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Prepress Guide

Creating Pages

Regardless of the platform or application you are using, there are a few general rules to follow when creating pages for electronic imaging.

Find information on topics such as file and trim size, trim Marks and other standards we follow.

Guide To Creating Pages

File Size

We prefer to receive one large file for your entire text. If this is not possible, please minimize the number of files created as much as possible. Additional charges may be applied for handling excessive amounts of files. Please link (do not store or embed) all graphics to the document as necessary, and then include the original graphic files along with the composite file. In order to send larger files on disk, it may be necessary to compress them. For Macintosh platform, we accept either DropStuff or MacZip. For Windows platform, we accept WinZip.

Trim Size

Text files
For an accurate representation, always set up the document page size to be the same as your finished trim size. Do not, for example, place two 5.5” x 8.5” pages as a “spread”, or center a 6” x 9” page on an 8.5” x 11” letter-size document.

Cover files

Covers and jackets require information specific to your project in order to calculate the spine bulk, wrap, etc. You may either reference our cover information sheets to calculate these dimensions, or contact your account representative and they will help you. Covers are best constructed as one page which includes front, spine, back and flaps (if applicable).

Trim Marks

Text files
Do not include trim marks in postscript or PDF files.

Cover files
Cover and jacket files often require hand-drawn fold guides for the spine and flaps. These should be drawn at a weight of .25” and set to the color “registration” in your page layout file so they will be repeated consistently on each color plate.

General Standards

Two-Color Text
We recommend that you set up two-color text as a black (K) and Pantone Matching System (PMS) Color. The designated PMS color will be printed at Press.

Rules
All lines or rules in text or covers must be .25 pt or larger ( no hairlines). Anything below this may not hold when on press.

Bleeds
Whenever a printing element such as a rule, tab, or photo, runs off the edge of the page it is said to “bleed”. To make sure it trims neatly, an extra amount of art must be supplied running off the page in the file. We require a minimum of 1/8” extra art.

Links
Graphic elements created outside the page program (like halftone scans or EPS drawings) are represented on the screen and in the page program by low-resolution “placeholders”. The data needed to image at the high resolution of an imagesetter remains in the original graphic. The graphic is said to be “linked” to the page file and it is very important that this link remain intact. To keep from breaking the link, do not rename or move the graphics to another location after they have been placed. It is also important to make sure all these support files are sent along with the page files.

Master Pages
One of the best ways to save time and reduce problems is to set up files using master pages. Master pages are designed to make placement of key objects that appear on each page uniform in style and position. Often a running head, running foot, or folio is used as a guideline for laying your pages up on our press sheets. For this reason, it is especially important that these items are placed on master pages.

Sample Page
See a PDF diagram showing an ideal page.

For more information regarding the use of master pages, please contact your Preflight Specialist.

Prepress Guide Index

Preflight
Compatibility & Fonts
Creating Pages
Creating Covers
Scanning
Graphics
Working With Color
PDF Files
Electronic Transfers
Proofs




	Prepress Guide

	Customer Resources

	Payment Options

	Tools & Downloads

	Self & First Time Publishers

	EarthCare Initiatives

	Quote Request





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