Artwork Guide

Supplying Artwork

Artwork preferably should be supplied as high resolution press ready PDFs. When generating a PDF file 'Press Quality' is the ideal setting, with all fonts embedded, 3mm bleed, registration marks (sometimes called crop marks or cut marks) and artwork centered on pages.

When you have created your PDF files, open them in Adobe Reader and check they view correctly. Check that bleed and registration marks have been carried across to the PDF.

Formats

QuarkXpress, Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and PDF files should be print optimized (300 dpi images) with all fonts embedded (choose press quality when creating your PDF).

Fonts

Ideally all fonts need to be embedded within your PDF file. This is to make sure that the fonts you used in the creation of your artwork are replicated when printed. If you do not embed the fonts, the fonts maybe substituted and may not match those used in your artwork.

Images/imported graphics

Images or graphics should be supplied as CMYK and at a resolution of 300dpi (when placed at actual size).

Bleed

All artwork must have 3mm bleed if the image is required to extend right to the edge of the paper. We also recommend that any text is kept at least 5mm away from the edge of the page and that crop marks are outset by 6 point so they do not touch the cut size of the document.

Do I need bleed?

Bleed is the term for "overlapping the edge" and is required when pictures, lines or backgrounds are printed right to the edge of the paper. For example, if you want your business cards entirely covered by a picture, the size of the picture box would need to bleed past the trimmed edge of the paper in all directions. Failing to bleed the background may result in white lines or gaps showing around the edge when it is cut down to size on the guillotine.

Paper and document sizes

If you have any queries or need an explanation please don’t hesitate to get in touch.