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HOW TO PREPARE FILES FOR PRINTING?

Dear Clients,
files with graphic projects, prepared by you, will undergo preliminary automatic checking Preflight) for meeting the requirements of print. In case of identifying any potential technical problems after uploading your file, you will receive a short report including errors and warnings as a list or a PDF report. Files including critical errors will not be accepted for realization. Files with warnings, after your confirmation, will be realized, yet any complaints in the range of those warnings shall not be considered. To avoid errors in project preparation, we recommend the use of mock-ups available for download by each product. To guarantee a high level of services and save your time, please prepare your files according to the following rules.

FILE FORMATS ACCEPTABLE FOR PRINT AND A METHOD OF FILE UPLOAD
  • File formats we accept for print: PDF, PS, EPS, JPEG, TIFF - no layers
  • It is best to send files for print in PDF format (we suggest PDF/X - 1a:2001)
  • Bitmap files (JPEG, TIFF) are not recommended for products including text
  • Microsoft Office files (MS Word, Power Point) and PDFs generated from them are not suitable for professional print and may not pass the Preflight procedure.
  • Recommended PDF format for print is PDF generated by professional computer graphics programme with Press Quality settings.
  • Files for print should be sent via shopping cart page (SEND FILE button). For individually priced orders, files should be placed at FTP server which will be available after order placement.
HOW TO PREPARE PDF FILES FOR PRINT?
  • Generate PDF file with PDF/X-1a:2001 standard in Acrobat 4 ver. 1.3
  • Use CMYK without hooked colour profiles. In case of different colour set (or hooking colour profiles), they will be converted by web2print system to CMYK, according to ISO Euroscale coated or uncoated
  • Save your file without trim line and colour tags (excluding printing blocks exposure and CtP plates
  • Do not include commentaries and form fields
  • Do not secure your file with a password
  • No not include OPI commentaries
  • Save bitmaps in PDF as 8 bit for a channel
  • In PDF saving options mark 'embed fonts in document' or convert them to curves before saving the PDF file.
  • Design your document as centered with bleeds according to the product specification
  • To obtain a good quality of print, use pictures with minimum 200 dpi resolution
THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID AND OTHER PRACTICAL ADVICE
  • CMYK or Grayscale are colour spaces accepted in printed products. Pantone colour set is accepted only in exposure of printing blocks and CtP plates
  • Net size of uploaded file should match the characteristics of selected product. Gross size should include bleeds from every side
  • Do not forget about bleeds. Those are areas of print which goes beyond the edge of the final product. Bleed guarantees that print area will be filled to the edge after trimming.
  • Attach fonts used in the project of production file or turn them to curves
  • Texts in black should only consist of 100% Black component with (Overprint) on. Do not save black texts in 4 colours.
  • White texts and negative elements must have Overprint option off to be printed (Knock Out). In case of Overprint selection, white object will not appear on the prints.
  • Minor texts in negative are not recommended. Especially in the case of background including more than one CMYK component
  • Coloured texts containing four CMYK colourd should not be smaller than 8 points.
  • Limit of paint coverage should not exceed 280% of colour components
  • Distance from trim line of significant graphic elements should not be smaller than 4 mm
  • Line thickness.When designing dark lines on bright background, use minimal thickness of 0.25 points (0,09 mm) and for negative lines (bright lines on dark background) thickness of 0.5 points (0,18 mm)
  • Lines in notepads look the best with 0.5 points thickness and minimum 30% of colour saturation.
  • Deep black can be obtained by the following combination: 100% K, 40% C, 40% M, 40% Y.
  • Bitmaps resolution should be adapted to the type of print and distance from which the product will be seen. Photos for small print products (leaflets, business cards, folders) should have at least 220 dpi resolution. least 220 dpi resolution. Resolution over 300 dpi will not enhance the quality of print. For large-format products, resolution raging 40-150 dpi are sufficient. Even lower resolution os recommended for surfaces over 100m2
  • White-and-black graphics (QR Code or barcodes) should be made of 100% black (C=0, M=0, Y=0, K=100) and have a resolution no smaller than 300 dpi for bitmaps, yet we recommend using vector objects.