Artwork Preparation Guideline

Essential check list before sending files to print

It might help you to speed up the process and provide print-ready files without mistakes.

  • Colours are CMYK or greyscale
  • All images and bitmaps are at least 300 dpi
  • Text is not smaller then 5 pt
  • All fonts are converted into shapes or front files are supplied with artwork files
  • All small letters in black are in K colour only (0C 0M 0Y 100K)
  • There are no printing marks or templates lines on top of the artwork
  • Booklet pages order is clearly marked in file names or there is preview included
  • Bleed and safety margin are correctly preserved
  • Barcode is in vectors and K colour only (0C 0M 0Y 100K)
  • Text are read twice. After digital proofs approval artwork changes are charged with additional fee

CMYK colour scheme

CMYK is the colour scheme we use for printing your artwork. Everything we print is converted into four basic colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, blacK/Key). It’s highly important to provide artwork already prepared in this scheme since converting may cause unexpected changes in colours.

CMYK are four colours. That’s why we use 4/0 term. Basically it means that the print is made on the front side of the board. Standard greyscale is 1/0 print since we use only one, black ink. There is also 4/1 or 4/4 print used when print on both sides of cardboard is needed.

Please note that recommended ink coverage for coated paper is 350%.

For uncoated papers we recommend 250%.

Artwork with different settings might significantly differ from on-screen preview.

Bleed area

Bleed is an area with extended background artwork beyond the cutting line. It’s the area trimmed off after print during the assembling process. Most of cutters have tolerance of 1-3 mm and even slight move of the paper or cutter is possible.

It’s important to extend background and images to cover additional area of 3mm outside the cutting line so the cutter shifts are not noticeable on the final product.

Safety margin

Safety margin works like bleed but it covers area inside cutting lines. All important elements like barcode, text layers, pictures have to be kept 3mm from the crop line in case of slight moves of paper or the cutter.

IMPORTANT! For artwork based on frames safety margin is bigger and it’s 5mm.

Vector artwork

In opposite to bitmaps vectors are scalable without the quality loss. In packaging design it’s recommended to convert all text layers and barcodes into vectors to achieve the best outcome quality. Otherwise small letters or barcode stripes might be illegible.

Hot-stamping

Hotstamping like glossy UV or embossing helps you to emphasize elements on your artwork. Please follow technical requirements listed below before you decide to design your artwork. It might help save much of your time.

  • Shape have to prepared in vectors. Bitmaps are not accepted
  • Hot stamping mask have to prepared in K colour only (100%)
  • Minimum line thickness is 0,2mm
  • Minimum space between elements is 0,4mm
  • Minimum font size is 8pt
  • Stamped element may dislocate up to 2mm
  • Stamped element has to be located 3mm away from the cutting line

UV spot varnish

UV elements are layered during the screen printing process. Here are technical requirements:

  • Shape have to prepared in vectors. Bitmaps are not accepted
  • UV layer mask have to prepared in K colour only (100%)
  • Minimum line thickness is 0,4mm
  • Minimum space between elements is 0,5mm
  • Minimum font size is 14 pt
  • UV layer mask may dislocate up to 0,5mm

Embossing / Debossing

Depending on your project some elements can be embossed or debossed. Please note that there are specific technical requirements which limit what elements are possible to press:

  • Shape have to prepared in vectors. Bitmaps are not accepted
  • Embossing mask have to prepared in K colour only (100%)
  • Minimum line thickness is 0,4mm
  • Minimum space between elements is 0,8mm
  • Minimum font size is 12 pt
  • Embossing mask may dislocate up to 05mm

Booklet pages

Booklet pages should be saved in pairs according to those scheme below:

4 PAGES 8 PAGES 12 PAGES 16 PAGES 20 PAGES 24 PAGES

4-1

2-3

8-1

2-7

6-3

4-5

12-1

2-11

10-3

4-9

8-5

6-7

16-1

2-15

14-3

4-13

12-5

6-11

10-7

8-9

20-1

2-19

18-3

4-17

16-5

6-15

14-7

8-13

12-9

10-11

24-1

2-23

22-3

4-21

20-5

6-19

18-7

8-17

16-9

10-15

14-11

12-13

IMPORTANT! Please note that booklet and inlay pages also require bleed and safety margin.

Standard stock we use for printing

We use the following materials as standard in our products:

  • Digipacks, digisleeves, sleeves, gatefolds and similar: White-white 350g card stock
  • Booklets, inlays, inserts, flyers, posters – coated glossy / matte 170g paper

In addition to the above we use a lot of custom materials, like recycled card stock, uncoated offset papers as well as hundreds of other types available on on-demand.

DTP PROCESS

Let's see what is done before your files are printed.

What files types do we accept?

  • Formats: PDF / JPG / TIF.
  • Open formats: PSD / AI / EPS.
  • We do not accept CorelDraw files.

What do we check?

  • Order specification and provided files
  • Colour scheme – CMYK or greyscale
  • Artwork adjustment to template
  • Fonts are embedded or converted into shapes
  • Barcode is K only and vectorized
  • Text minimum size
  • Bleed and safe margin
  • UV, hotstamping and embossing masks – technical requirements

What don't we check?

  • Spelling, written or image content correctness
  • Bitmaps resolution included in the artwork
  • Artwork or text legibility
  • Correct page order
  • Overprint on layers – if some layers are prepared with overprint option the final products may vary from the digital preview

Common mistakes

Files incompatible with the order specification: We’ll inform you about it. You would have to send corrected files or update the specification. By the time this issue is not solved your order is on hold.

Important elements too close to the cutting line: Some elements have to be moved from the edge of the artwork. Check what is safety margin.

Missing bleed area: artwork is not extended outside the cutting line. Please check what is bleed.

Text not converted into shapes: convert all text layers into shapes. Otherwise some elements may differ on the final print even if digital proofs were corrected.

UV / Hotstamping / Embossing masks are not prepared in vector: please resend artwork converted into shapes.

Too small elements for UV / Hotstamping / Embossing: too small elements may not be visible or flooded. There are technical requirements for each finish. Please check uv, hotstamping or embossing.

THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO BE INDEPENDENT.