PREPARING YOUR ADVERTISEMENT FOR SPH MAGAZINES
The following are some simple guides to assist you in preparing your advertisement for SPH Magazines. Whether you
use Adstreamʼs Quickcut or Adstreamʼs new online validation and delivery service, QuickPrint Web (available late 2012),
you can be sure that your advertisement will be flight-checked, optimized where possible and transmitted to SPH
Magazines as a print ready PDF file in the correct format.
Please note that we have used AdobeⓇ InDesignⓇ and/or AdobeⓇ IllustratorⓇ CS3 for most of the following guides and
screenshots.
File Format
SPH Magazines will only accept PDF/X-1a (2001) files with the Fogra 39 profile applied. QuickPrint will convert your file
to this format and apply the Fogra 39 profile whether you are using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Freehand.
If
I you are using QuickPrint Web, simply export
the
t file as a PDF once it is finished. There is no
need
to use AdobeⓇ Acrobat DistillerⓇ.
n
Q
QuickPrint Web has the Adobe engine built in
and will use your PDF to create a final PDF/X-1a
a
and apply the profile exactly to SPH Magazineʼs
a
rrequirements.
To prepare a PDF/X-1a file directly from InDesign
T
go to File > Adobe PDF Presets > [PDF/X-1a
g
2001].
2
Colour Space (eg RGB vs CMYK)
Only files using CMYK colour space should be transmitted to SPH Magazines. QuickPrint has the ability to detect RGB
colour space and highlight the problematic area. QuickPrint will then give you the option to go back to the source file and
make the necessary changes or choose QuickPrint to do the colour conversion using SPH Magazineʼs CMYK profile.
Colour Standard
All advertisement materials (proofs) must adhere to the SPH Magazines Colour Standard which can be downloaded from
our corporate website at http://www.sphmagazines.com.sg/advertising-specs
Inkweight
SPH Magazines has a maximum total inkweight of 330%. QuickPrint will warn you if your file exceeds 330%. You will
then have the choice to either reduce the inkweight yourself or use QuickPrintʼs optimize tool to fix it for you.
To
T use AdobeⓇ PhotoshopⓇ to reduce the inkweight
yyourself go to Colour Settings > CMYK Setup.
IIn the CMYK pull down menu choose Custom CMYK.
Edit the ink weight as appropriate. (Eg 330% for SPH
E
magazines.)
m
Then go to Image > Mode > RGB to change the
T
iimage from its current mode to another eg CMYK to
RGB. Save a copy as [new file name].
R
Open the renamed file and go back to Image > Mode
O
> CMYK to change it back to the required mode
((either RGB to CMYK). This process ensures that the
iink weight specified is applied to the file.
Close the file, making sure that you save it. It will
C
tthen need to be re imported into your document.
NOTE: Ink weight checks will ONLY be performed on
N
CMYK Binary Photoshop EPS files brought into a
C
ssource application like Adobe InDesign. If it is
flflagging on an Adobe Illustrator or FreeHand file it is
actually flagging on the colour that has been brought
a
into the source application. You will still need to edit
in
tthat colour in the original Adobe Illustrator or
FreeHand file.
F
Fonts
Preferred Fonts
Postscript type 1 and opentype fonts are the preferred fonts because they produce the most reliable output. Truetype
fonts are acceptable but can be unreliable. If possible stick to Postscript fonts.
Acceptable fonts
Acceptable common font types - Postscript type 1, truetype fonts and opentype fonts.
License Fonts
Use only licensed fonts. Unlicensed fonts may prevent you from embedding into PDF files.
Fonts Style
Do not use Bold and Italic from the style menu as during ripping for platesetter the fonts may be substituted with other
fonts or appear as normal style without bold or italic.
Font Size
SPH Magazines have a number of preferred rules that apply to all advertisements:
Minimum text size is 8 points.
Reverse lettering should be above 10 points with no more than two colours.
White text/element are set to "Knockout".
Coloured text with black drop shadow on colour back ground: the shadow must be set to "Overprint".
Single black text on 4 colours back ground: must be set to "Overprint".
Outline Fonts
If you are unsure about what
type of font you are using or
unable to identify if you have a
license version of the font then
you should consider outlining
the font.
QuickPrint has the ability to
check the type of fonts used in
your art work and see if they
conform to SPH Magazineʼs
requirements. If they don't,
QuickPrint will give the user
the option to outline the font
manually or the user can allow
QuickPrint to do it for them.
To convert text to outline,
highlight the text that you want
outlined, choose: Type >
Create Outlines
The text is now outlined, and this can be seen
in the screen shot, where the the text itself is
highlighted with the blue pixillated line.
Transparency
SPH Magazine does not allow transparent elements. QuickPrint has the ability to check if your art work has transparency
effects used and if it does conform to SPH Magazineʼs requirements.
QuickPrint will prompt you to flatten the effected area before uploading the file to SPH Magazines. To flatten transparent
elements in Adobe InDesign select Edit > Transparency Flattener (Presets).
For better printing result, we recommend you to follow the Transparency setting in Adobe Indesign CS2/3/4/5
Transparency Flattener Preset
click on Load...
QP Output Setting.
Apply this transparency setting when saving
Postscript or exporting under Advanced menu.
Image Resolution
Effective image resolution should be 300dpi. Low resolution images will produce undesirable results. QuickPrint will warn
you if your advertisement has images that are less than 300dpi and will fault if any images are less than 260dpi. For
obvious reasons QuickPrint will not be able to improve the resolution and you will have to go back to your original file and
replace the images. Note: Having images at a higher resolution is unnecessary as this will not improve the image quality
but will increase the file size.
Line Art Image Resolution
Line art images must have an effective resolution not lesser than 600 dpi. The ideal resolution would be 1200 dpi.
Image Size Adjustments
Enlarging or reducing images in a page layout will affect the resolution of your image. If your intending to manipulate the
size of your image please use Adobe Photoshop. If the image enlargement is over 130%, we recommend that you scan
the original.
Creating A Layout With The Correct Bleed, Trim and Type Areas.
You can create your own page layout using the information as provided by your booking agency (File > New > Document)
or you can use QuickPrint to do this from either Adobe InDesign or Illustrator. QuickPrint has the ability to automatically
create advertising templates using the correct dimensions according to the SPH Magazinesʼ specifications. This includes
bleed, trim and type areas. If crop marks are required, QuickPrint will add these during the optimisation process.
QuickPrint will check that your file is the correct size. However you will need to manually correct the size if it is incorrect.
QuickPrint will not allow a file that is incorrect in size to be transmitted to the publication.
Advertisement template created
in Adobe InDesign using
QuickPrint. Automatically creates
the correct bleed, trim and type
areas
Advertisement template created
in Adobe Illustrator using
QuickPrint. Automatically creates
the correct bleed, trim and type
areas
If you are creating your own template for an advertisement for SPH Magazines please add a 3mm bleed on all sides.
Go to File > New. Add in the correct page size (trim area)
then go to More Options > Bleed and add in the correct
bleed size
When the advertisement is completed, if you want to create your own PDF please ensure that crop marks and bleed
settings are correct. However, if you are submitting your advertisement through QuickPrint and then PageStore please
do not include either crop marks or bleed settings. QuickPrint will do this automatically.
Including Fogra 39 Profile
Your document should should be prepared using the correct colour profile. For SPH Magazines this is Fogra 39.
QuickPrint will automatically apply the correct profile when creating your document template, however if you need to do
this manually go to Edit > Assign Profiles and then assign the correct profile
File Optimisation
Q
QuickPrint
will optimise
tthe advertisement for the
sspecific publication it is
going to.
g
Optimised file. As you
O
ccan see below the correct
ccrop marks are included
iin the final press ready
pdf.
p
Crop
Marks
Gutter Allowance for Double Page Spread Advertisements
Double Image Gutter allowance needs to be included within the trim size of an advertisement only when the images are
continuous over a spread. Double Image Gutter allowance compensates for the portion of an image hidden in the gutter
of a perfect bound magazine and gives an illusion of a continuous image. To create Double Image Gutter allowance, a
5mm portion of image on the left side from the centre has to be repeated on the right side or vice versa, as shown below.
Weak Black on Image
SPH Magazines do not accept weak black on image. This is where the % ink weight when broken down into CMYK is too
low and therefore the image may appear washed out when printed.
Example Correct Black
Example Weak Black
To check for weak black you firstly need to convert the image colour mode to CMYK. This is done in Adobe Photoshop.
Go to Image > mode > RGB Colour. Then go back to Image > Mode > CMYK and then save the image as CMYK.
You
Y can use QuickPrint to
check
the individual
c
CMYK
percentages:
C
Select
the ink weight
S
measurement
tool in
m
QuickPrint
and then place
Q
the
t tool over the area you
want
to measure.
w
QuickPrint
will give a
Q
complete
breakdown of
c
the
t CMYK percentages.
If they are too low you will
need
to adjust the image
n
in Photoshop.
You
Y can also check the file in Adobe
Acrobat
Professional. Go to
A
Advanced
> Print Production >
A
Output
Preview
O
For more information on QuickPrint, PageStore, QuickPrint Web, or any of the other Adstream
Products, please contact:
Adstream Singapore Pte Ltd
1 Claymore Drive #02-03
Singapore 229594
Phone:
Fax:
+65 6327 7255
+65 6438 8249
www.adstream.com
Gilbert Chee
General Manager
+65 6327 7256 (DID)
+65 9170 1712 (M)
[email protected]
Adobe Acrobat, Distiller, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in
the United States and/or other countries.
Ⓒ Copyright 2010 Adstream Asia Pte Ltd
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