Tips and Tricks
Fonts
Convert fonts to curves or outlines where possible, include font files for all other situations.
Some programs allow you to "convert fonts to curves or outlines". This is preferred, wherever possible, to eliminate any issues surrounding fonts used in your project. Where the software does not support this feature, please make sure you INCLUDE ALL FONTS when sending your files.
Optimum Scanning Or Image Resolution
300 dots per inch at full size is optimum.
When you first begin working with digitized images, the term resolution can be confusing. While several types of resolution are important, we are most concerned with device resolution which refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi) that the output device can produce.
If the final image will be larger than the scanned original, you need additional data to produce a final image with the correct image resolution. For example, if you scan a 2" x 2" photo at 300 dpi and then enlarge the image to 4" x 4" (200%), the resolution will drop to 150 dpi (50%). To allow for this 200% intended enlargement, you would need to scan the original image at 600 dpi to ensure there is sufficient digital data in the file to achieve your goal. Large format images are scaled to size at a resolution of 150dpi. This maintains a lower file size with no apparent quality loss.
Detailed instructions on saving and sending us your Photoshop files are detailed below. Please follow the outlined steps very carefully. There may be several ways or options for saving and sending us your files, but not all of them result in a printable format. Following our procedure exactly will greatly increase your chances of success with predictable results.
Adobe Photoshop
- To convert your Photoshop files to either of these formats, follow these steps carefully.
- Flatten all layers and convert artwork to CMYK mode, 300 dpi resolution.
- In the file menu select Save As and type in the name of your file.
- From the pop-up menu select either TIFF [preferred] or JPEG.
- TIFF options - Byte order; select PC. DO NOT select the LZW compression option!
- JPEG options - Quality factor should be 12 (maximum quality or largest size), in format options click on the first option - baseline (standard).
- Click OK. Your file is now saved.
- Assemble project file(s) into a single folder and compress into a single ZIP file.