File Format Guidelines

Job Submission Info

There are a few ways you can submit your files to us.

• Use our online iPrint service
• We highly recommend our iPrint service (no registration required), but if you prefer traditional e-mail, you can find our addresses here.
• Send your files on a CD to us by post, find the address here
• ISDN your files to ++44 (0)20 8336 1749

Before you send your files to us, please note the prepared guidelines below to help you set them up properly.

Pass for Press - Job Options File

Download our Acrobat Job Settings File ("Stuff It" file - you will need to expand/unstuff it). To save it as a file you may need to right-click on the link and choose 'Save Link As', or 'Save File As', alternatively it will open with "Stuff It".

Place this file in your Acrobat Distiller 'settings' folder before use. Please choose this option before distilling your Postscript file.

File Formats for Litho or Digital print

NEW! Read all the below information in this PDF file you can save or print for future reference.

Quark Express: Versions 5 / 6

Please use the 'collect for output' facility ensuring all high-res images and printer fonts are included with your artwork files. All high-res images to be saved as EPS or TIFFs converted to CMYK unless Photoshop DCS for 5th or 6th colour printing. For multi page leaflets or brochures, each file must be supplied in single page format with 3mm bleed (do not supply Quark files in spreads).

PDF

Our PDF distiller setting is available in this Acrobat Job Settings File.

Please use this when making PDF files to send to us. Ensure that you have 3mm bleed on all pages and that your registration setting is on set at 9pt or 3mm. Please allow us to impose your document. Supply one PDF file with each page as a separate element within it (see 'artwork guidelines' below).

Illustrator / PageMaker

We support Illustrator 10 and Freehand 10 and some PC formats. If in doubt on any matter, please call for clarification. As with the above, your printer and postscript fonts must be included unless converted to paths. InDesign 2 is now accepted.

Images

Images should be set for CMYK separations unless in Photoshop DCS format. We recommend your picture file resolution to be not less than 300ppi with text being no less than 1200ppi. Our recommended image enlargement factor is 140%. Do not save images as JPEGs or in RGB.

Artwork Guidelines

Please make the first page (cover) of your document page 1 in your artwork file. The back page should be the last page within your file. This enables us to impose it the way we need to. Our standard page bleed, to allow for variations in folding and trimming, is 3mm all round. Trim marks should be included but must not intrude in to the bleed area. Please ensure that all elements of the page appear entirely within the trimmed page size. Our litho print is run at a standard 200 screen.

General

The above guidelines are for your benefit and help us to minimise costs when producing your work. If you would like help in producing your artwork to the correct specification, please contact us about our artwork services and fees.

There will be an artwork charge for files not set up correctly and print ready.

Digital Proofs

All quoted print work includes a proof produced on our Digital Press. Should you require PDF, Agfa or litho wet proofs, please inform us.

Making a PDF for Print Quality Reproduction

Learn how to set up your PDFs for full print quality reproduction with this PDF reference.