ELECTRONIC PREPRESS GUIDELINES

Applications Supported ::
• Quark 6.5 & lower
• InDesign CS 2 & lower
• Illustrator CS 2 & lower
• Photoshop CS 2 & lower
• P.D.F. (PRESS QUALITY contact prepress for PPD & Distiller settings)
• Postscript ( contact prepress for instructions)


Supported Media ::
• CD/DVD Rom
• Firewire or USB Drives


Art Uploads ::
Files 3Mb & less can be emailed to:
art@dotgraphics.net
Files larger than 3Mb can be uploaded to our site at: dotgraphicsftp.com

To connect to our FTP site using MAC OS ::
1. From your Finder select > Go > Connect to server
2. Select > server ip address
3. Enter: dotgraphicsftp.com
4. Enter user name: “dot” (lower case)
5. Enter password: “graphics” ( lowercase)
6. The Dot FTP should mount onto your desktop. Open the drive and drag your
files onto the DOT FTP folder.

To connect to our FTP site using Windows/PC ::
1. Go to “My network place” Click on Next..
2. Double click on > “Add Network Place”
3. Type ftp://ftp.dotgraphicsftp.com in the location field, then click on Next
4. Uncheck the “Log on anonymously checkbox. Enter : “dot” (lower case) for user name
5. Enter “graphics” ( lower case) in the password field
6. The DOT FTP should mount on to your desktop. Open the DOT FTP folder and drag your files into your designated folder ( ask your sales rep. for folder id)

10 Hints for Submitting Clean Electronic Files

1. Document Sizes:
The document size in the page layout application should match the final trimmed size of the printed piece. NO KEYLINES PLEASE. BLEEDS should extend off the page by 1/8”. Put pages in consecutive order. No printer’s spreads.

2.Fonts:
Include all fonts for your job in one folder. Include screen (Suitcase) and printer (Postscript) fonts. Use the font list to select bold and italic fonts, not the application menu type styles.

3. Graphics & Links:
Include all graphics and linked files. Collect everything into one folder and print a directory. Send only the documents you are having us print. Flag the files we are to use. Please, no duplicate file names. If burning files to a CD/DVD Rom, if possible please select ISO9000/Hybrid PC & Mac format, Preserve Macintosh names.

4. Colors:
Set all color to CMYK for process jobs, not RGB, Index or LAB. When using spot colors, keep all color names consistent in the layout files and graphics. Remove unused spot color names.

5. Photoshop:
All Photoshop images should be 250-350 DPI @100% and bitmaps 1200 DPI. Save Photoshop images as TIFF, EPS or CT. Duotones should be in duotone mode. Save Photoshop images with spot channels as DCS2 with “single file with color composite” selected. Clipping path flatness must be 2 or less.

6. Illustrator:
Illustrator files must have an output resolution of 800 to 2540 DPI. A number lower than 800 will result in choppy curves. In Illustrator 9 set the “Printing and Export” slider to “Higher/Slower,” in Document Set-Up. Save your Illustrator files as version 8.0 EPS.

7. Blacks:
For rich blacks, do not submit a color density greater than 360. Black type should be 100% Black only.

8.Special:
Folds, scores, die cuts, spot varnish and coatings should be included in ,your files and clearly marked on supplied hard copy.

9. Hard Copy:
Provide hard copy that reflects the most current version of the document. Print at 100% size if possible.

10. Transparency in Illustrator & Indesign
To avoid RIP problems with Illustrator files, do not use transparencies in Illustrator to create screens of colors. Select the color and screen using the colors palette, not transparency. When placing text in conjunction with Transparency ALWAYS bring text to the top, and outline fonts where possible. When placing layered raster graphics utilizing transparent effects ALWAYS FLATTEN files first.

When in doubt, call us. (818) 341-6666