed piece if you convert all of the images from RGB to CMYK before sending them to us. When we receive RGB images, we do a standard-value conversion to CMYK, which may not be perfectly to your liking. We want you to be happy, so please, take the time to prepare your file properly. We cannot be responsible for sub-par results if you furnish low-res images or RGB images.
Be aware that it is possible to make colors in RGB that you can’t make with CMYK. They are said to be “out of the CMYK color gamut”. What happens is that the translator just gets as close as possible to the appearance of the original and that’s as good as it can be. It’s something that everyone in the industry puts up with. So it’s best to select any colors you use for fonts or other design elements in your layout using CMYK definitions instead of RGB.
The important thing to understand is that not all RGB colors will print CMYK as you see them on your computer monitor. Bright blues, bright greens and pinks are notoriously difficult to convert from RGB to CMYK as you can see in the samples below.
Will you match a sample I print out on my own printer, or a previously printed sample?
At Progressive Graphics, part of the way we offer fast turnaround and low pricing is by printing to a “pleasing color” standard, using standard calibrations. Therefore, there is no guarantee that your finished piece will approximate your printed sample. This is due in part to the widely varying results from different output devices including inkjet and laser printers. Even from one commercial printing firm to another, there can be significant differences in results. In particular, inkjet and laser prints are known to look substantially different than commercial printing equipment.
If an exact color match is critical we recommend you pay for a proof. Email us if this will be a concern on your project.
Progressive Graphics will not be responsible for color variations between your monitor or personal printout and the finished job.
