|
PROVIDING FILES...
FEES
Yes, we do need to charge to handle files -- we are in the business of selling our time (service) as well as the end product (the booklets or imprinted shirts, etc)
You can help us keep this fee to a minimum by reviewing this entire page of our website first to see what you need to do in order to submit easy to work from files -- and contact us if you have any questions not answered here.
REMINDER: we do have a complete Art Department in-house and several graphic artists on-staff -- we can create the necessary files for you if you aren't sure how to do this yourself.
Avoid Fees, using our Self-Serve PC
If all you need are Color Copies or Black 'n White Copies, we have a Self-Serve PC (Windows XP) that you can rent time on (25 cents per minute) -- it is networked to our copiers -- we offer a one-time free training session (15 minutes)* incase you want to do this but are unfamiliar with any part of what needs to be done. The main program on this PC that we use is MS Publisher, but it also has Word and some Corel applications.
You can also rent time on this computer to acess the web and your email account.
*more training available at our regular rate of $60/hr
Fees for handling files depends on the file
and the
route used for printing it...
As an example:
if we just open and que the file to
the color copier, we only charge
$5.00 per file, per order
but once we
need to start analyzing print order pre-flighting, converting, troubleshooting, fixing
files, etc., the minimum charge is $30.00
(based upon $60.00/hr
for however long it takes)
Before you create your booklet or newsletter, please note:
If you have a multipage booklet, and it was made as one document it may only cost the $5.00 per file fee, but if that same booklet is created with many seperate documents (one for each page) then there will also be multiple per file fees for each document that we open and send to the copier -- if this is the case we will instead charge $60.00 per hour (in 15 minute block increments) as this can come out cheaper then a per file fee rate.
PREFERRED FILE TYPES
For production work we daily operate in Mac OS9, running:
QuarkXpress (v4 and v5)
Adobe Illustrator (v5.5 when it comes to complex editing
of paths in vector files, and non-CS version of 10 the rest of
the time).
If you operate in a CS copy of Illustrator please
save down to v9 when giving us logos, etc., this will streamline
our converting time.
Adobe PhotoShop (v6 and v7) Jpegs (first generation, saved on the highest
quality settings) is our preferrence, PSDs are next (Tiffs are
least preferred as they tend to be even larger then a PSD file).
In OSX Leopard we
also have (but only use when necessary):
QuarkXpress (v7)
CS3's Adobe Illustrator, PhotoShop and InDesign
as well as CS4's Adobe Illustrator and PhotoShop
InDesign note: when you want to soften/tint
a color, avoid layering white over the color to achieve this,
instead simply tint screen the color itself (white transparent
layers don't always PDF correctly and can be "lost"
when rendering to various output devices, making the color underneith
come out full strength, no longer softenend)
OTHER FILE TYPES WE CAN ACCESS
Word.doc
We can access most word processesing files (save as .doc), either for direct output or to pull just the text from (to import into Quark for final layout and pagination control)
CAD (ArcView, etc.)
We can take CAD files in place of Adobe Illustrator files for vector based art.
Be sure to make a copy of your CAD file, and in this copy remove all unnecessary layers and surrounding information, then save to (perhaps as Export under File) Adobe Illlustrator v3.0 -- this extremely low version saving will remove nearly all programming information, giving us a well behaved file (any versions larger then this will retain information that Illustrator can struggle to interpret)
Importing
files into another program (such as a page layout program) from CAD:
The hidden layers in these types of programs can "pop
up" (in whole or in part) even once a PDF has been generated,
and aren't always seen on screen or in test prints (they will
come and go at will), therefore it is recommended that you provide
Jpegs (resolution no less then 300 dpi if you have type smaller
then 12 pt) especially for large format output of architectural
renderings
Spreadsheet/Database
similar concerns as above (under CAD) needs
to be considered when a layout uses imported spreadsheet or database
information
sometimes we get extra information from the database,
and sometimes the spreadsheet data won't stay embedded/linked
when it leaves your computer and we get computer jargon or blank
areas
for the above, provide
PDFs, plus Jpegs (most foolproof as it is now only a "photo") and your native/working files for us to have available
if troubleshooting is needed
PDFs:
"Portable Document Files" via Adobe Acrobat/Distiller are designed to help with the process of moving files between different computers and different operating systems. They are not foolproof, but we still recommend them as an option to only having your native files. When you create a PDF, make sure you embed
fonts and that images are not compressed, choose the higher quality
settings, such as print or ebook (also, Tiffs don't always come
out clean in PDFs, Jpegs saved on the highest setting always
do)
Besides the PDF, still include a copy of
your native working file(s) just incase...
as well as a hardcopy (printout -- even if it's poor quality) so we can make sure nothing
vanished or shifted
Windows users click
here if you don't have Distiller (to
print to) or if your applications won't "Export as PDF"
Proofs:
...we will provide a
hardcopy proof so you can double check that the PDF (or other file type)
has stayed stable
before we run off your order
UNDERSTANDING THE
DIFFERENT METHODS OF OUTPUT
FULL COLOR
FULL-COLOR for high-quantity pressruns (also known
as process-color printing) must be CMYK, 600 dpi, be sure logos
and photos are linked (not embedded) and that all images (including
text) is CMYK (not RGB etc), when creating your PDF file be sure
that it is set for PRINT or PRESS QUALITY (not screen) and that
FONTS are embedded. Make sure all linked files are included in
the folder you give us.**
A hardcopy (printout on anything, no matter how poor the
quality) is highly recommended too!
FULL-COLOR for low-run Color Copying, or for single
Large Format Prints, the best color mode is RGB (much
smaller file then CMYK), 300 dpi, still be sure that logos and
photos are linked (not embedded), when creating your PDF file
be sure that it is set for PRINT or PRESS QUALITY (not screen)
and that FONTS are embedded. Make sure all linked files are included
in the folder you give us.**
A hardcopy (printout on anything, no matter how poor the
quality) is highly recommended too!
SINGLE COLOR (be
it black or a one color pressrun, or for B&W copying):
Option 1: COPY TO SHOOT
FROM is sufficient if we are to photocopy or print in-house in
just one color - also it is quicker (unless you count snail-mail
time) and cheaper if you can provide a CLEAN BLACK
AND WHITE PRINT-OUT for us to put onto the copyboard
of our photocopier or darkroom camera.
If you have photographs make sure they are lightened up a
touch more then you'd prefer them to be (as they usually reproduce
a tad darker) and if you have tint screens go no darker then
40% and no lighter then 15%. Your laserprinter will need to be
set to print HALFTONE SCREEN PATTERN AT 85 LPI (so we have a
nice clean polka-dot pattern so then ink doesn't all mud together).
If you do not have a laserprinter, we can accept ink jet prints
but only if there are no photographs or tint screens (and be
sure printer is set to a super-fine setting on black ink only.
Option 2: B&W FILES
can be provided if you prefer (or if we require, depending on
the nature of the job). PDF is still best, see information
above (only make sure the file contains ALL BLACK ART (not RGB
etc.) and we still prefer a hardcopy/print-out too! Make
sure all linked files are included in the folder you give us.**
If you have photographs make sure they are lightened up a
touch more then you'd prefer them to be (as they usually reproduce
a tad darker) and if you have tint screens go no darker then
40% and no lighter then 15%
SPOT COLORS:
Used for 2 or 3 single colors of ink put onto the printing
press or silk-screening (t-shirts), for cutting adhesive vinyl for banners and signs.
This artwork must be made with PATHS and POINTS in a VECTOR BASED PROGRAM such as Adobe Illustrator or CAD programs.
It can be tricky to create the proper type of files as artwork
must split-apart for "separations" (as shown below) and not be like a photograph where colors flow into each other.
- NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE
NOVICE -
Many folks try to submit
CMYK art or Jpegs and other raster art - neither will work***
- if you aren't sure how to prepare the actual mechanically proper
files please let us create them for you!
For those with hands-on experience
working in an offset printing facility:
If you have illustrations or logos made with more than
one color:
We prefer to do our own trapping and will require the tools
of Illustrator 5.5 for this to work properly - if you send us
AI files make sure you pre-define your Pantone Ink Colors and
make extra sure that there is only ONE VERSION OF BLACK used
in the file (otherwise we will get more then 1 black plate upon
output) - and save down to that version - pre-flight by reopening
file before sending to us.
If you choose to do the trapping yourself - be aware that
we may need to edit the traps (reason for AI5.5) - 1pt trap is
typical but less is used when cross-contamination of ink colors
is a concern - for which we will typically consult with the press
operator.
ALWAYS "CREATE OUTLINES" FOR YOUR TYPE when using Adobe Illustrator (that way we won't need
your fonts)
Make sure all linked files are included in the folder you
give us.**
***
if you give us improper files and do not want us to pay us to
re-create or correct the art, we will only be able to service
you with Full-Color printing of these files.
TRANSPORTING
Some programs come with a "Pack 'n Go" or "Collect for Output" that will collect all the necessary files for you. If we don't have your "linked" photos (the original Jpegs or Tiffs that you brought into your layout), they will either leave us with blank areas, print low rez, or cause errors when we try to print your layout. Even if your program allows you to "embed linked images" it's wise to also include the images just incase.
You can email
us fairly large files (eg 15mb) just make sure to put all related files
into a folder first, and the Zip
or Stuff the folder so it is compressed, encapsulated and
protected from corruption before traveling over the internet. To email us files simply type a short note to us and "Attach" the file you want to send us.
We can also accept
USB Jumpdrives, also called Thumbdrives (if possible, please remove excess files first and provide us the name of the file we are looking for)
CDs can also be submitted (make sure you have "Written Disk" not "Written Session" - this will ensure that the data is properly closed and can be accessed by computers other then your own).
Zip disks and even old timer floppy
disks can also be submitted (tho rarely used, we do have drives and adapters we can pull out of storage).
REMINDER: $5.00 minimum
file handling fee to que EACH copier-ready file, per order.
(cost goes UP from there, see FEE section above if you haven't already read it)
|
