Take care in preparing your files to ensure quick turnaround and to avoid setup fees. Our price and turnaround estimates assume your files are prepared correctly.

To ensure proper setup, supply a 1-up layout (we'll do any needed imposition).
Define your page size as the finished flat size.
Make sure any elements that should print right to the edge of the page bleed off the finished page size by 1/16".

Example of a 1-up layout:

(Note: page layout can be horizontal or vertical. Image is for example only.)

The Gray Box with the Black Border: Indicates the final, trimmed, flat page size. This should be your document page size. The dashed white line: Indicates the safe area for important elements. Make sure text and graphics are inset at least 1/8" from the edge, 1/4" recommended. The yellow box: Indicates the bleed area. Make sure any element you want to print to the very edge of the page bleeds off the final page size by 1/16".

Always provide a laser printout as a "go-by". You should also include a "folding dummy" as a reference/bindery guide, if applicable.

Saddlestitch Booklet Guidelines

Saddle stitch books must be printed in "Printer Spreads" rather than "Reader Spreads". To avoid setup fees, submit your file in Printer Spreads on a 12x18 layout page. (Actual image size must not exceed 11x17 with an additional 1/16 inch bleed.)

InDesign or Quark files submitted as Reader Spreads will incur a setup fee, usually $25 - $50. If you prefer to submit Reader Spreads, set up as "Facing Pages" with the document size the finished book size. Design your book in "Reader's Spreads", with any bleeds at a minimum of .0625".

PDF files set up as single pages or "Reader's Spreads" will need to be placed into a page layout application by our prepress department. Additional charges may apply. Make sure your PDF includes bleed.

Illustrator or Freehand Files are generally not recommended for book layouts. Extensive prepress or layout/design work is usually required. Additional charges and turnaround time will apply.

Platforms supported: Macintosh and Windows (see supported software at right).

Fonts: Include all screen and printer fonts used in your file (don't forget fonts used in placed graphics).

Image Size: 11" x 17" maximum, plus 1/16" bleed (see file setup tips above).

Placed Graphics*: Save images in TIFF or EPS format (don't use DCS format or save with screen angles or transfer functions applied). Scanned images should be 300 dpi at 100% scale. Linework resolution on the HP Indigo is 812 dpi; 1270 dpi for the Quickmaster.

Color: Work entirely in CMYK mode. Never use RGB!
The Indigo and Quickmaster are 4-color presses. The RIPs will automatically convert spot and PMS colors to 4-color tints, but the results are often undesirable. Avoid unexpected results by designing in CMYK only.

Trapping: Unlike conventional presses, digital presses have extremely tight registration due to the fact that the plates are imaged directly on press. In most cases, trapping is not necessary. However, if you feel trapping is required for your job, use a 0.3 trap.

Crop Marks: Use a 0.25 pt black line for crop marks if needed. (You won't need to include crop marks on a 1-up layout.)

Bleeds: Bleeds should be set for 1/16 inch on each side. Anything you want to print to the edge of the paper must be set up to bleed.

*Considerations for scans, file size, and resolution
When preparing your scans, remember that a higher scan resolution does not always result in better print quality. Excessive scan sizes result in huge files that extend print times with little improvement in print quality. Exceeding the suggested PPI could result in a file too large to output or additional megabyte charges.

Vector-based graphics are suitable for type and logos, even when they are scaled to larger sizes. However, when you increase the size, any included raster images must have a proper resolution for the final dimensional print size. Because the number of pixels in an image is fixed, increasing the size of a raster image decreases its resolution, and decreasing its size increases its resolution.