To ensure you get the very best results, read our helpful
guide before sending your print ready artwork to us.
This will ensure your artwork matches our requirements
and you can enjoy hassle free production of your order.
ARTWORK CHECK LIST
3 Set up documents to correct size (see fig. 1)
3 Add bleed if needed - 3mm (see fig. 2)
3 Safe area - 5mm (see fig. 3)
3 Crop marks (see fig. 4)
3 Set up multiple page documents in running order
3 Colour - CMYK
3 Resolution - 300dpi
3 Fonts - embedded
ARTWORK FILE FORMAT
TRIM AREA
fig. 1
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You need to send your artwork as a high resolution PDF
format file. This can be made using the ‘PDFx1a’ setting
(If PDFx1a is not available then use ‘Press’ setting). This
setting is available in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop,
Adobe Illustrator and Quark Xpress.
Alternatively a full copy of Adobe Acrobat (not the basic
Reader) or other PDF production applications allow you to
make a PDF file from ANY software package. You can also
export your artwork as PDFs from other Desk Top Publishing
programmes such as Microsoft Word. All elements in your
document such as text, graphics and images should be
CMYK and images should be 300dpi.
A4
Letterhead example
SENDING US YOUR PRINT READY ARTWORK
3 You can upload your file at the end of the online ordering
process
3 You can upload your artwork using the artwork link at the
bottom of our website
3 Your artwork can be supplied to us by email at
[email protected] if the total file size is below 10mb
3 For larger files you can send the artwork via a file transfer
service such as mailbigfile.com
Tel: 00000 000000 Email: [email protected]
Address: 3 Company Road, Company Town
SETTING UP YOUR ARTWORK
TRIM AREA:
The first step is to set up your document to the correct size,
in this example we have created an A4 (210mm wide x
297mm high) letterhead (see fig. 1). A4 (210x297) is the
trim area of this artwork as this is the actual size of your
document once printed and trimmed to size.
In this example we have an A4 size (210mm x 297mm) letterhead.
The blue line around the artwork represents the trim area as this is the size
of the finished artwork once it has been printed and trimmed to size.
fig. 2
Example:
A4 Paper = 210mm x 297mm
210mm + 3mm + 3mm = 216mm
297mm + 3mm + 3mm = 303mm
Total document size = 216mm x 303mm
In most design programmes you can set your document to
the trim size (210mm x 297mm in this example) and then
bleed the images off the page into the bleed area (216mm
x 303mm). When you export your document as a PDF you
can include the bleed area in the PDF settings.
SAFE AREA:
We also advise a safe zone of 5mm inside of the trim area
for text or images not included in the bleed (see fig. 3). This
will keep these elements at a safe distance from the edge of
the page when the artwork is trimmed to size.
If your artwork has bleed on it you will need to add crop
marks (see fig.4), usually this is done in the PDF settings
when you export your artwork.
BLEED AREA
3mm
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BLEED AREA:
If your artwork has any images or graphics that need to go
right to the edge of your page you will need to add in a
bleed area, this should be 3mm (see fig. 2).
Bleed is the area of the artwork that is extended beyond
the actual dimensions of the document. It is used to avoid
strips of white paper showing on the edges of your print
when cut to size.
The 3mm bleed is added to each of the four sides of the
page, therefore this will add 6mm to the width and height
of the document:
3mm
If there are any graphics that need to go right to the edge of your page you will
need to add a 3mm bleed area to your artwork (represented by the red line).
SAFE AREA
fig. 3
5mm
5mm
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We recommend you leave a safe area (represented by the purple line) 5mm away
from the trim area for any text or other elements you don’t want to bleed off the page.
fig. 4
CROP MARKS
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When creating your PDF if your artwork has bleed you will need to add crop marks,
these will act as a guide when it comes to trimming your artwork to size. The crop
marks will need to be offset from the trim area, in this example they are offset by 3mm.
YOUR ARTWORK SHOULD NOW BE READY (SEE FIG. 5)
HERE ARE JUST A FEW OTHER POINTS TO CHECK
• Supply all files as 1up as we will deal with imposition.
• Preview your file in Acrobat Reader. Open ‘Output Preview’ this can be found in the ‘Advanced’ menu under ‘Print Production’, once Output Preview is open make sure
the ‘Simulate Overprinting’ box is ticked. This gives the most accurate representation of how the file will look once printed and may flag up errors that aren’t visible without
the ‘Simulate Overprinting’ selected. To get the latest copy of Adobe PDF reader go to the Adobe website http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader.
• If your job is to be folded, we recommend printing it out and make a folded mock up to check that it backs up properly, and that each section is orientated properly.
HOW TO CREATE PRINT-READY PDFS IN THE MOST COMMONLY USED DESIGN PROGRAMMES:
Adobe InDesign
Make sure your artwork has a 3mm bleed (image area outside the trim area), and all fonts used are loaded. Go to: File / Export under Format select ‘Adobe PDF’ save,
this takes you to the ‘Export Adobe PDF window, under ‘Adobe PDF Preset’ select ‘PDF/X-1a:2001’ select ‘Marks and Bleed’ and click crop marks on and add 3mm bleed
select Export.
Adobe Photoshop
Make sure your artwork has a 3mm bleed (image area outside the trim area), and all fonts used are loaded. Go to: File / Save as under Format select ‘Photoshop PDF’
save, this takes you to the ‘Export Adobe PDF window, under ‘Adobe PDF Preset’ select ‘PDF/X-1a:2001’ then Save PDF.
Adobe Illustrator
Make sure your artwork has a 3mm bleed (image area outside the trim area), and all fonts used are loaded. Go to: File / Save as under Format select ‘Adobe PDF’ save,
this takes you to the ‘Export Adobe PDF window, under ‘Adobe PDF Preset’ select ‘PDF/X-1a:2001’ select ‘Marks and Bleed’ and click crop marks on and add 3mm bleed
select Save PDF.
QuarkXpress
Make sure your artwork has a 3mm bleed (image area outside the trim area), and all fonts used are loaded. Go to: File / Export / Layout as PDF, this will give you the
‘Export as a PDF’ window, select ‘PDF/X-1a:2001’ under the ‘PDF Style’ and save.
COMMON SIZES
A3 297mm x 420mm (303mm x 426mm incl. bleed)
A4 210mm x 297mm (216mm x 303mm incl. bleed)
A5 148mm x 210mm (154mm x 216mm incl. bleed)
1/3 A4 99mm x 210mm (105mm x 216mm incl. bleed)
A6 105mm x 148mm (111mm x 154mm incl. bleed)
Business Cards 85mm x 55mm (91mm x 61mm incl. bleed)
fig. 5
THIS IS HOW YOUR FINISHED PDF FILE SHOULD LOOK
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Tel: 00000 000000 Email: [email protected]
Address: 3 Company Road, Company Town
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