File Preparation Help



01 Create Bleeds in Adobe Photoshop Photoshop

IMPORTANT: CREATE YOUR BLEED.

1. Create a new File
  • Add .25 inches to Width and Height boxes to accommodate the Bleed Area
  • Input 300 ppi for resolution, this is the standard for most printing.
  • Input CMYK for the Color Mode, Printing uses these colors.
2. Create Guides
  • First, go to View > Rulers from menu.
  • To Create a Guide, click & drag from top ruler down and left ruler to the right. Horizontal and Vertical Guides will appear
  • Drag Guides .125 (1/8 inch) within every edge on all sides for the bleed.
  • Drag Guides .25 (1/4 inch) within every edge on all sides for Safe Zone.
3. Illustration & InDesign
  • Create Bleed and Trim How-To:
Create a Bleed in Photoshop
01 Create Bleeds in Adobe Illustrator Illustrator

IMPORTANT: CREATE YOUR BLEED.

1. Create a new File
  • Type exact size of product for width and height in dialogue box.
  • Set your Bleed preset to .125 inches for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right.
  • You won't need to create guides for a bleed, Illustrator creates them for you.
2. Other Settings
  • Input CMYK for the Color Mode, Printing uses these colors.
  • Input 300 ppi for Resolution, this is the standard. Press OK.
  • Drag Guides .125 Inches within the Trim Line to create a Safe Zone.
  • Adjust bleed: File > Document Setup.
3. Photoshop & InDesign
  • Create Bleed and Trim How-To:
Create a Bleed in Illustrator
01 Create Bleeds in Adobe InDesign InDesign

IMPORTANT: CREATE YOUR BLEED.

1. Create a new File
  • Go to File > New > Document.
  • For 2-Sides, Type "2" for number of pages, and uncheck Facing Pages.
  • Type in the Exact dimensions for Width and Height.
2. Bleed and Safe Settings
  • Input .125 (1/8) inch for the margin on all sides to create your safe zone.
  • Input .125 (1/8) inch for the bleed on all sides to create your bleed area.
  • Adjust bleed: File > Document Setup.
3. Photoshop & InDesign
  • Create Bleed and Trim How-To:
Create Bleed in Indesign
01 What is a bleed?

KNOWING WHY THE BLEED IS IMPORTANT...

A job cannot be trimmed perfectly to it's final size everytime. Because of this slight imperfection, we create an extra margin past the trimming line for the graphics and background to bleed off the artboard where the print is meant to be trimmed off. This way ensures no unwanted white borders or imperfections appearing around your product.

Standard Bleed: .125 inches

01 Trim Line?

THE TRIM LINE AND IT'S SIGNIFICANCE...

The Trim Line indicates the final size of the product. Borders are not recommended due to cutting shifts while running machinery. If your products is not trimmed exactly on the trimming line, borders may appear uneven. Just half of a millimeter of cutting shift may cause the borders to look uneven.

Standard Bleed: .125 inches

01 What is the Safe Zone?

SAFEZONES ARE A BASIC RULE OF THUMB...

Unless you plan on breaking your grid puposefully, you must place critical elements such as text, imagery, or logos inside the safe zone area. If not, do not be surprised if parts of these elements are cut away when your product is trimmed to it's final size. .125(1/8) inch within trim line would suffice, though some prefer .25 inches.

Safe Area: .125 (1/8) inches

01 Using Guides

GUIDES ARE JUST GOOD FUNDAMENTALS...

Guidelines such as the safe zone, trim line, and the bleeds help designate where your product will be trimmed, as well as help you keep important elements such as text and graphics away from the trimming margin. Please provide us with a bleed all around your artwork, and be aware of the safe area.

You supply the bleed, and we'll handle the Crop Marking.

02 Create Bleeds in Adobe Photoshop Photoshop

IMPORTANT: CONVERT TO CMYK FOR PRINT...

1. Create a new File
  • Go to File > New. The New Dialogue box will open.
  • Input 300 ppi for Resolution, this is the standard for most printing.
  • Input CMYK for the Color Mode, Printing uses these colors.
2. Convert From Menu
  • Go to Image > Mode
  • There are options for each color mode, choose CMYK for Print.
3. Illustrator & InDesign
  • Illustrator: From New Dialogue or From Menu: Edit > Edit Colors
  • InDesign: New Dialogue Box choose Print (for intent), or Edit > Color
02 CMYK vs. RBG

COLOR MODES AND WHY TO CONVERT...

CMYK is used for 4 Color or Process Printing. It is the color used for the majority of printed materials. But Images from your phone, digital camera, and computer screen is shown in RGB. RGB is also known as Screen Colors you see from a monitor. You should convert images and designs to CMYK before you send files to the printing stage.

Print: CMYK / Screen: RGB

02 WHAT IS CMYK?

WHAT IT REALLY STANDS FOR...

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black(key). These four inks are printed together to create full color images. CMYK is subtractive in light - scientifically, you se color by light reflecting from a white peice of paper and the inks gradually subtract or absorb the light creating all different colors until finally Black.

CMYK: Subtractive color

02 WHAT IS RGB?

WHAT IT REALLY STANDS FOR...

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. It’s an additive, projected light system. From a screen Monitor of any sort, all colors begin with “darkness”, to which diferent color “lights” are added to produce visible colors. RGB “maxes” at white, which is the equivalent of having all lights on at full brightness (red, green, blue).

RGB: Additive Color

02 WHY SHOULD I CARE?

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

Many commercial printers accept RGB images, however, using images that are in RGB color mode may ruin the appearance of the final printed material. It’s imperative you provide us with print-ready, digital files in CMYK color mode, and provide all Black and White artwork in grayscale color mode. Any other color will not produce optimal printing results.

CMYK for Print.

03 Create Bleeds in Adobe Photoshop Photoshop

IMPORTANT: SAVING A FILE FOR PRINT

1. Save you File
  • Go to File > Save As. The Dialogue box will open.
  • Name your File, Choose Photoshop PDF and click Save.
2. The Save Dialogue Box
  • Preset: High Quality Print
  • Go to Output tab, then choose Convert to Desination and make sure it's in "Working CMYK."
3. Illustrator & InDesign
  • Print Ready PDF Format How To:
  • PS: Don't worry about creating the crop/trim marks, just the bleed.
03 Create Bleeds in Adobe Illustrator Illustrator

IMPORTANT: SAVING A FILE FOR PRINT

1. Save you File
  • Create Outlines for type. Select all fonts, Go to Type > Create Outlines.
  • Go to File > Save As. The Dialogue box will open.
  • Name your File, Choose Adobe PDF and click Save.
2. The Save Dialogue Box
  • Preset: High Quality Print
  • Check the box for bleed settings .125
  • Convert to destination, make sure it's in "Working CMYK - (SWOP)."
3. Photoshop & InDesign
  • Print Ready PDF Format How To:
  • PS: Don't worry about creating the crop/trim marks, just the bleed.
03 Create Bleeds in Adobe InDesign InDesign

IMPORTANT: SAVING A FILE FOR PRINT

1. Save you File
  • Go to File > Export. The Dialogue box will open.
  • Name your File, Choose PDF (print) and click Save.
2. The Save Dialogue Box
  • Preset: High Quality Print
  • Go to Output Tab, then choose Convert to Destination, and make sure it's in "(SWOP)."
  • Go to Marks & Bleed tab, check bux "Use Doc Bleed Settings". (.125)
3. Illustrator & InDesign
  • Print Ready PDF Format How To:
  • PS: Don't worry about creating the crop/trim marks, just the bleed.
03 File Format Presets

IMPORTANT: SAVING A FILE FOR PRINT

CMYK is used for 4 Color or Process Printing. It is the color used for the majority of printed materials. But Images from your phone, digital camera, and computer screen is shown in RGB. RGB is also known as Screen Colors you see from a monitor. You should convert RGB images and designs to CMYK before you submit them to a printer.

Most Print Compatible: PDF

03 Bitmap Vs. Vector

BITMAP/RASTER VS. VECTOR

Bitmap/Raster characteristics: Made up of pixels on a grid, Resolution dependant, Loses quality when resized. (gif, jpg, png, psd, tiff)

Vector Characteristics: Made up of mathematical equations, Resolution independant, scales infinitely. (eps, ai, cdr, pdf)

Print Friendly: PDF & EPS

03 What is Bitmap / Raster?

WHAT IS BITMAP/RASTER IMAGE?

Bitmap or Raster images are measured by dots per inch (dpi). The more dots/pixels, the better resolution and quality image. Tiffs, Jpegs, and even PSDs at 300 dpi are what you should be saving your bitmaps files as...Tiffs and PSDs are native and preserve the best quality.

Standard Resolution: 300dpi

03 What is Vector?

WHAT IS A VECTOR IMAGE?

Vector Images are measured by a mathematical equations using lines and curves that create clean, crisp artwork. You can scale these images without any loss in quality. Software programs such as Adobe Illustrator are vector programs. You should save vector art as an EPS, PDF or Ai File.

Vector Program: Illustrator