Supplying your own artwork

This is our preferred file format for receiving files. Fine for single colour or full colour. Some layout programs can produce PDF files directly and they are often a good way of doing so. Alternatively special PDF drivers are available (some free - PDF reDirect is a good one. PrimoPDF is often used - most commercial) which will convert any document into a PDF file.

When making PDF files, please make sure all fonts are embedded (occasionally fonts cannot be embedded, in which case we will need the original font if it is a non-standard one).
Also, if the content runs to the page edge, make sure a bleed value of 2mm or 3mm is used.

We use software which can change PDF files in all sorts of ways, but this is designed for last minute small changes. Any substantial changes to a document should be made in the original Program followed by a new PDF being made.

Most drawing programs and some page layout programs can save in JPG format If the image is purely photo or similar a resolution of at least 200 dpi at the required finished size is best. If the image contains text or line drawings, then these file formats are not ideal but if they have to be used, choose a resolution as high as possible (the file size could be very large). JPEG files are compressed and the quality can sometimes be very poor.

Internet images are usually 72dpi and often contain compression artefacts. This doesn't matter for computer screens but they are often not suitable for printing unless the image is very small or the quality is unimportant.

Large format printing is particularly susceptible to poor quality images because all the defects are greatly magnified.

These vector files can be produced by a variety of programs. They are fine for business cards & leaflets, or for supplying logos. They can usually be tweaked by us if necessary.

Most drawing programs and some page layout programs can save in these bitmap formats. If the image is purely photos or similar, a resolution of at least 200 dpi is best. If the image contains only text or line drawings in a 1 bit format, then the resolution should be at least 300 dpi, preferably 600 dpi.

None of the JPG quality problems occur with TIF files, though the larger files sizes sometimes make them unsuitable for emailing.

This is fine for text files or whole pages which don't need any changes.

Fonts should be embedded unless they are standard ones.
1. Choose "Tools" then "Options".
2. When the "Options" multi-tabbed dialog box appears, click the "Save" tab.
3. Check "Embed TrueType fonts".
4. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

Notes for Word 2007 users - Best to save as version 2003. We can usually open docx files but we occasionally have to use the online file conversion site at www.zamzar.com.

For items such as leaflets and business cards which need to be designed by us we will often copy or import the text into into another program in order to produce the artwork.

For short run digital colour printing of leaflets & newsletters Publisher files are fine. For business cards, we will usually cut & paste the Publisher file to recreate the design in different software.

Detailed info about using Publisher can be found here.

Fonts should be embedded unless they are standard ones.
1. Choose "Tools" then "Commercial Printing Tools".
2. Choose Fonts
3. Check "Embed TrueType fonts when saving publication".
4. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

This is fine for letterheads, business cards, leaflets & flyers, small booklets etc. If designing for litho printing using spot colours, please use Pantone colours.

With files with small amounts of text, it is sometimes worth converting all the text to curves - this avoids any font problems. Using lens effects can sometimes not work correctly.

Best to supply a PDF or JPG along with the CDR file so we can check the file.

Fonts must be provided unless they are standard ones.

This is the industry standard software for working with photographic images.

For use as page layout, a few points should be noted.

1) To bleed the page, make the canvas size 2mm or 3mm larger than the final page size & set up guides to define the page area. Run anything to bleed to the edge of the canvas.

2) Text items or anything else that needs to kept intact should not be positioned closer than 2mm (preferably 3mm) from the page edge (guidelines).

3) Make sure the resolution is 200 or 300 dpi.

4) Files should be saved as Photoshop PDF files. This embeds the fonts.

5) Best to provide us with a flattened TIF or JPG imae as well as the original unflattened PSD file.

This software is the industry standard for producing magazines & brochures. Images should be embedded & fonts supplied - or the "Package" command in the file menus can be used.

This single page document is fine for letterheads, business cards, leaflets & flyers.

If using spot colours for litho printing, please use Pantone colours. With files with small amounts of text, it is sometimes worth converting all the text to outlines - this avoids any font problems. Alternatively same the file in PDF format.

Fonts must be provided unless they are standard ones.

Images must be either embedded or supplied separately.

There is no need to produce multiple copies of an image. This is best done by us.

Best to always embed fonts. In the Save As dialog box, click Tools, and then click Save Options, In the Save Options dialog box, select the Embed True Type Fonts check box, and then select Embed all characters.

Spreadsheet files sometimes give unexpected layout results when printed. Our proofs must be checked extra carefully.