What is Bleed?
What are Spot Colors?
What types of files are accepted by Print Group, Inc.?
How do I send a native file to a printer?
What settings should I use to export a PDF file?
How should I color manage my files?
Does Print Group Inc. deliver locally?
How do I prepare a file for print?
The requirements of print-ready files depend on the processes used to print. As a general rule for color printing, files should be built in CMYK colorspace with image resolution at 300 ppi or higher and should have 1/8th inch of extra Bleed around the outside edges of the finished document. Requirements vary for black and white printing, spot color printing, signs and display graphics, etc.
Files should be simplified as much as possible by removing hidden layers from Photoshop documents or pasteboard objects from InDesign or Illustrator documents. This makes the files easier to transfer, speeds up processing, and reduces the chance of unintended results.
Be aware that attempting to make a document more print-ready by increasing the resolution of low-quality images or removing extra color data can sometimes do more harm than good. Always save a backup of your original design files before attempting to make improvements for printing. If you are unsure if your file will work or how to prepare it for print send it to us anyway.
What is Bleed?
"Bleed" in printing terminology refers to the extra image extending beyond the trimmed sheet. The extra image allows for any slight movements or discrepencies in position or cutting. Documents without necessary bleed have images that end very close to or exactly on the edge of the document. When trimmed, this could result in a thin white line around the edges if the cutting edge does not hit the exact position of the document edge on every sheet of paper.
Print Group Inc. uses the US standard 1/8th inch of bleed (0.125 inches, 0p9 picas, 3.175mm) so a 8.5 x 11 document with bleed on all sides will need to have an image area of 8.75 x 11.25 inches. There are exceptions for unusual sizes and finishing, contact us if you have any questions.
What are Spot Colors?
Spot colors are inks used in addition to or instead of the standard Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black to produce special effects, maintain greater color consistency between a number of different projects, or reduce the number of plates needed. Corporate logos often built using spot colors to maintain color consistency everywhere the logo is used and save ink costs. There are vibrant color, metallic, and fluorescent spot colors that appear different than anything that can be achieved using mixtures of CMYK.
Print Group Inc. can use any ink from the Pantone® Matching System library or even mix something special. Contact us for more information.
What types of files are accepted by Print Group, Inc.?
We can print using any file that will open using one of the following applications:
Any version of the Adobe Creative Suite applications Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, or Acrobat.
Any version of Quark Xpress.
Or Microsoft Office files built in Word, Excel, or Publisher.
If you have design files that don't open in any of these programs, i.e Corel Draw .CDR files, you may need to open them in their native application and export a PDF file. Contact us for more information.
How do I send a native file to a printer?
Native files such as Adobe Indesign .indd files or Quark .qxp files are sometimes preferred over print-ready PDF files because they allow printers to make last-minute corrections, color edits, and trouble shoot problems with less delays. However, they will not be usable by a printer unless all fonts and links are included. Fonts and links can be collected using the "Package" or "Collect for Output" features of these programs. In all cases, it is best practice to also include a PDF that printers can use to visually resolve any font or reflow issues that may occur in the native file.
Quark Xpress: While your document is open, click File > Collect for Output.
Be sure the collection is including all the fonts and pictures by checking appropriate boxes in the dialog box. When in doubt check them all.
Be sure there are no missing or modified pictures or fonts, you may need to relink or update them.
Select the location to save your collected files. Best practice: Create a folder with a description or title of your project and collect into that folder, then you just need to compress that folder as a ZIP file and send it to the printer.
InDesign: While your document is open, click File > Package...
The Package dialog box will alert you to any missing fonts, links, or images. Any missing items need to be resolved before packaging, relink, update, or replace missing links or fonts.
The dialog box may also alert you to any RGB image links but this may be ignored.
Click the "Package..." button.
The "Printing Instructions" dialog box which is used to populate an instructions file, fill out according to your company's directions and click Continue.
The Create Package Folder dialog box controls what files will be included in the package and where it is saved. Be sure to check the Copy Fonts, Copy Linked Graphics, and Update Graphic Links in Package boxes.
Best practice: Name the folder with a description or title of your project. Then you just need to compress that folder as a ZIP file and send it to the printer.
PageMaker: While your document is open, click Utilities > Save for Service Provider...
You will be prompted to resolve any missing links and fonts. Make sure all the appropriate boxes are checked to include all links and fonts.
Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop: These programs do not have automatic packaging features as of this writing, you will need to manually collect any fonts used or embed them in the PSD, AI, or EPS files. They will output correctly without font files as long as no text edits need to be made by the printer.
What settings should I use to export a print-ready PDF file?
The settings used to create PDF files can drastically alter the final quality of a print project. Once a PDF is saved at high-compression/low-quality there is nothing a printer can do to restore the file to full quality, a new PDF will have to be created from the native files by the designer. It is therefore imperative that designers create and submit high-quality PDFs for printing.
JPG compression should be turned off or set to the highest possible quality level. Downsampling color and grayscale images should be set to at least 300 ppi or turned off (if turned off images will keep their existing resolution). Print-ready PDFs should also include bleed area if applicable and should NOT include "printer's marks."
How should I color manage my files?
Good color management requires that a level of control be maintained on every step in the production process, from photography to printing. Designers are most concerned with making sure that when the final production run of their project arrives from the printer it matches what they saw on their monitors or print-outs during design.
Monitors: To achieve accurate monitor viewing during design, use calibrated, color-accurate monitors and apply a CMYK color profile to your images that is similar to the color achieved by your printer. Print Group, Inc, is a certified G7 Master Printer that uses Coated GRACoL 2006 as it's default CMYK color profile and target for offset lithography. Download the CMYK ICC color profile here.
A calibrated monitor viewing files converted to the printer's CMYK color profile will display the most accurate representation of what your files will look like once printed. However, even with accurate monitor representation there will still be a visual difference between files on a monitor and the printed results because of fundamental differences between the light being projected by the electronic display and light that is reflected from a printed page. When comparing, be sure to hold the printed page under a light source that is as close to 5K (5000 kelvin) as possible, where the white of the paper matches the brightest RGB white emitted by the monitor.
Digital Printers: Because of the limitations of monitor viewing, designers often use their own digital printers to proof and adjust color before sending their files to a production plant. These can be sheet fed or roll fed devices of any size that produce consistent color results. Print Group Inc. uses similar devices to create color proofs for client verification and color matching before ever press run, see our Equipment List for exact make and models.
Using digital printers results in better representation of color on a page and allows designers tighter control of final color accuracy. However, no matter how advanced the digital printer is it will not produce color accurate to the presses in a printing plant unless it prints on a substrate that closely matches the visual characteristics of the paper that will be used in the final print run, is calibrated to know it's own cababilities, is instructed to match the color to the printer's presses, and the prints are viewed in a controlled lighting environment.
Selecting a substrate that matches the brightness and hue of the production run paper is essential. If the inkjet paper is more reflective and yellow than the offset paper the designer may compensate for this by removing yellow and darkening images, which could result in a dark, bluish overall appearance of the final print run. Paper manufactuers usually keep accurate records of the visual characteristics of their stock, contact your printing plant for help choosing the best substrate for your in-house proofing.
Calibrating a digital printer involves creating a digital file (usually an .ICC color profile) that characterizes exactly what color is being produced by your printer on your choice of paper. Even digital printers of the same model may produce slightly different colors which may change over time so it is necessary to calibrate each individual printer and to recalibrate it periodically. Recalibrate any time you change ink or paper. Once calibrated, your printer software will have the data it needs to produce color as instructed. Colorometry hardware and software may be required. Consult your digital printer's documentation or tech support for information and calibration instructions.
With a closely matching paper and a calibrated digital printer, a designer can produce color that closely matches a printing plant's presses. However, the files sent to the designer's digital printer must contain the same color data as the files the printing plant will send to their proofing and imaging units. Make sure your files are in CMYK color space with an embedded .ICC color profile that closely matches the color produced by your printing plant. At Print Group, Inc. is a G7 Master Printer that uses Coated GRACoL 2006 as it's default CMYK color profile and target for offset lithography. Download the CMYK ICC color profile here.
Does Print Group Inc. deliver locally?
Yes, we have a fleet of large and small vehicles that routinely deliver printed materials to customers and vendors throughout the state: Springfield, Branson, Joplin, St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, and Jefferson City. In some cases we also deliver to Arkansas: Little Rock, Harrison, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Memphis, Tennessee; Wichita and Topeka, Kansas.
In all cases, we find the most cost-effective solution for our customers by comparing the cost and speed of national shippers like Fedex and UPS to our own capabilities.