1. Lisle / Naperville
tips & tools
to ensure your artwork looks great on paper
a few of these helpful tips to save some time while
getting the job done right. Before submitting artwork,
font size, type and color supported
48PT. 48PT. applications
To ensure readability, if you use
knockout type, or reverse type,
it should be larger than 5 pt. W reated in the
size and should only knockout following native applications:
one or two colors. If you are
knocking out type on a 4-color
image, use a minimum of 8 pt.
36 PT. 36 PT. Acrobat PDF ® ............. Mac and PC
QuarkXPr ess ® ............ Mac and PC
Adobe ® InDesign ® ...... Mac and PC
type.
If you use a serif font (with
24 PT. 24 PT. Adobe ® Photoshop ® ... Mac and PC
Adobe ® Illustrator® ...... Mac and PC
details on the ends of some of 18 PT. 18 PT. accept les created in the following
the strokes that make up letters
and symbols) use a minimum
14 PT. 14 PT. applications but they can prove to be
problematic:
of 5 pt. type, and only print the 12 PT. 12 PT. Microsoft Word ®....... Mac and PC
type in one color. If you choose, 10 PT. 10 PT. Microsoft Excel ®....... Mac and PC
add drop shadows to your 8 PT. 8 PT. Microsoft PowerPoint ® .... Mac and PC
fonts before s ubmitting for print. 6 PT. 6 PT. Microsoft Publisher ®..... Mac and PC
color mode outlined fonts
rom RGB to Before you submit artwork for print,
CMYK—this will deliver the most reliable color be sure to outline all fonts. This will
and will prevent unexpected changes in color. ensure your message is crisp and
If your project requires close color matching, readable; avoiding fuzzy edges.
it is always a good idea to include a hardcopy Using your illustration program,
proof for us to compare. convert all text "to curves" or "create
While we are often able to closely reproduce a
spot PMS ® ink using full color process, PMS ® CMYK viewed on a monitor stylization palette to bold, italicize,
spot colors and process colors are produced add drop shadow to or put outline
using di erent methods. Please refer to a Solid on your fonts.
to Process Color Imaging Guide for
color conversions. Rasterized Type
Your choice of paper will also impact color. has fuzzy edges
A smooth uncoated paper will give colors
a more muted appearance, while a coated
Vector Type
or gloss paper will add vibrancy. Printing on
has clean, crisp edges
colored paper will also impact color. CMYK printed

2. making your files “print ready”
Lisle / Naperville
resolution bleeds, cut line & text margins
The resolution of an image refers to A bleed refers to the artwork that extends beyond the finished size of the item.
the amount of detail in the image; To make sure your artwork prints to the edge of your piece, please allow for
the higher the resolution, the more your artwork prints to the edge of your piece, an additional 1/8” (.125”) on
detailed the image. each applicable side.
To make sure your printed piece
turns out great, black and white When setting up your files with bleeds, it is good to keep a safety margin or
line art should be scanned in as line text margin as well. Any essential text and design elements should be
art or bitmap at 600 dpi. Photos, positioned within this margin. Please make sure the text still maintains the
color CMYK or grayscale, should be required margin even when graphics bleed.
scanned in at 300 dpi for standard
spot or process printing.
If your image is less than 300 or
600 dpi, you should replace it with
a new image instead of trying to
fix it. Images that come to us at a
lower quality than what is recom- Live Area
mended will be output as sent.
To guarantee the best quality, do not Edge of Paper
enlarge images beyond the original
size in the design process. Bleed Edge
Margin for a business card is .125” inside the document. For all other print-
work, .25” margin is best.
a word about programs
Vector programs are best for type (InDesign, Quark, Adobe Illustrator) and
raster programs are best for images (Adobe Photoshop). If you use a raster
program to set up your document, please don’t expect your type to be crisp.
300 dpi
Alphagraphics Lisle/Naperville
1997 Ohio Street • Unit B • Lisle, IL 60517
630.964.9600 • 630.964.9253 fax
Not
300 dpi