Fragments

Common Prepress Questions

1. Does my artwork have 0.25” bleeds?
2. Do I need to use CMYK color mode?
3. Do you accept any file format?
4. Can you help me prepare my files?
5. Why is resolution important?
6. What resolution is needed for my job?
7. What if my file is missing fonts?
8. What if my file is missing images?

Does my artwork have 0.25” bleeds?

A 0.25” bleed around the perimeter of your artwork to ensure accurate cutting (e.g., artwork for a 4”x6” postcard should extend to 4.25” x 6.25”). If your image has a white border on all four sides, bleeds are recommended but not required. If your image is not white on all four sides, you must include bleeds in print-ready files. If you ever have any problems or questions setting up your files, please email us at prepress@rudinprinting.com

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Do I need to use CMYK color mode?

Do I need to use CMYK color mode on my full-color project? Yes. If your files are submitted using any other color standard, such as RGB or Pantone, they will be converted to CMYK during preflighting. Conversion from one color standard to another may cause colors to shift. If you ever have any problems or questions setting up your files, please email us at prepress@rudinprinting.com

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Do you accept any file format?

Yes, we accept almost any file format. Print-ready files saved from all the current layout programs such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker 7 and QuarkXpress are accepted. We can also print raster images (.tiff and .jpegs) created in independent application programs such as Adobe Photoshop used to create such designs if they are submitted at high-quality, uncompressed 300 dpi resolution, 8 bit, CMYK color mode. We can also accept most Microsoft products. If you ever have any problems or questions setting up your files, please email us at prepress@rudinprinting.com. Should you have software not included in our list, please conctact us at prepress@rudinprinting.com.

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Can you help me prepare my files?

Rudin Printing provides file preparation help. If you have a specific question, you can send us an email to prepress@rudinprinting.com. If you would rather us design your piece, give us a call we can discuss your design layout.

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Why is resolution important?

horizontally and vertically into a one-inch space. Generally, the more dots per inch, the more detail captured and the sharper the resulting image. For an image to print properly, the image must be at least 300 dots per inch (dpi) at the final output size.

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What resolution is needed for my job?

For most printing jobs, 300 dots per inch (DPI) is the minimum resolution to guarantee acceptable printing results.

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What if my file is missing fonts?

artwork file, we will request that you resubmit your files with fonts included. If you have vector artwork and your file is missing fonts, you can open your file in Illustrator, select “Create Outlines”, save your fonts, re-save your artwork file, and then upload it. If you have artwork that is rasterized, you can open your file in Photoshop and select “Flatten the Layers”, re-save your artwork file, and then upload it. Please do not submit your fonts seperately from your file because it is critical that we receive your print-ready file with fonts included to avoid any printing issues. Both QuarkXpress and Indesign have packaging capabilities to help collect fonts to used on your particular project. We honor all font copyright laws.

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What if my file is missing images?

If your file is missing the images you desire, you should re-save your file properly so that the images will not drop out during printing. Both QuarkXpress and Indesign have collections capabilities to help insure packaging. We do not normally accept images by themselves, however if you need to send us an image by itself, please contact our prepress department at prepress@rudinprinting.com. Otherwise, you must place all images in your artwork and make sure to save your files properly. Please refer to your software program manual for more information on how to save your files properly. For example, if you are using a vector-based software program such as illustrator you must make sure you are using tif file images to place, then when saving to an eps or pdf you must embed the images. If you are using Photoshop, you should flatten all layers before saving to keep all images and text in place.

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