Artwork Guide
Minuteman Press can accept files for printing in various formats in which they may either be print ready or need some work done to them to prepare them properly for printing.
Accepted Files
As print ready files we can accept Corel Draw, jpegs and pdfs set up to the correct paper size. We can also accept Photoshop, Illustrator, tiff, Microsoft Word and Publisher files. In certain circumstances we can print direct from Microsoft Word or Publisher, albeit that this can sometimes restrict flexibility. Please remember that content may move in Microsoft files due to page set-up differences between computers. It is advisable, therefore, that customers check a proof to ensure accuracy prior to printing. It may also be possible to print from Power Point for some small jobs provided the file does not require to be printed at high resolution.
Minuteman Press Falkirk can accept files by e-mail, CD, DVD, memory stick or memory card.
Bleed
If you require your image to be printed right to the edge of your paper then a bleed of the background image is required all the way round beyond the intended size of the final printed sheet. This bleed needs to be at least 3mm but preferably 5mm and enables the sheet to be cut down to intended size without a white border showing. See diagram below.
Please note that submitted files should not have crop marks which we will add ourselves if required.
Quiet Space
It is always advisable to leave 5mm of quiet space between text and the intended edge of a printed sheet to avoid any problems with cutting. Remember there is a tolerance in both printing and guillotining accuracy and this quiet space helps manage the risk of variation in printed material. See diagram on the right.
Colour (CMYK or Pantone)
For full colour printing remember that photographs and files should be saved as CMYK rather than RGB. CMYK refers to the cyan, magenta, yellow and black colour system which form the basis of printing inks and toners. RGB refers to red, green and blue which are the colours which mix for monitors but do not normally give a satisfactory representation for printing.
If you have a requirement for printing of specific pantone colours then we need to be advised and the file should be set up to enable colour separations to take place.
Resolution
Files should normally be saved at 300dpi as this is normally sufficient to give the required quality for printing. Anything higher than this can often inhibit e-mails or slow down the printing process whilst low resolution files may appear pixcellated when printed. Power Point files tend to be fairly low resolution because this is a screen show programme and not intended for printing.
Print Sizes
Whilst we can print custom sizes it is normally best to stick to standard sizes for the purpose of economy and ease of printing or finishing. Our standard sizes (mm) are as follows:-
- A7 105 x 74
- A6 105 x 148.5
- A5 148.5 x 210
- A4 210 x 297
- A3 297 x 420
- A2 420 x 594
- A1 594 x 841
- A0 841 x 1189
- Business cards 85 x 55
- 1/3rd A4 or Compliments Slip 210 x 99
Artwork Service
For customers who find it inconvenient to submit ‘print ready’ artwork Minuteman Press Falkirk offers a full Design Service in which pricing is based on the combination of time taken for and complexity of any job.
Whether you just want us to put the ‘print ready’ finishing touches to your file or you prefer to give us a brief to take your ideas or component parts and convert them to professional artwork, we will give you a quote before we start work on the job. We will then produce proofs for your approval before progressing to print.
Click here for more information on our Graphic Design service.
