Art Specifications
Customers supplying Artwork files and Completed Designs to
Spin Duplication for Printing, are assumed to be accurate
and complete as supplied. It is your responsibility to submit
files for every part of your job. Our film and setup costs
prices do not include time to create missing parts of your
projects. It is also your responsibility to proof your layouts;
any corrections that need to be made after we receive your
files may result in additional charges. We will check your
supplied files and correct any minor technical errors and
we will examine every piece of every file to make sure they
are ready for print production. It is our job to find every
possible problem with your file before we print your product.
If there are significant problems with your files, we will
work with you to make sure they are corrected before we print
anything. Spin Duplication will never intentionally delay
your product. Our objective is to help you get the best possible
final product and sometimes that means questioning the quality
of the files we receive. This is done to ensure that you are
completely satisfied with the final product that you receive.
--Making use of our Templates--
We have set up templates that are compatible with each of
the major desktop publishing and graphic design software packages:
QuarkXPress, Macromedia FreeHand, Adobe PageMaker, Illustrator
and InDesign, Photoshop, and CorelDRAW (see CorelDraw discaimer).
These templates have been designed by our prepress and print
departments to ensure that your job will meet our print shop's
specifications. If you create your designs without using our
templates, we may have to adjust your layouts to fit, and
this can cause delays in your turnaround. Discrepancies of
as little as 1/32 of an inch can cause problems in the final
packaging of your product. There is also the possibility that
if your supplied files are far enough out of spec, we will
not be able to use them at all. Using our templates correctly
will prevent this from occurring.
Spin Duplication is committed to staying on top of current
desktop publishing technology. In the compressed folders you
will find a .Qxd (QuarkXpress template), EPS file, and a PDF
(use only for reference). Any of the major page layout, illustration
and image editing applications will open an EPS file to use
as a guideline if you do not use QuarkXpress. Some popular
desktop applications like Microsoft Publisher are suitable
for printing flyers from an inkjet printer, but are not powerful
enough to work in a professional publishing environment.
The Mac templates are contained in a compressed .SIT file.
In order to extract them, you will nee to have Stuffit (or
any other Mac based compression utility that can handle SIT
files) installed. You can download a free version of Stuffit
Expander at www.stuffit.com.
The PC templates are contained in a compressed ZIP file.
In order to extract them, you will need to have WinZIP (or
any other file compression utility than can handle ZIP files)
installed on your system. You can download a trial version
of WinZIP from www.winzip.com.
Once you've opened one of our documents, please do not make
any alterations to the template itself, such as copying and
pasting into a new page to save space, altering any of the
existing template elements, changing the page size, etc. Our
templates are laid out to maximize our in-house productivity.
If you alter the template pages, we will have to reformat
your job into the original templates, and you may be billed
for this work.
--Using measurements other
than Spin Duplication's--
We strongly recommend that you use our templates for setting
up your Artwork. Different manufacturers may use slightly
different dimensions. These may be very subtle differences
you don't notice. Even slight deviations from Spin Duplication
specifications can make big problems in printing and packaging
and could cause you problems in delaying your project.
--What programs, settings and
fonts should I use?--
Here is a list of our preferred programs:
- QuarkXpress versions 3.3 through 5 (templates are in v3.3)
- Adobe Illustrator up to version 10
- Adobe Photoshop up to version 7
Other acceptable programs:
- Macromedia FreeHand up to version 8
- Adobe InDesign version 2
- Adobe PageMaker version 7
- CorelDRAW versions 5 through 10 (see CorelDraw discaimer)
Important: layouts may not be submitted inside a Microsoft
Word or other word processor document!
All files should be saved as follows:
Common Layout types:
QuarkXpress (.qxd), Adobe InDesign, Adobe Pagemaker 6.5 (.p65),
Corel Draw (.cdr).
Acceptable graphic types:
TIFF (.tif) or EPS (.eps) - with 8-bit TIFF preview
Scanned image Resolution:
All images should be scanned and created at 300 dpi to the
proper size of your layout. Stretching images to fit your
art after they are scanned will lower the resolution and cause
your job to print pixilated.
Color Modes:
Files will be saved as CMYK or grayscale (not RGB). Rarely
you will use pantones as spot colors on print but if you choose
to please contact your sales person about price differences.
If you are planning on having a disc face that is with a photo
that is anything other than a CMYK or Grayscale you will need
to create the image as a duotone and save it as an EPS. As
for Pantone colors on your disc face you should use a vector
editing program such as Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand.
Vector programs allow you to easily assign specific pantones
to different areas in your design.
We cannot accept the following file formats as print files:
- GIF (.gif) - great for the web, but not recommended for
print output
- JPEG (.jpg) - great for the web, but not recommended for
print output
Important: images may not be submitted inside a Microsoft
Word or other word processor document!
Artwork created for the web should not be used for printed
work, because the Web and commercial printing have substantially
different needs. For commercial printing, you want a lot of
technical data: images should be 300 ppi, uncompressed, in
CMYK color. A CD cover, for example, would be around 8.6 MB
in size. For the Web, you want your images as small as possible
for quick downloading: 72 ppi, compressed, in RGB or indexed
color. Often, these files are under a 100k. If you use one
of these tiny Web images in your printed work, images will
be very pixilated or "jagged", and the color quality
will be poor.
Fonts:
We can accept either PostScript or TrueType fonts, although
TrueType fonts can be troublesome for Mac. For Mac, PostScript
fonts will be a suitcase/screen file with separate printer
files for each weight (e.g., bold, italic, plain), while TrueType
will be a single suitcase. For PC, each TrueType font will
be a single .ttf file, while PostScript fonts consist of two
files, a .pfm and .pfb. We can also accept Adobe Multiple
Master fonts, but you'll need to be sure that you're sending
us all the necessary files to install all the custom instances
of the font that you have created. (Each custom instance of
a Multiple Master font will have its own separate font file.)
Industry support for OpenType fonts is still developing, and
at this time we can't guarantee trouble-free output of OpenType
fonts (especially under Windows).
What is bleed?
When the pages are printed and it’s time to cut the paper
to its final size; a hydraulic powered knife comes slamming
down to cut the paper. As you can imagine, the knife may be
slightly out of skew with the crop marks so we must use a
BLEED area. When you hear the term “bleed” you must
imagine the color on the page flowing off the edges of your
panel. Expand the background color of your artwork off the
edge of the panel a minimum of 1/8” (0.125”) all
the way around the perimeter of your artwork. E.g.: if your
background color is blue, then stretch the color beyond the
boundary of your crop marks. Make sure you don’t cover
up the crop marks.
What are Crop Marks?
When you do a layout, your main film size will usually be
11” x 17” so the printer needs to know where your
artwork boundaries are for each panel. - Crop marks tell the
knife where to come down and cut your paper sizes. Since we
use DIE CUT presses - it is vital you follow all template
sizes exactly!
What are Registration Marks?
Since our color document is separated into FOUR-color films
by the image setter, the printer needs to reassemble these
plates in perfect alignment on the printing press or you will
get a mis-registration. Most everybody has seen the daily
newspaper’s cartoons with the colors spilling out of
the lines - this is registration gone badly! If the colors
all stack neatly on top of each other- you get perfect color
balance. So how do you get this done? By creating REGISTRATION
MARKS. These funny little circles are colored in 100% values
of each of the four plates in order to appear in EXACTLY the
same spot and intensity on each film. Simple, yet very effective.
Theoretically a registration mark could be anything, as long
as it is colored; A registration mark is usually 1/8th”
diameter and placed within 1/2” of the artwork. Don’t
fuss too much with them but make sure they are colored as
per above. Most pro publishing programs actually have a preset
color mode called “registration color” just for
coloring these things.
Why do I need Perforation Marks?
Pull out a tray card from behind the plastic cover on one
of your CDs at home. Notice that the tray card has a 90-degree
bend on both edges to create the spines for your CD. Instead
of a solid line used for crop marks, the perforation mark
is a dotted line. The printer will use a special cutting wheel
(similar to a pizza wheel) to perforate the paper. It is vital
that the “spine” is 6mm wide. Place these dotted
lines on the vertical plane 6mm in from the outside edges
of the tray card. You also need to include a STOCK NUMBER
(anything you want) on the spine which will be used to track
your order. You also need to include dotted lines to mark
the FOLDS OF THE INSERTS. We need to know where the pages
fold, so place these dotted lines at the top and bottom of
the folds outside the area of your artwork. Don’t carry
the dotted line all the way through the artwork or they will
show up in the final print!
Recommended type sizes
Generally, for your printed pieces you can go as small as
5 points for black type on a light or white back-ground, 6
points for white type on a dark, black, or complex background
(also known as reverse type). This varies, of course, depending
on the typeface used. For your on-disc printing, the same
rules apply, but in addition please keep in mind that thin
typefaces tend to get blown out or filled in when silk-screened.
For your cassette shell printing, you cannot go below 6 points
- no exceptions - and it is usually best to stick with very
sturdy faces (think Helvetica, Times, etc.). When choosing
your fonts, choose carefully: the fancier typefaces are often
referred to as "display" faces, because they are
designed to be used at larger sizes (18 points and up). For
smaller type, such as lyrics and credits, it is usually best
to stick with simpler faces such as Arial, Helvetica, and
Garamond or Times New Roman. Display faces can be very difficult
to read even at 10 points.
Viewing EPS Images
EPS, or Encapsulated PostScript files are comprised of two
halves. The actual image is stored in the file as raw PostScript
code (the language the computer uses to talk to a PostScript
printer). Since this is just code, the file also contains
a lowresolution preview image just for on-screen viewing.
When the file is printed to a PostScript printer, the computer
disregards the low-res preview, and actually sends the code
for the hi-res image to the printer. If you're trying to print
an EPS file to a non-PostScript printer (such as a desktop
inkjet or low-end laser printer), you will be printing the
low-res preview image. EPS files can only be printed correctly
to PostScript printers (all of our printers here at Spin Duplication
are PostScript-enabled).
Tips for setting up images for on disc printing
Leave your image as a rectangle; use the circle in the template
itself to mask the image. This will result in a perfect circle,
and exactly the right dimensions.
--Sending Artwork files via
Mail, Email, and FTP--
Submitting Artwork files
The following Storage Media is recommended:
- Iomega Zip (100MB or 250MB)
- CD-R
We do not recommend using 3.5" floppy diskettes. Floppies
are the most error-prone format and are easily damaged in
transport. They should only be used as a last resort. If you
must use floppy disks, you can use Stuffit on Mac, or WinZip
on PC to compress your files and span or segment them across
multiple floppies. Make sure you check your disks and/or cartridges
before you send them in. If you're using compression software,
extract the files to make sure the files archived correctly.
If you're sending in a CD-R, check to see if you can read
it in a standard CD-ROM drive (not just your CD-R drive).
You may email
small files (under 1 MB) directly to us; if your files are
over 1 MB you should use our FTP site.
You can send us a file via FTP by:
1) Uploading the file by visiting our File
Upload page.
2) Fill out the Upload form including: Contact name, Company
name, Phone number, E-mail address, P.O. number, File names
(comma separated), What software was used, and Platform (Macintosh
or PC)
3) Compress your files into one single archive (using StuffIt
or WinZip).
5) Please call, fax, or e-mail us
after the files have been uploaded.
Sending in Fonts
The primary font format for Macintosh is PostScript. The fonts
come in two main parts: a screen font (usually in a suitcase)
and a printer font. If the font has multiple weights (such
as plain, bold, italic, and bold italic), each weight will
have a separate printer font. Make sure you are sending us
all parts of a font, as this is one of the most common mistakes.
While we recommend using only PostScript Type 1 fonts on the
Mac, it is possible to use TrueType also. These will only
consist of a single file (again, usually a suitcase). Some
TrueType fonts can be problematic with our printers, so avoid
using them if possible.
The primary font format for Window-based computers is the
TrueType font. All of your installed TrueType fonts are usually
located in the WINDOWS/FONTS folder, and contain the .ttf
file extension. All you need to do is copy the necessary font
files to your Zip disk or CDR. Oftentimes the filenames are
very cryptic, but if you double-click on a font file, you'll
get a preview window so you know you're about to copy the
right ones. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR WINDOWS USERS: Please
DO NOT copy the entire Fonts folder, as it is a system folder
and as such can cause odd problems when copied to a different
machine. Be sure to copy just the TrueType font files themselves.
It is possible to use Adobe Type 1 fonts under Windows, but
they are different than the standard TrueType font format.
Type 1 fonts consist of two files: a .pfm file and a .pfb
file. You must send in both files in order for us to be able
to use the font, since one file is the printer font and the
other is the screen font. Type 1 fonts do not have a set location
on
your hard drive, but Adobe Type Manager (which you must have
in order to use Type 1 fonts) usually stores them in a folder
called PSFONTS. If you're using Adobe Multiple Master fonts
you must be sure to send us all the required files for the
custom instances you've created; each custom instance will
have its own file that we would need to properly activate
the typeface.
Converting type to curves
We recommend that your text be converted to curves. This eliminates
the need for the fonts used in the project and narrows the
chance of text problems. If you choose to convert your text
to curves we still recommend that you send the necessary fonts
to complete the job as a backup for revisions.
Using Vector Transparencies
Be aware that using transparencies in any vector editing software,
(ie Illustrator 9-10, Freehand, Corel etc.) may cause random
elements within a document to rasterize unexpectedly. This
can be identified by chunks of text or sections of artwork
appearing pixilated or jagged. We recommend not using vect
or transparencies in order to ensure that your graphics will
print properly and your turn time is not affected by delays
due to graphic repair.
Sending embedded scans
If any editing is required on your scans, whether to add bleed,
convert to CMYK or to adjust the resolution, we will need
your scans as individual TIFFs or EPSs. Each page layout program
handles embedding images differently. QuarkXPress always links
to the images, CorelDRAW usually embeds (there is a poor-quality
linking function that is turned off by default) and Freehand,
Illustrator and PageMaker give you the option. Regardless
of whether the images are embedded or not, we need the graphic
files separately. As a general rule, you should never embed
your images (except in CorelDRAW ). Always link them, and
send in the image files along with the layouts. If we receive
layout files without image files, we may have to hold your
project and wait for you to supply the image files separately.
PostScript files
All of our printers are PostScript-based, so theoretically
it is possible to send us a PostScript (.ps) file of your
layouts for film output. However, we don't accept postscript
files, since we would not be able to edit your Postscript
files. If anything were out of spec, we wouldn't find out
until we printed film or imaged the press plates.
Trapping
Trapping is a technique in which abutting colors are slightly
overlapped to minimize the effects of misregistration of the
printing plates. Unless you're skilled and experienced at
trapping your artwork, it's probably best to leave the trapping
to us. Trapping is a service we provide for free, and we have
skilled professionals to ensure that your job is trapped correctly.
--Common problems when submitting
artwork files--
Failure to include fonts
Please make sure that all fonts have been included
Failure to include all linked images
Before you send in your job, make sure you're sending in all
linked files. Each application has a different way of checking
this. In QuarkXPress, use the Collect For Output feature.
PageMaker, FreeHand, and Illustrator 8 have Links options,
which will list all placed images.
Image resolution is too low or supplied in RGB instead
of CMYK.
We cannot print RGB Colors. All files must be supplied in
CMYK
Insufficient bleed
All Color sides require a minimum 1/8th" bleed.
Failure to supply all parts of the job in Spin Duplication
templates
Please be sure to supply ALL parts for your layouts.
Final checklist
When you're ready to submit your job to Spin Duplication,
make sure that you're including all of the following items:
- your layout files
- all the fonts used in the layouts
- all the scans placed in the layouts
- printouts of every layout file (if you've made changes since
printing your files, you must make new printouts of the final
versions that you're sending) - black & white prints are
fine, even if your files are in color, but faxes are not acceptable
due to lack of detail
- a listing of the files on your disk (please also note the
OS, programs and versions you used; i.e. Windows95, CorelDRAW
8, Photoshop 5, etc.)
- a folded and / or stapled mockup (for any specialty print
job, booklet, or any job 3 panels and up)
- any special instructions you may have Please make sure you
are supplying a file for every piece of your job.
Please organize the files on your disk when submitting your
project. Set up separate folders for layout files, images, fonts,
not-for-output files, etc. If we receive a disk with hundreds
of unorganized files, this will delay your project.
QuarkXPress tips
If you are using QuarkXpress we would advise you to stay away
from using menu styles on your fonts to print bold, italic,
or any other menu style. This may cause your text to default
and print unexpected results because there is not actually
a bold or italic font. Postscript printers require that you
have a supplied font for each typeface including bold versions
etc. in order to translate the file properly.
Adobe Illustrator tips (transparencies)
If you are using Illustrator 9, 10 or any vector program that
supports transparencies please try to avoid using them. There
is a common problem with random chunks of artwork rasterizing
and leaving other areas as vector art. On the final print
you are left with an uneven print job with lines and squares
visible in the images. If you must use transparencies please
set your document setup / transparency flattening settings
/ raster•vector balance to 100% vector.
CorelDRAW Discalimer
Although Spin Duplication can accept files from most graphic
application programs, files created in CorelDRAW may require
additional attention outside of the normal sequence of treatment
in the Prepress Department. This may result in a shift in
Graphic elements that can include the following: Color Balance,
Image Placement/Integrity, Font/Typeface irregularities and
Output resolution. The additional work required for CorelDRAW
files may lead to delays in production and turntime. For more
information on this and other graphic and graphic related
concerns, please consult your Sales Representative or in-house
Customer Service Manager prior to the arrival of your graphic
files.
There are several features of CorelDRAW that we recommend
avoiding, as they produce inconsistent results on different
systems, and sometimes will not print at all. If you have
used any of these features, please rework your files before
submitting them to us:
TYPE 1 FONTS AND DRAW 8 (WINDOWS 95 & 98 ONLY)
There is a known bug with CorelDRAW 8 and Type 1 fonts displaying
incorrectly under Windows 95 and 98. CorelDRAW misinterprets
the built-in kerning pairs, adjusting the kerning (letter
spacing) to approximately 98% of the actual correct spacing.
If you are running Windows 9x and are using Type 1 fonts with
CorelDRAW, please let us know this so we can be sure to open
your files on a Windows 9x machine - if we open your files
on Windows NT the character spacing will not be identical
to what you saw on your computer.
FONT EMBEDDING
Under no circumstances should you embed your fonts in the
CorelDRAW document using the TrueDoc font embedding option
(in the Save dialog box), and not send us the actual font
files. This feature only works if you never re-save the document
and that is something that we must do in all cases. If you
use this font-embedding feature and do not send us the actual
font files, we will have to put your project on hold while
we wait for you to send us the fonts.
DROP SHADOW EFFECT
CorelDRAW had a built-in drop shadow effect that you can apply
to any object. These drop shadows often do not produce the
desired results, or print incorrectly to a PostScript printer
(which is what we use here). If you use the drop shadow effect,
please be advised that it may not print as you see it on your
screen, and we may not be able to correct this on our end.
The correct method of creating the popular blurred and transparent
drop shadow effect is to use the gaussian blur filter in Photoshop
or Photo-PAINT. You can create a solid drop shadow on type
by duplicating it (CTRL-D), changing the color and moving
it behind the main text.
DRAG & DROP (OR CUT & PASTE) FOR IMAGES (ALSO
KNOWN AS OLE - OBJECT LINKING AND EMBEDDING)
The only correct method to place scanned images, clipart,
or other items into your CorelDRAW document is to use the
IMPORT command in the FILE menu. Dragging and dropping or
cutting and pasting an image from Photoshop into CorelDRAW
does not work, and prevents us from easily checking the resolution
and color depth of your images. Text should always be flowed
into a paragraph box or artistic text insertion point. If
you've placed your text and cannot edit it with Corel's text
tools, you've done it wrong (in other words, the status bar
should never read Embedded object when you have type selected.
It should always read Paragraph or Artistic text).
LENS EFFECTS ON IMAGES
CorelDRAW allows you to apply lens effects (transparency,
color tints, etc.) to scanned images. We recommend avoiding
these features, as the file may print incorrectly when separated
to film. To proper way to create a complex montage of several
images is to use Photoshop or Photo-PAINT to collage the images
together into one.
.EPS FILES
Unless your images contain clipping paths or are set up as
duotones, please DO NOT use the EPS format for your images,
and DO NOT place EPS files into your CorelDRAW documents.
Outside of a few circumstances (such as those mentioned above)
there is no valid reason for using the EPS format over TIFF
for your images, and due to CorelDRAW's inability to report
color mode and resolution of placed EPS files we ask that
you not use this format to supply and place your images. For
those circumstances where you need to use EPS files in your
layouts, you MUST supply them in addition to your CorelDRAW
files. If we do not have the .eps files we cannot use the
CorelDRAW file either, and we will have to hold your project
until we receive the .eps files. If you choose to use EPS
files for regular images (i.e. those that do not contain clipping
paths or are not duotones), we will have to open and resave
them as TIFFs and then replace the images in your layouts,
which can delay your project.
LINKING IMAGES
Newer versions of CorelDRAW allow you to link to your images,
rather than embedding them in the document. This feature does
not work properly for our workflow - please make sure that
Link Bitmap Externally is deselected in the import dialog
box, so CorelDRAW embeds the image properly.
.BAK FILES
Please do not supply any .bak files that CorelDRAW has generated
- these are created by CorelDRAW's autobackup on save feature,
and are not the current version of your files. Disclaimer
Spin Duplication does not guarantee delivery times. Spin Duplication
does not accept responsibility for corruption of artwork files
transferred electronically to our graphics department. Due
to the nature of the Internet and the volatility of electronic
transfer, it is highly recommended that a hard copy of all
artwork files (i.e. CDR, Zip Disc ) be sent to Spin Duplication
as a primary source for files intended for graphics and prepress.
Spin Duplication will strive to meet required delivery dates
such as may have been quoted. Spin Duplication disclaims any
liability for delays in meeting delivery dates. If your supplied
files are not in our templates, not to our specifications,
or otherwise substandard, your job will be delayed and there
may be additional charges for services rendered. Supplied
designs are assumed to be accurate and complete.
NEED HELP?
We will take your pictures & electronic text files
and do everything for you!
Just contact us to find out
our very reasonable prices.
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