How to prepare a digital file for letterpress:
PART 1: HOW TO PREPARE AN .EPS FILE
From Adobe Illustrator Files
1) Convert all text to “Outlines” with the
outline set to zero (0).
2) Increase artboard size in Document Setup
3) Add cropmarks
4) Save file as .eps for Illustrator CS3
From Adobe InDesign Files
1) Increase artboard size in Document Setup
2) Add cropmarks
3) Save file as .eps using File > Export
Convert all text to “Outlines”
4) Open the EPS in Adobe Illustrator®.
5) Save file as .eps for Illustrator CS3
From QuarkXPress Files
1) Save your QuarkXPress® document as EPS
( File < Save Page as EPS)
Make sure that in the Save dialogue box, under OPI, "Include Images" is selected
2) Open the QuarkXPress® EPS in Adobe Illustrator®.
3) Convert all text to “Outlines” with the outline
set to zero (0).
4) Increase artboard size in Document Setup
5) Add cropmarks
4) Save file as .eps for Illustrator CS3
How to prepare a digital file for offset:
PART 1: HOW TO PREPARE A PDF FILE
QuarkXPress Files
Four color process files:
Go to File > Export > Layout as PDF. Pages: All. PDF Style: PDF/X-1a:2001. Push Options Button: Pages: No checkmarks. Meta Data: Leave Blank. Hyperlinks: Leave Blank. Compression: Color Images: Compression Automatic ZIP/JPEG Low. Resolution Bicubic Downsample
300 dpi. Greyscale Images: Compression Automatic ZIP/JPEG Low. Resolution
Bicubic Downsample 300 dpi. Monochrome Images: Compression CCITT Group 4.
Resolution Downsample to 1200 dpi. Check Compressed Text and Line Art. Color: Color Options: Composite. Setup: Composite CMYK. All plates (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black should be checked. Fonts: Font Options Check Select All. Checkmarks before each font in the listing. Marks: Mode Centered. Width 0.003”. Lengtth: 0.194”. Offset: 0.125”. Include Bleed Marks unchecked. Bleeds: Bleed Type Symmetric. Amount: 0.125”. Check Clip at Bleed Edge. Layers: Layer Options check Select All. Checkmark before Default. Transparency: Check
Flatten Transparency. Vector Images 600 dpi, Blends 300 dpi, Drop Shadows 150 dpi. Check unsample
Rotations. To 300 dpi for images less than 225 dpi. Flattening resolution 300
dpi. OPI: Blank JDF: Unchecked. Than Save.
PMS color process files:
Same as above but change the following: Setup: Composite CMYK and Spot. The PMS plate(s) should be checked.
Adobe InDesign Files
Go to File > Adone PDF Presets > Scroll to [PDF/X-1a:2001]. Push Save. A panel appears. While General is highlighted on the left, make sure Standard: [PDF/X-1a:2001]. Compatibility:
Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3).Pages: All. The rest blank. Compression: Color Images: Bicubic Downsampling to 300 ppi for images above 40 ppi,
Compression: Automatic (JPEG), Image Quality: Maximum. Greyscale Images:
Bicubic Downsampling to 300 ppi for images above 40 ppi, Compression: Automatic
(JPEG), Image Quality: Maximum. Monochrome Images: Bicubic Downsampling to 1200 ppi for images above 1800 ppi, Compression CCITT
Group 4. Check Compressed Text and Line Art. Check Crop Image Data to Frames. Marks and Bleeds: Check Crop Marks. Type: Default. Weight: 0,25 pt. Offset: 0.0833 in. Bleed and
Slug: Top: 0.125 in, Left: 0.125 in, Bottom: 0.125 in, Right: 0.125 in. All
others unchecked. Output: Color: No color conversion, Destination: N/A, Profile Inclusion Policy: Don’t include profiles. Advanced: Transparency Flattener: [High Resolution], balance unchecked. Security: Unchecked. Push Export Button
Adobe Illustrator Files
Go to File > Save As . . . > A panel appears. Format: Select Adobe PDF (pdf). Push Save A panel appears. While General is highlighted on the left, make sure Standard: [PDF/X-1a:2001].
Compatibility: Acrobat 5 (PDF 1.4).Options: Highlight Embed Page Thumnails The
rest blank. Compression: Color Images: Bicubic Downsampling to 300 ppi for images above 40 ppi,
Compression: Automatic (JPEG), Image Quality: Maximum. Greyscale Images:
Bicubic Downsampling to 300 ppi for images above 40 ppi, Compression: Automatic
(JPEG), Image Quality: Maximum. Monochrome Images: Bicubic Downsampling to 1200 ppi for images above 1800 ppi, Compression CCITT
Group 4. Check Compressed Text and Line Art. Check Crop Image Data to Frames. Marks and Bleeds: Check Trim Marks. Type: Roman. Weight: 0,25 pt. Offset: 0.0833 in. Bleeds: Top:
0.125 in, Left: 0.125 in, Bottom: 0.125 in, Right: 0.125 in. All others
unchecked. Output: Color: No color conversion, Profile Inclusion Policy: Don’t include profiles.
PART 2: HOW TO SEND THE FILES
PART 2: HOW TO PREPARE SEPARATION FILES
Original 2 Color File:
“ITI_BC_Larry_2C.eps”
Make the black 100%K
in Adobe Illustrator .
Save and name file:
“ITI_BC_Larry_100K.eps
(Illustrator CS3)
Make the orange 100%K
in Adobe Illustrator .
Save and name file: “ITI_BC_Larry_166U.eps
(Illustrator CS3)
Cropmarks: Please make cropmarks .0625” (1/16”) from the trim, .125”(1/8”) long, .25 (1/4) pt thick
Artboard Size: Artboard Size 0.5 inch around the trim size
Line art images: Please import only bitmapped 1200 dpi images saved as tiff, do not save as jpegs
Black: Make all art 100%K. In Illustrator please make sure you are working in the CMYK
mode and choose 100%K in the color palette.
PART 3: HOW TO SEND THE FILES
Email .eps file(s) (Illustrator CS3) and a composed sample pdf(s) to prepress@intoink.com Files larger than 5MB can be sent via YouSendIt.com.
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