Print guide

PRINT GUIDE

PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENT FOR PRINT

To prepare your files for print, for the best results send us your file as a press-ready high-resolution PDF. Make sure your images are at least 300 dpi and that all colours are correct. Providing print ready files is essential. We will not alter your files.

1. Start by including bleed to your document (s) if you do not want a white border around your design. 0.125” for all 4 bleeds.

2. Save your file (s) in PDF.

Paper size

Set up the page size of your document at the exact size that you wish your job to print. Do not supply artwork floating on a larger page or include multiple items on the same page.

Note: We cannot print and transform an 8.5”x 11” file into a 24”x 36” poster.

Bleed and crop marks

Bleed: If your design includes colour or images, printed up to the edge of the page, please provide 0.125” (3mm) of additional artwork to all sides. Bleed avoids the risk of white edges on your work.

Crop marks: Show us the edge of your work, so we know exactly where to trim it.

Colours

Process colours refer to CMYK, Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y) and Black (K). These different colours are used to reproduce a colour image.

Note: CMYK colours are for printing, and RGB colours are for the web.

Images

All images included in your artwork file should be supplied at least 300 dpi in the correct colour mode at the placed size.

Note: Images and logos saved from websites are mostly between 72-96 dpi and are unsuitable for printing. If you upscale or add resolutions to images in your image editing software, this will not increase the quality of the image and may result in blurry or bit-mapped images.

UNDERSTANDING PRINTING AND GRAPHIC TERMS

We work with a lot of different people who have different levels of experience working with printers and design softwares and often see a lot of the same mistakes. These mistakes can slow progress, reduce the quality of your project, or can even increase the price of your order. Sending us your press-ready high-resolution PDF files is essential !

BLEED AREA

Bleed avoids the white edges on your work. If you’re creating material that has a background, shape, line, or image spanning from edge to edge, you’ll want to add a bleed. The bleed area ensures that your posters, flyers, bookmarks, etc. doesn’t have a white edge once it’s cut.

CROP MARKS OR TRIM MARKS

Crop marks are the lines printed in the corner of your PDF that tells us where to cut. Anything past the trim mark will be cut off. Show us the edge of your work, so we know exactly where to trim it.

ADDING BLEED MARKS AND CROP MARKS

Add 0.25” to all sides. For example if you’re printing a 8.5” x 11” flyer, your PDF should be 8.75” x 11.25” including the bleed and crop marks.

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ARE CROP MARKS NECESSARY?

If you’re creating a document that is the exact size you want it to be when it’s trimmed, you might not need to add trim marks.

If your document needs to be cut, and you have any assets within your printing material the span edge to edge, adding bleed and crop marks are necessary.

Otherwise, your final print might have some irregularities on the edges.

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HOW DO I SET UP BLEED AND EXPORT PDF FILES?

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

1. Open a new document, setting your dpi (resolution) to 300 pixel/inch.

2. When choosing the dimensions of the document add .25” to the width and height (allowing for .125” on all sides). For example, if you want a 5”x7” postcard to have a bleed, the Photoshop file must be set to 5.25”x7.25”.

3. Once the dimensions are set, use the guide tool to set guides at .125” for the height and width to designate where the bleed area will be.

4. Design with the bleed area in mind, making sure not to put crucial text or images within the area.

5. Save the document as a PDF.

ADOBE INDESIGN

1. Open a new document. Select Bleed and Slug and enter .125” for top, bottom, left, and right values

2. Check the Preview box in the dialogue box to see what the bleed area will look like on your document (it will be represented by a red guide). Any elements that bleed must extend to the red box.

3. Use the bleed guides while positioning your artwork or design to ensure that your design fits within the lines.

4. Export your document as a PDF using the Highest Quality Print setting. Under the Marks and Bleed tab, check the Use Document Bleed Settings box and verify that .125” is entered for top, bottom, left, and right values.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

1. Open a new document.

2. In the New Document dialogue window, enter .125” for top, bottom, left, and right values

3. A red box will appear around your document, indicating where the bleed area is.

4. Any elements that bleed must extend to the red box.

5. Under the File dropdown menu, select Save As and save your document as a PDF (choose Adobe PDF in the Format dropdown menu in the Save As dialogue box). Click Save. Then, under the Marks and Bleed tab, check the Use Document Bleed Settings box.

You can use free online tool to help you resize, verify and convert your files.

> PressPDF > OpenPDF

IN MICROSOFT WORD

1. Start by creating a blank document

2. Choose the ‘Layout’ tab

3. Under the “Size” icon, click on ‘More Paper Sizes’

4. The Page Setup window will appear, and here you can input the custom sizes.

5. In this tab you must pick the paper size and then choose a custom size. For example, if the book is 8.5” wide x 11” high, adjust it to the size

8.75” x 11.25” by adding the 0.25” margins to the original size.

6. Save your file as a PDF.

IN CANVAS

1. Extend the design beyond the pages edge to get the bleed effect.

2. On the top right click share, then click download. Under the file type select the PDF print option.

3. The crop marks and bleed should be automatically put in for you.

4. Export to PDF

You can use free online tool to help you resize, verify and convert your files.

> PressPDF > OpenPDF

How do I add crop and bleed marks in Adobe PDF?

Choose Tools > Print Production > Add Printer Marks. Your file (s) must be set up with bleed in order to work.

ADD PRINTER MARKS

Specify the pages to mark.

Specify the marks and setting, use 0.25”

SAVE/EXPORT DOCUMENT

Your document will have bleed and crop marks and is now ready for print!

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AAFÉLICITATIONS

COMMON LAYOUTS

8.5 “ x 11” sheet

Submit a high-resolution PDF with crops and bleeds. If it is not a high-resolution PDF with crops and bleeds, it will not be accepted as a press-ready file.

Two-sided sheets need to be sent as a two-page PDF or two separate PDF documents clearly labeled in a manner that groups them together.

Your PDF document will be a little larger than 8.75” x 11.25”. This is the size of the document (8.5” x 11”) plus bleed and crop marks.

No text should be closer than .25” from the edge of the document (safe zone).

8.5” x 11” sheet

8.75” x 11.25” Bleed Size

Red solid line. Design should be this size

8.5” x 11” finish size

Black dotted line.This is the finished size after cutting

8.” x 10.5” Text safe zone

Green solid line. Safe zone

4 “ x 6” postcard

Submit a high-resolution PDF with crops and bleeds. If it is not a high-resolution PDF with crops and bleeds, it will not be accepted as a press-ready file.

Two-sided postcards need to be sent as a two-page PDF or two separate PDF documents clearly labeled in a manner that groups them together.