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PROJECT DELIVERY
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If you are preparing files yourself for printing or whether you're
having the prep and printing done by someone else, you can save yourself
trouble and expense by making sure that your images conform to certain
standards. The two biggest problems that people run into with their
files are insufficient resolution and non-existent bleeds.
Resolution
Working with graphics for offset printing is much different than using graphics for web pages.
The pixel resolution used for print work is 300-400 DPI (dots per inch), which is a much finer
resolution than used in webpage graphics. Also, images from web pages are likely to be far too
small to be usable for print. Since the quality of the original often has significant effects on
the quality of the duplication, we prefer to have original artwork or a substantially-sized
copy. That way, we can always reduce the image and its imperfections so you have the cleanest
production graphic possible.
Bleed
If your image covers an entire printed piece, the image size must be larger than the final cut
dimensions. This allows the paper to be cut to size after printing without leaving strips of
white paper at the cut lines. This is what's referred to as "bleed." Any piece that requires a
bleed should extend, at minimum, 1/8 inch outside all the cut lines.
If you are preparing an image for the entire cover of a CD booklet, you should create artwork
that is at minimum 1500 pixels by 1500 pixels. Here's how that is calculated: the CD booklet is 4.75 inches
square. If you add a 1/8 inch bleed on two edges, the final size is 5 inches square. Five inches
multiplied by 300 dots per inch equals 1500 pixels square.
Text
Have all of your text written and proofread. You can then either email us the
text in the body of the message or attach a Microsoft Word (.doc) file or an RTF file.
That way, we can just cut and paste the text avoid the risk of introducing typos
along the way. If you are bringing physical artwork to us, it must be organized and ready for scanning.
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