3 Tips to better help you help us help you.

While sitting in the prepress department all day, 5 days a week, we see lots of types of files come in: PDFs, Illustrator, InDesign, Quark, EPS. Now if we counted up how many of those files are somehow done "incorrectly", the number would be close to half.

We can understand trying to make a deadline, rushing through multiple titles, and just plain forgetting a step. But there are a few things that are basic that would really help us out in the end to get your product to you faster.



1. ADD BLEED.

• This saves us from the painstaking task of going all around your document and extending all your color boxes and photos.
• And also will prevent accidental movement of images, boxes, etc.
• It's quick and easy on your part too.

2. CONVERT ALL BLACK TYPE, LINE-WORK, ETC. TO 100% BLACK.

• Unless your document requires a rich black (we recommend C-40 M-30 Y-30 K-100)
• This makes it easier during the actual printing of the piece too

3.  MAKE SURE ALL DOCUMENT COLORS ARE CONVERTED TO CMYK

• Unless of course you're wanting a spot color to be used in the art work, in which case leave it and make sure Customer Service knows you're wanting a 5th or 6th color for your job.
• Delete all unused spot colors in the color palette.

So there you have it. Quick little tips I know most artists know how to do, just forget to do from time to time. There's probably a plethora of stuff we could add, just these are the most commonly found mistakes.

Be well.