File Preparation Guide DOCUMENT SETUP Follow the steps inside to ensure an easy transition from artwork to print. You can also download our distiller and preflight settings to assist with your file preparation. If you are unsure at any stage, please ask an account manager for help. Note: This guide is based off CS5 on Mac. 28
DOCUMENT SETUP: Adding Bleed We need 3mm external bleed on ALL documents. An internal bleed or safe area of 3mm should also be adhered to. Note: In some instances or projects, your account manager may request additional bleed. Discuss any new projects with your account manager, prior to saving your document. WHAT IS BLEED? External Bleed: External bleed is a continuation of colour or imagery beyond the final document size. 3mm minimum bleed is required on every single page and side of your print document. The external bleed is necessary to avoid any undesired, blank space appearing at the edge of a printed product when guillotining. Internal Bleed or Safe Area: The creation of internal bleed guarantees a safe area and ensures important items (eg. text) are not too close to the trim marks or the edge of the object. A 3mm minimum is required on every job. Insufficient internal bleed may cause text or other important content to be trimmed off when guillotining. STEP 1: How do I set up Bleed? FIG. 5 - InDesign Bleed should be set up in the beginning, upon creating a new document. INDESIGN: - In the menu select > File > New > Document - Or alternatively if you have already started your document, in the menu select > File > Document Setup - Then at the bottom of the window in the Bleed area enter 3mm in each box (See Fig. 5) - Click > OK 9
ILLUSTRATOR: - In the menu select > File > New - Or alternatively if you have already started your document, in the menu select > File > Document Setup - Then in the Bleed area enter 3mm in each box (See Fig. 5.1) - Click > OK FIG. 5.1 - Illustrator PHOTOSHOP: Due to Photoshop being an image editing program and not a print program there are no settings to create bleed automatically - We recommend adding 3mm to each edge of your artwork. IE. If working on an A4 document (297mm x 210mm), make the final size 303mm x 216mm - Then place your Photoshop file into InDesign or Illustrator and set your bleed as per Fig. 5 or 5.1 10
STEP 2: How do I check I have set up bleed correctly? FIG. 6 - InDesign & Illustrator Ensure all images and colours that appear on your document extend beyond the page edge (indicated with the black document trim line), and continue to the edge of the bleed area. The bleed area is indicated with a red line and is located outside the document page. (See Fig. 6) SAFE AREA BLEED AREA TRIM CORRECT INCORRECT Your image or colour extends to the bleed area and your text is within the safe area. Your image does not extend past the trim area and text is not within the safe area. X 11
STEP 3: How do I save a file for print, with bleed and trim marks? FIG. 6.1 - InDesign INDESIGN: - In the menu select > File > Export - Select where you want to save your file - Then at the bottom of the window in the drop down menu select > Adobe PDF select > Cassette Press Ready (See Fig. 6.1) - In the window on the left hand side select > Marks and Bleeds (See Fig. 6.2) - Check the Crop Marks box (See Fig. 6.2) - Then under Offset enter 2mm (See Fig. 6.2) - Under Document Bleed Settings ensure 3mm appears in each box - Click > Export FIG. 6.2 - InDesign ILLUSTRATOR: - In the menu select > File > Save As - At the bottom of the window in the drop down menu select > Adobe PDF select > Cassette Press Ready (See Fig. 6.1) - In the window on the left hand side select > Marks and Bleeds - Check the Trim Marks box (See Fig. 6.3) - Then under Offset enter 2mm. Check Document Bleed Settings Make sure 2mm appears in each space. - Under Document Bleed Settings ensure 3mm appears in each box - Click > Save PDF FIG. 6.3 - Illustrator 12
STEP 4: PDF Output What should my PDF look like once I have exported the file? CORRECT Black trim marks should appear on the edge of your artwork like below. INCORRECT No trim marks or bleed have been added to the artwork. X 13
DOCUMENT SETUP: Adding Trim Marks We require trim marks on ALL jobs. Trim marks must be offset at a minimum of 2mm. (See Fig. 7 & 7.1) WHAT ARE TRIM MARKS? Trim marks determine where the printed item will be cut down during guillotining. Supplying artwork without trim marks may cause incorrect trimming of the final product and in turn can result in the artwork appearing off center and/or out of alignment. STEP 1: How do I set up a document correctly in InDesign or Illustrator? FIG. 7 - InDesign - Every document should be set to the correct final size at the beginning of the project, when you open the Adobe program. (See Fig. 7 and 7.1). This window should popup when you first open the program. Enter the correct page size and minimum 3mm bleed (See Fig 7 & 7.1) FIG. 7.1 - Illustrator 14
STEP 2: How do I add trim marks to an existing InDesign or Illustrator file? Adding trim marks to the document occurs when you are saving it as a print ready PDF. Trim marks can be added to the final PDF file when exporting or saving out from InDesign and Illustrator. INDESIGN: - In the menu select > File > Export - Select where you want to save your file - Then at the bottom of the window in the drop down menu select > Adobe PDF select > Cassette Press Ready (See Fig. 6.1) - In the window on the left hand side select > Marks and Bleeds (See Fig. 7.3) - Check the Crop Marks box (See Fig. 7.3) - Then under Offset enter 3mm - Check the document Bleed Settings are set to 3mm in each space. (See Fig. 7.3) - Click > Export ILLUSTRATOR: - In the menu select > File > Save As - At the bottom of the window in the drop down menu select > Adobe PDF - In the window on the left hand side select > Marks & Bleeds select > Cassette Press Ready (See Fig. 6.1) - Check the Trim Marks box (See Fig. 7.4) - Then under Offset enter 3mm (See Fig. 7.4) - Check document Bleed Settings are set to 3mm in each space. (See Fig. 7.4) - The click on > Save PDF FIG. 7.3 - InDesign FIG. 7.4 - Illustrator 15
DOCUMENT SETUP: File Format.PDF We need ALL documents to be saved as a high resolution PDF (Portable Document Format) WHY DOES IT NEED TO BE A HIGH RESOLUTION PDF? High resolution PDF s ensure all linked imagery is embedded in the artwork supplied, so when printed all images appear at their actual resolution. Download our preset PDF settings on our Artwork Guideline Page. STEP 1: How do I save a high resolution PDF for print? FIG. 8 - InDesign INDESIGN: - In the menu select > File > Export - Select where you want to save your file - Then at the bottom of the window in the drop down menu select > Adobe PDF select > Cassette Press Ready (See Fig. 8) - Under Document Bleed Settings ensure 3mm appears in each box - Click > Export 16
ILLUSTRATOR: - In the menu select > File > Save As - Select where you want to save your file - At the bottom of the window in the drop down menu select > Adobe PDF select > Cassette Press Ready (See Fig. 8.1) - Under Document Bleed Settings ensure 3mm appears in each box - Click > Save PDF FIG. 8.1 - Illustrator FIG. 8.2 - Photoshop PHOTOSHOP: - In the menu select > File > Save As - Select where you want to save your file - At the bottom of the window in the drop down menu select > Photoshop PDF Adobe PDF Preset drop down menu select > Cassette Press Ready (See Fig. 8.2) Due to Photoshop being an image editing program, and not a print program, there are no settings to create trim marks automatically which are needed for print - We recommend adding 3mm to each edge of your artwork. IE. If working on an A4 (297mm x 210mm) document, make the final size 303mm x 216mm - Then place your Photoshop file into InDesign or Illustrator and save with bleed 17
DOCUMENT SETUP Fonts We need artwork to be supplied with all fonts embedded or outlined. WHY DO FONTS NEED TO BE EMBEDDED? Embedding fonts ensure all text appears as desired when processing an artwork file for production. The fonts will be embedded in the press ready PDF file, with Cassette settings. On occasion an account manager will request that all fonts be converted to outlines (See Fig 14.) WHAT IS THE MINIMUM POINT SIZE? FIG. 14 We ask that you do not use any font under 6pt WHY IS THERE A MINIMUM POINT SIZE? With text, the minimum point size for print legibility is six. Ensure all text is either 6pt or above in your press ready document. This may vary on particular embellishments and signage SAVING VECTOR TEXT IN PHOTOSHOP Saving text as a PDF from Photoshop CS5 and above, (provided text is not flattened and still a text layer), will save all text as vector HOW TO OUTLINE ALL FONTS IN ILLUSTRATOR AND IN DESIGN To outline fonts, select all text with the arrow tool (or command A), and go to Type > Create Outlines (Fig 14.) 18