Resources

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Certifications

Envelope Guidelines

File Preparation

Folding Specs

Wide Format File Specs

Glossary of Terms

Label Guidelines

Postal Regulations

 


 

ENVELOPE GUIDELINES

Commercial Size
6 1/4 6″ x 3 1/2″ (6″ x 3.5″)
6 3/4 6 1/2″ x 3 5/8″ (6.5″ x 3.625″)
7 6 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ (6.75″ x 3.75″)
Monarch 7 1/2″ x 3 3/8″ (7.5″ x 3.375″)
Check 8 5/8″ x 3 5/8″ (8.625″ x 3.625″)
9 8 7/8″ x 3 7/8″ (8.875″ x 3.875″)
10 9 1/2″ x 4 1/8″ (9.5″ x 4.125″)
11 10 3/8″ x 4 1/2″ (10.375″ x 4.5″)
12 11″ x 4 3/4″ (11″ x 4.75″)
14 11 1/2″ x 5″ (11.5″ x 5″)

 

Announcement Size
A2 5 3/4″ x 4 3/8″ (5.75″ x 4.375″)
A6 6 1/2″ x 5 3/4″ (6.5″ x 5.75″)
A7 7 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ (7.25″ x 5.25″)
A8 8 1/8″ x 5 1/2″ (8.125″ x 5.5″)
Slimline 8 7/8″ x 3 7/8″ (8.875″ x 3.875″)
A10 9 1/2″ x 6″ (9.5″ x 6″)

 

Baronial Size
4 Baronial 5 1/8″ x 3 5/8″ (5.125″ x 3.625″)
5 Baronial 5 1/2″ x 4 1/8″ (5.5″ x 4.125″)
5 1/2 Baronial 5 3/4″ x 4 3/8″ (5.75″ x 4.375″)
6 Baronial 6 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ (6.5″ x 4.75″)

 

FILE PREPARATION

How do I set up an electronic file?

The document should be set up the exact size of the final trimmed size. If your final size is a 6×8 flyer, your file set up should be 6×8, NOT 6×8 placed on an 8.5×11 page. When it is necessary for a bleed, the image must be at least an 1/8” over the trim size. You must accommodate the extra 1/8” in your placed/linked images. Do not increase the document size. Folding templates are available. Please contact your Customer Service Representative for these.

What layout program should I use?

We would prefer to have files supplied as Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrtor documents. If not, Quark Xpress is also recommended. Microsoft Word and Excel are not page layout programs.

What are linked/original art files?

Original art is the vector-based (Adobe Illustrator) and raster-based (Adobe Photoshop) images. We would appreciate you including both the un-created to outlines and created to outlines Illustrator files, and the layered and flattened Photoshop files.

How do I send in an electronic file?

After consulting with our customer service representative, you may send in your files on a CD, Zip, or Floppy, by mail. You may also use StuffIt, if your file size is reasonable, you may attach it to an email.Another option, let us type, layout, and design your job.All you need to do is fax in the text.

Colors?

Make sure you have selected the correct type of color to use in your job, spot, process, or Pantone. Any spot or Pantone colors need to specified in all applications used. Color name extensions (CVC, CV, CVU) must also be specified.

Bleed?

A bleed must be at least 1/8” over the final size crop marks. You must accommodate for this when creating your placed/linked images, extend the image larger than you need. Don’t increase your document size.
Photos and line art?

Raster-based art or scanned images should have a dpi of 350 or higher, in CMYK mode. All vector-based art should also be supplied in CMYK mode or have color specified swatches. All graphic lines must be no smaller than .25 pt.

Don’t…

Don’t use Photoshop as a page layout program.

Don’t rotate, skew, distort, or over scale graphics in a page layout application. Apply these effects in the originating application.

Don’t apply type styles (i.e., italics, underline, shadows) in a page layout application. Choose the actual font, if you need an italic, or create it, and place in as a linked art.

Don’t use low res or wrong format images. (i.e., gifs, pict, paint).

 

FOLDING SPECS (link)

 

WIDE FORMAT FILE SPECS

To achieve the best quality for your print job, we recommend the following:

Preferred File Types:
AI, EPS, PDF, TIFF

Fonts:

  • PDF Files: Fonts must be embedded
  • EPS files: Fonts must be outlined or converted to paths or curves

Bleed:

We typically do NOT require bleeds on your artwork with the exception of some banners. We are able to trim close to the edge on most mediums, but please check with us for exact requirements for your specific project. We also have templates for displays that can easily be emailed to you.

File Size & Transfer:

We utilize a 3rd party application, “sendthisfile” for file transfer. Please take into consideration upload times when creating files. If your file is extremely large, please contact us to make arrangements.

Color Matching:

Unless otherwise specified, all printing of colors will be performed to the standard matching of the printer and RIP used for printing. If exact color matching is required 4 items must occur:

  1. A hard copy print must be provided with exact colors to match
  2. PMS Colors must be specified
  3. A $40.00 Color Matching Fee will be charged
  4. Color matching must be specified when placing the order

Final art should be 150dpi at full size.

Please contact your sales representative for design templates for your trade show displays.

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

AA – Author’s Alterations
Changes made by customer after the first proof.

Bleed
An additional 1/8″ of image on all sides of pages outside the trim/crop marks.

Clipping Path
A path around the visible part of an image to remove the background from printing.

CMYK
An acronym for cyan, magenta, yellow and black; four-color, process printing.

Crop Marks
Also called trim/cut marks, lines at right angles located 1/8″ away from edge. Indicates where to cut final product.

Die Line/Die Cut
An irregular shape converted to a metal die to cut paper.

Digital Printing
Using a laser or inket printer to print final product.

Dot Gain
Halftone dots printing larger than intented because of paper, ink, exposure.

DPI
Dots Per Inch. Refers to the number of resolution dots in one square inch. Offset minimum standards are 300 dpi or (300 x 300 = 90,000).

Dummy
Also called mockup. A simulation of the final product. Frequently produced at a reduced size.

Duplex
Type of paper stock which is finished on both sides or being printed on both sides.

EPS
Encapsulated PostScript file type.

Flexography
A method of printing using rubber/plastic plates with raised images. Abbreviated as flexo.

Four-color Process
Technique of printing using variations of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Also called Process.

Gradient
A color or image that changes densities smoothly and gradually.

Imposition
Arrangement of pages on a press sheet so that they will appear in proper order after press sheets are folded and cut.

Imprint
To print new copy on a previosly printed sheet.

Indicia
An indicia is a marking on a mail piece showing that postage has been paid by the sender.

Offset Printing
Printing technique that transfers from a plate to a blanket then to the printing surface.

PDF
A pdf is a portable document format. It has become widely used because it limits editing or modifying and is easily viewed by most all computers.

PMS/Pantone
Pantone Matching System used by the printing industry to print specific colors. Referred to as Patone color or spot color.

Raster-based Images
Raster-based images are images produced out of pixels. Raster images are resolution dependent and often are not editable. Adobe Photoshop files: .tif, .jpeg, .bitmap, .gif.

Resolution
The number of pixels in a specific area to render the quality of the image.

RGB
Red, Green, Blue. The color process used for additive color. The color mode pertains to computer monitors, TVs, and web art.

Saddle Stitching
The process of binding by “stapling” sheets together at the spine.

Separations
Separate pieces of film holding the images of the four-color process art.

Screen
A color created by a percentage of dots instead of full ink coverage, not to be confused with transparency.

Spine
The binding edge of a publication.

Stock
Refers the type of material to be printed on.

Transparency
A setting in professional layout programs to allow other images to be seen below the top object.

Trapping
Trapping helps avoid unwanted white areas between colors when misregistration occurs.

Varnish
Is a coating applied to protect a printed surface or to enhance a design.

Vector-based Images
Images created by combining geometric shapes. These images can be scaled to any size without a loss in quality. Adobe Illustrator files: .ai and .eps.

Watermark
The logo of paper manufacturer embossed in paper during manufacturing process.

 

LABEL GUIDELINES

 

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