Resources
Resources
Artwork Setup
Save or Export In InDesign
Choose File > Export.
Specify a name and location for the file.
For Save As Type (Windows) or Format (Mac OS), choose Adobe PDF (Print), and then click Save.
Do one of the following:
To use a predefined set of job options, choose a preset from the Adobe PDF Preset menu.
To create a PDF/X file, either choose a PDF/X preset from the Adobe PDF Preset menu, or choose a predefined PDF/X format from the Standard menu.
To customize options, select a category from the list on the left and then set the options.
For Compatibility, choose the lowest PDF version necessary to open the files you create.
Specify the following Accessibility Options under the Advanced tab, if necessary:
Display Title: Choose what to display in the title bar of Acrobat when it opens your PDF. Available options are Document Title and File Name.
Language: Choose the document language for the PDF. This determines the default language for the exported PDF. If the required language is not in the list, you can also type the standard language ISO code.
Click Export (Windows) or Save (Mac OS).
Prepare Layers Before Exporting a Book to PDF
When you export a book to PDF, you can show and hide InDesign layers in the PDF document. To avoid duplication of layer names in the PDF, you can merge the layers on export.
If the Merge Identically Named Layers On Export option is selected, layer names appear under the same book name in Acrobat or Reader. If this option is not selected, layer names appear separately under each document name.
If you don’t want certain layers to be merged, give them unique names in each book document. Layer names are case-sensitive, so “Art” and “art” layers are not merged.
In the Book panel menu, select Merge Identically Named Layers On Export.
Export a Book to PDF
Do one of the following:
To create a PDF of the entire book, click in a blank area of the Book panel to deselect any selected documents, and choose Export Book To PDF in the Book panel menu.
To create a PDF of documents within a book, select the document or documents in the Book panel, and choose Export Selected Documents To PDF in the Book panel menu.
Specify a name and location for the PDF file, and then click Save.
Either choose a preset from the Adobe PDF Preset menu, or select a category from the list on the left of the Export Adobe PDF dialog box, and then customize the options.
Click Export (Windows) or Save (Mac OS).
Reduce PDF Size
For PDF files that are intended to be distributed for viewing purposes only, you may want to reduce the size of PDF files when you export from InDesign. Here are some of the size reduction techniques you can use in the Export Adobe PDF dialog box:
Choose [Smallest File Size] from the Adobe PDF Preset menu.
In the Compression area, downsample images to 72 pixels per inch, select automatic compression, and select either low- or medium-image quality for color and grayscale images. When you work with photographic images, use Automatic (JPEG) compression; when you work with images that are mostly solid color, such as charts and graphs, use ZIP compression.
In the Output area, use the Ink Manager to convert spot colors to process colors.
Save in Illustrator PDF Format
Create an Adobe PDF
Choose File > Save As or File > Save A Copy.
Type a filename, and choose a location for the file.
Choose Adobe PDF (*.PDF) as the file format, and click Save.
Either choose a preset from the Adobe PDF Preset menu, or select a category from the list on the left of the dialog box and then customize the options.
Click Save PDF.
Create a Multiple-Page Adobe PDF
Create multiple artboards in a document.
Choose File > Save As, and select Adobe PDF for Save As Type.
Do one of the following:
To save all of the artboards to one PDF, select All.
To save a subset of the artboards to one PDF, select Range, and type the range of artboards.
Click Save, and set additional PDF options in the Save Adobe PDF dialog box.
Click Save PDF.
Save in Photoshop PDF format
Choose File > Save As, and then choose Photoshop PDF from the Format menu. You can select a Color option if you want to embed a color profile or use the profile specified with the Proof Setup command. You can also include layers, notes, spot color, or alpha channels. Click Save.
In the Save Adobe PDF dialog box, choose an Adobe PDF preset specifying whether the Photoshop PDF file will be printed on a desktop printer or proofer, sent to a commercial printer, distributed by e-mail, displayed on the web, and so on. Choosing a preset is the easiest way to set options for your Photoshop PDF file.
After you choose a preset, click Save PDF to generate your Photoshop PDF file. If you want to add security options or fine-tune the saving options for the PDF, follow the remaining steps in this procedure.
Color Mode (CMYK)
Your files should always be in CMYK. Anything else may result in color shifts and other unexpected results when the other color modes are converted into CMYK.
For best results, the design file should be built in CMYK color mode in the native application.
Please do not include any other colour modes such as RGB or PMS in your design.
Types of Black Color
To achieve a rich black for larger black coverage areas, we recommend the values C30 M20 Y20 K100. A black value of just K100 alone can sometimes appear as a darker grey and may not be as deep/rich compared to adding the supporting C30 M20 Y20 K100. A rich black also helps avoid potential overprint issues.
For smaller black type, we recommend one colour black at K100 to avoid potential registration issues.
Borders in Artwork
For products such as business cards, we recommend avoiding the use of borders in designs. If the border is too close to the cutline, it may result in the final product being slightly off-centred. Movement of the cutter up to 1/16″ inside or outside the trimline is inevitable. Border designs can be ‘unforgiving’ with regards to cutter movement and can make the movement of the cutter appear more pronounced.
Vector and Raster Images
Vector images use mathematical equations to define each component of an image. This allows vector images to retain their high-quality at any size. Programs like Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, or Adobe Freehand uses vector graphics.
Vector images should be used for all text and logos if possible. They result in the clearest image and can be re-sized without losing resolution.
Raster images are composed of a collection of tiny dots called pixels. When these pixels are small, and placed close together, they fool the eye into forming a single image. Raster images work great when subtle gradations of colour are necessary. Because they contain a fixed number of pixels, a major disadvantage of raster images is that their quality suffers when they are enlarged or otherwise transformed.
File Format
Please prepare your file as a high-resolution PDF file with bleed.
Our system only accepts PDF files, with the exception of a few special products.
Artwork Safe Margin
Safe margins are 1/16″ away from the cut line.
Safe margins are guidelines that help you keep important elements of your design away from the edge of your artwork so that text and images will not be cut off when trimmed down to the final size. This 1/16″ accounts for the potential trimming variance. Anything outside of this safety area may get cut.
Transparency
Transparency effects are generally not preferred in printing. It causes ripping issues and elements to disappear.
To prevent this, do not use any shadows, glows and transparencies on top of a spot colour and always convert your file to CMYK only before using any transparency effects.
Bleed
A 1/8″ bleed is required on all four sides of your artwork.
Bleed is extended artwork on all sides of the artwork to allow for cutter variance. Items such as background and design elements should always extend out of the trim margin.
Failing to provide full bleed and crop marks can result in the printed product showing a thin area of white on the edge.
If your file does not contain bleed, it may be rejected by our prepress department for a new file with bleed. This can result in delaying the completion of your job.
