Mac Artwork Set Up Guide

Please review / print off our large format artwork setup guide... Should you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to call Robin on 01425 478001 or email robin@wsa.net.uk

Please note: Emailable master quark or indesign artwork templates exist for the majority of pop-ups, banner stand or larger projects - please email us for details.

LARGE FORMAT ARTWORK GUIDE.

(last updated 20.12.07)

1. Colour Matching Notes:
The large format digital process will not match a litho printed or spot colour printed item. We strongly recommend building in enough time into your project to have mini proofs produced of your project (chargeable at £60.00 ex VAT) to review what the final colour output will be from your artwork. It is impossible to determine this before printing and therefore all responsibility lies with yourself if this process is not implemented. All replacement graphics due to this aspect will be charged at the full rate quoted to you plus all additional hardware and delivery costs required to implement any re prints.

You must be aware that the large format digital process prints similar to the four colour process and does not use pantone colour as its basis. Therefore all artwork must be constructed in the cmyk process mode. It is your responsibility to either brief your artworker as follows, or for you to inform us of any colours which we are to match before production of projects. If no colour matching brief is given, then a standard six colour digital process print will be produced.You must be aware that this may not match your expected final result, please liaise with us as much as possible, we are more than happy to help to achieve the best results for you.

2.Your Purchase Order / Confirmation to Proceed:
All large format work requires a Purchase Order, in order to progress your project though our production system. Your Purchase Order or emailed confirmation must accompany the approved mac artwork and colour hard copy proofs (see note 6).

Quotes for large format production work, are on the basis that all files are set up correctly using eps’s only (see note 5).
No system time has been allowed for and will be quoted as an extra if required, alternatively, if faults are spotted before printing, your artworker should re-submit new mac quark files to the correct spec. In these circumstances, our standard turnaround time would apply from receipt of the new artwork.
By submitting your artwork and PO to us, you are authorising us to proceed to print with your project (wherever possible, files have a basic check, prior to print).
If no colour laser proof is supplied a £40 fee will be charged, to check the CD against output (see note 6).

3.Your MAC Artwork / Artwork Pro / Platform:

All quark jobs MUST be back saved to quark 5 and supplied on CD as a "collect to output" option from the FILE menu. PC quark & pc fonts cause issues and will require longer production times than standard.
If you are working on artwork for a pop-up or banner stand, please call Robin who will be able to email a master mac quark artwork document to you, in the format in which we need it (tel: 07812 990 337 / email: robin@wsa.net.uk).
All artwork to be set up at one quarter of the finish size and in cmyk colour mode (please call Robin in the office on 07812 990 337 with any queries you may have).
For best text quality, all text should be vector eps’s (converted to outlines) or within quark and not photoshop.
All black elements should use our cmyk 4 col black (50c/50m/50y/100k) to ensure full saturation, please use the 4col black in template.
All text in either illustrator and freehand files must be converted to outline (therefore no potential fonts problems).
All graphic elements and file fonts must be supplied, mac adobe or mac postscript fonts only, missing elements may delay delivery.
Where panel specs have been provided, one piece of artwork, matching our Artwork SetUp Guide must be supplied (along with a colour laser proof), unless artworks are common or repeated and share the same finish panel sizes.

4. Supply all Fonts and Graphic Elements:

In quark (mac), please “collect to output’ from the file menu your approved document, to ensure all up to date elements of the artwork are supplied to us. All quark 6 projects MUST be back saved to quark 5. You must remember that this will not include the document fonts. Please ensure these are copied separately.

Only mac adobe or postscript fonts are to be used (PC fonts are not compatible and will cause printing probelms, which will delay delivery and potential costings).

5.Your Scans / Hi Resolution Images / Vector Files:

All scans must be supplied as high resolution 300dpi single file eps’s only (no tiff’s or jpegs) and in the cmyk file format.

All RGB files must be converted to cmyk, as colour output will be affected if printed as RGB files.

The easiest way to think about scans and resolutions is..... in your mac quarter size artwork, all scans and images must be scanned as cmyk and specifically for the artwork size and supplied to us as eps file formats only (no .tif’s or .jpg’s). All scans / images must be 300dpi and in your quarter size artwork at 100% (any additional enlargement of the image in your artwork will reduce image quality).

If you are enlarging your eps images in your quarter size artwork more than 5% - 10% then image quality will decrease and become unsuitable (these are guide figures only and it depends on original image quality / scan quality).You must re-scan the images to suit the size you require in your quarter size artwork.

You must not simply re-size or “up rez” the file within photoshop, all this will do is to create a poor quality image when enlarged.

We offer a full scanning service should this service be required, please call for details and costs.We cannot be held responsible for any error in content, artwork set up or non adherance to the above guidelines. All vector .eps’s (from illustrator or freehand) must have any text element coverted to outlines.

6. Supply Colour Approved Proofs / Artwork Check Fee:

It is imperative, that along with your approved mac quark artwork (CD or ZIP disk only) you must supply an approved colour laser proof of the approved artwork on disk.We need this to check content, layout, possible text re-flow or image movement.We cannot be held responsible for any error in content, artwork set up or non adherance to the above guidelines. A £40 fee will be charged if no laser is supplied, to check your CD content against your large format output, no responsibility can be taken for errors arising if no proof to check against has been supplied.
If you require a mini pop-up proof from our large format printer on the correct media with the correct seal, then a charge of £50.00 plus VAT will be made to you including carriage (poa).You will need to allow additional time for production of your project, from receipt of faxed approval of mini proof as being ok to proceed to print.

7. Graduation Tips:
Graduations & the large format technique can cause graduations, therefore treat as a graphic in photoshop, add plenty of gaussian blur and make sure the graduation measures the smallest amount possible. Graduations accross popup widths may cause banding to be highly visible.