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PREPRESS TIPS / FILE MECHANICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Uploading your Files

First things first: Make sure all your files are compressed into ZIP (pc) or StuffIt (mac). It will protect the files from getting corrupted during the transfer process and will dramatically shorten the transfer time.

You have 4 choices to get us your files: Email, Web Upload, FTP, and Disk. It all depends on the size of your files. When in doubt feel free to contact our pre-press manager at 416.920.3040 and he will be able to assist you.

  • E-mail is quite simple and it is recommended for files under 4 MBs in total, just double check our contact page to make sure you send it to the right location.
  • Web Upload is also quite straight forward and convenient, basically you go to our Web Upload Page and fill out the appropriate information and you choose the files you want to upload. When you're done it will send the files directly to our servers. This system will handle files up to 25 MBs in total size.
  • FTP is available and it can handle those bigger jobs (25-100 MBs) that are too big for E-mail and Web Upload but small enough to be faster than sending the files by courier. Contact our pre-press manager at 416.920.3040 to request a username and password. The address of our ftp server is 66.38.207.102.
  • Disk (CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, Zips, Etc.): If your job is bigger than 100 MBs then there's no better way than to drop us off the files on disk. It would take too long to upload files that big.

Please ensure all artwork includes the format used, contact name and contact information. All artwork submitted should state the quote/job number assigned to the project.

Fonts

For jobs that have multiple pages like brochures the best thing to do is to include all the fonts used in the publication. Whether it is a TrueType, PostScript, or OpenType font. However, placed graphics like logos that are embedded or link to the layout file should have its fonts outlined.

For simpler jobs like business cards or if you can't send all the fonts used in your design then we recommend that you turn the fonts to outlines. Here are some guidelines on how to do it:

  • Illustrator: once your artwork is complete, select all type in your document, and go to menu item "Type > Create Outlines". Save this file as an EPS document (In Illustrator CS use the "File > Export..." option).
  • Quark XPress: once your artwork is complete go to menu item "File > Save Page As EPS..." and save your file. Open the EPS file in Illustrator. Select all type and go to menu item "Type > Create Outlines". Once complete re-save the file(s).
  • Photoshop: once your artwork is complete, go to menu item "File > Save as..." Make sure you uncheck "Layers" and select the document type to be "TIFF". Save your file(s).

Colours

There are two ways creating colours in offset printing:

  • Process: This is also called "Full Colour" or "CMYK". This type of printing process uses four standard inks: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) to produce a wide gamut of colours. This is the easiest way to reproduce photographic images and multicoloured graphics. It is important that you convert all your images to CMYK from RGB or LAB so that your images will separate properly.
  • Spot: This type of printing is used when specific colours must be reproduced exactly or if a job only requires one or two colours to begin with. You choose the colours you want to print with, those are mixed individually and used on the press to complete your job. Although fewer inks are used, the fact that the inks are specifically mixed for your job makes this a more expensive printing process than process(cmyk) printing.

All files and placed graphics must be submitted in the CMYK colour space or in SPOT colours or in Grayscale if they are only black. Here are some ways of converting colour in your files:

  • Illustrator(CMYK): once your artwork is complete select all objects (cmd-A on Mac; ctrl-A on PC) and go to menu item "Filters > Colors > Convert to CMYK". Once complete re-save your file(s).
  • Illustrator(Grayscale): once your artwork is complete select all objects (cmd-A on Mac; ctrl-A on PC) and go to menu item ""Filters > Colors > Convert to Grayscale". Once complete re-save your file(s).
  • Photoshop(CMYK): once your artwork is complete and you have flattened the file as mentioned above, go to menu item "Image > Mode > CMYK". Once complete re-save your file(s).
  • Photoshop(Grayscaple): once your artwork is complete and you have flattened the file as mentioned above, go to menu item "Image > Mode > Grayscale". Once complete re-save your file(s).

Acceptable File Formats

We will accept files in the following formats. All other formats will be converted to the formats listed bellow and charges will apply. We are sorry but Microsoft office programs (i.e., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point, etc.) are not graphics programs and caution should be taken when you convert them to PDF so that we can print them for you.

  • Adobe PDF
  • Photoshop 7.0 and earlier
  • Illustrator 11 and earlier
  • QuarkXpress 6 and earlier
  • Indesign 3
  • Page Maker 7
  • Corel 10
  • EPS
  • TIFF
  • JPEG (compressed at high quality)
  • BMP

Additional Requirements

  • For multi-colour orders, use Pantone spot colors and indicate exact PMS colour numbers.
  • Don't over stretch images in page layout programs.
  • When supplying a disk, please provide a hard copy or faxed copy output for proofing purposes. On multi-color orders, please indicate color breaks.
  • All Quark files need to be "collected for output." Include all placed-files along with MAC screen and printer fonts used in the document.
  • 300 DPI is the lowest resolution images and lineart should be at 1200 DPI.

Paper Stocks

The world of paper stocks is as wide as it is deep. It would be misleading to believe that we could display it all on one web page. But as an overview, here are some of the terms you should be familiar with. If you are still confused, please call us and describe your job to one of our skilled staff that will be able to select a paper stock suitable for your requirements.

Common Terms To Remember:

  • Writing: Multi purpose paper, commonly used for the inside pages of reports or brochures, on of the thinnest and therefore the most translucent type.
  • Text: A bit denser than writing weight, usually for letterhead and uses that require the paper to be a little more opaque.
  • Weight: The thickness of the paper (usually in Lbs or Pts and accompanied by a type, i.e. 24Lbs Writing or 12Pt Cover).
  • Cover: The heaviest type, can be used for report covers or business cards, and is generally fully opaque - some exceptions apply.
  • Finish: The texture of a paper's surface, while smooth is the most popular and the best for printing; laid, linen, satin and silk are also used regularly for a touch of sophistication.
  • Brightness: How "white" a paper is, 100 is the whitest and paper stocks usually range from 76-96. The lower values usually indicate an unbleached or recycled paper.

There are thousands of different paper stocks available to us at a wide variation of quality and price. We do make an effort to keep most of them on hand for you to examine - either as a sample or in bulk - just drop in to see us, again if you are unsure, it is best to contact us for assistance.


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