Sizes
Double check your document size. Keep your art away from the outside edges of your artwork. Make sure no important text, border or graphic falls within 1/4” margin of the trim lines; it is okay for the background colors to extend only if you are sending a job that is set up properly for bleeds. Failure to check your art carefully could result in text or graphics being cut off.
Bleeds
Jobs with “bleeds” are designed with photos or backgrounds that extend all the way to the cut (trimmed) edge of the paper. Extra space must be allowed for bleeds in your artwork. A Bleed extension of 1/8” must be provided beyond the trim lines in order for your job to be printed and cut properly. (Please Note: in Photoshop the “Document Size” must include the bleeds – for example, a bleed business card document size is the final size PLUS the bleed, i.e. 3.75 x 2.25)
Resolution
All files must have a minimum of 300 dpi at 100% of the print size. Failure to do so will result in a poor quality and low resolution product. Files that are higher in size are not necessary and will result in slower handling and a slower turnaround time. Please keep files to size requested.
Image Mode
All files must be converted from RGB to CMYK. Four-color work printed and/or designed by AmericanPrintingOnline.com is printed only in CMYK mode. Failure to convert will result in having your product with the improper colors. IMPORTANT: We do NOT match inkjet samples of any kind; and we do NOT match Pantone Colors.
Fonts
Important - All Type Fonts must be converted to Outlines, Curves or Paths, depending on file type.
Some design software has a "Collect for Output" feature which will gather up all the resource files and put them together in one folder. If your software supports this feature, it is always a good idea to use it, so that you can be certain you have collected all images and fonts required for your document to print correctly. These programs also print a handy report, which lists all fonts used in your document. This report can be very helpful to your print service provider.
If your software does not support font collection, you will need to gather the fonts manually and supply them along with your document.
For Windows 95/98/NT/XP:
Type 1 (PostScript) Fonts: On your hard drive there should be a directory called \psfonts which contains [filename].pfb files. Within that directory is a directory called pfm\. This contains the [filename].pfm files. For each font send both the .pfm and the corresponding .pfb file. It is vital to include both files, or the font will not work.
True Type & OpenType fonts: In the 'Windows' directory, open the 'Fonts' folder. Right click on the desired fonts, select "copy" and then paste them into a new folder that you keep with your publication, to be sent to your print service provider.
For Macintosh OS9:
Type 1 (PostScript) Fonts: Copy the screen fonts and printer fonts out of your System/Fonts folder. It is vital to include both files, or the font will not work.
True Type & Open Type Fonts: Copy the True Type font out of the System/Fonts folder.
For Macintosh OSX:
OSX stores fonts in several folders, and font management in OSX is too large an issue for this guideline to address. If you have trouble finding the fonts used in a document, contact your Technical Support provider and request assistance. As with OS9, you need to provide both screen and printer fonts if you are using Type 1 PostScript, and only one file if you are using TrueType or OpenType fonts.
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Acceptable Software for Business Cards
We accept either TIFFS or EPS formats for Business Cards. We do NOT accept PDF files for Business Cards. We still need a PDF for viewing your product prior to production.
Acceptable Software for all other Products
We accept both Mac & Window platforms.
• High Quality PDF (No image down sampling or compression)
• CorelDraw (EPS file converted to outlines) up to version 13
• Adobe Photoshop (flattened) up to version 6
• Adobe Illustrator (EPS file converted to outlines) up to version 8
• QuarkXpress (fonts & links must be included, no embedded links, CMYK only) up to version 5
• Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher, only with prior authorization. IMPORTANT NOTE: although most printing companies do not accept final art in this software, most of the time we are able to adapt/convert the files; there is a nominal charge for this service. You MUST contact us before sending any files in either of these formats.
WinZip for Windows
Also a shareware utility, WinZip will compress your Windows files for transfer across the Internet.
ZipIt for Macintosh
This shareware utility will compress your Macintosh files into a single .zip archive for transfer to our centers. Mac files must be compressed before sending in order to maintain their resource fork, which includes information such as file type, creator, and all information for Mac fonts.
StuffIt Deluxe for Windows
StuffIt Deluxe allows you to compress Windows files into .sit or .zip archives for transfer across the Internet. This is a commercial product.
StuffIt Deluxe for Mac
The standard utility for Macintosh compression, Stuffit Deluxe allows you to compress Macintosh files into .sit or .zip archives for transfer across the Internet. This is a commercial product.
Stuffit Expander for Windows
The Windows version of StuffIt Expander allows you to decompress .sit, .zip and many other archives on a Windows computer. As with the Macintosh version, it does not allow you to compress your own files.
StuffIt Expander for Mac
StuffIt Expander is free software that allows you to decompress .sit, .zip and other archives on a Macintosh computer. This software only expands, it does not allow you to compress files- but it’s free!
Acrobat Reader for all Platforms
Acrobat Reader is a free utility from Adobe that will allow you to view and print PDF files. It is available on Macintosh, Windows, Unix and other platforms including PDAs.
Adobe PS Driver for Windows
This free Postscript printer driver for Windows computers will allow you to print Postscript code from your Windows computer to a file on your drive. Postscript can be used to output your job at our center, or as the first in creating an Acrobat PDF document. (You will also need Acrobat Distiller to create PDFs – it is part of the full commercial version of Acrobat available from Adobe.)
Adobe PS Driver for Mac
Get the latest version of Adobe’s free Postscript printer driver for Macintosh. You can use this to write Postcript code to a file on your hard drive. (You can also use your Mac’s built-in Laserwriter driver for this.) Postscript can be used to output your job at our center, or as the first step in creating an Acrobat PDF document. (You will also need Acrobat Distiller to create PDFs – it is part of the full commercial version of Acrobat available from Adobe.)
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