Our workflow has been setup to accommodate most applications in the marketplace. As well as the industry standard design and publications programs, we support the full range of Microsoft applications. If we do not have the software we will be able to advise on an output solution.
Setting up Your Document
The maximum paper size for digital print is SRA3 (450mm x 320mm). We can on special request however, print a maximum image area of 473mm x 323mm You should not supply a file at this size unless you have consulted us first. If you require this special size (possible for a hardback book) please contact us.
Supply all files as a ‘one up’ as opposed to ganging several up together. We will impose (plan up) your work to best suit our printers.
Blank Pages
When you provide us with your artwork for brochures & reports, make sure you have included blank pages where they are needed. For example if you have produced a 16 page brochure of which the inside front and back have no content make sure you still include the blanks in your document - our imposition software is clever, but it isn't a mind reader!
We need Bleed!
If an image or colour runs off the page in any direction, you must give us some ‘spill over’ (bleed) to avoid having a possible unwanted white line when your print is guillotined. We prefer 3mm extra to each edge (that's a total of 6mm left to right & top to bottom)
Colours
Most digital colour printers work on the process colour model (CMYK). It should be noted that colours specified as spot colours using the pantone colour system will be converted to CMYK and the colour may change accordingly.
Image & File Types
To get the best out of our print, raster files (TIF, JPG,BMP, GIF etc.) should ideally be 300dpi resolution at the size they are being used in your document. Smaller sized files can still work and produce acceptable results. Where possible we recommend these files are saved as CMYK for best colour reproduction.
Our rip software will accept RGB files for print, although the CMYK process cannot reach certain colours in this gamut, so be aware that if supplied in RGB, colours may vary. We can also accept files with compression (For example: Photoshop EPS with JPEG compression) If your work is hitting the Offset printing press we will pre-flight your artwork and let you know of any errors within it.