How to Prepare Pre-press Files to Avoid Printing Problems

How to convert your Illustrator File into PDF
Pre-Print Check list

Create an Adobe PDF

1. Choose File > Save As or File > Save A Copy.

2. Type a filename, and choose a location for the file.

3. Choose Adobe PDF (*.PDF) as the file format, and click Save.

4. 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.

5. Click Save PDF.

6. Choose Adobe PDF Preset as [Press Quality]

7. Click Marks and Bleeds

8. Check All Printer’s Marks

9. Click Save PDF

Pre-Print Check List

1. Convert your file into Press Quality Print specially when you are  uploading art files to an online printing source follow their specific guidelines. The most accepted format you should use is a .pdf file with any live fonts converted to outlines, 1/8" or 0.125" bleed, and crop marks.
2. Fonts - make sure that you've included all fonts used or you must convert your text into outlines.
3. Links and Images - make sure that you've included all files and images have proper resolution for the required press linescreen.
4. CMYK - Convert all RGB images to CMYK! This is a must for 4-color printing.
5. Spot colors are defines as as spot colors and process colors are defined to separate as 4-color process. PMS colors are defined identically throughout all imported graphics files.
6. 2 Sided Jobs should be merge in 1 PDF file to upload the job as one.
7. Resolution should be as follows
   Bitmap resolution = 600 dpi
   Photoshop or other image files = 300 dpi (CMYK)

Prepress Guide Acceptable Files

1. PDFx/1a
2. High Resolution PDF
3. All raster data at least 300dpi
4. All elements CMYK
5. All fonts embedded
6. Files should have 1/8" bleed if necessary
7. Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress
8. All fonts embedded, outlined or included in a separate folder
9. All images 300dpi or greater, embedded or included in a separate folder
10. All elements should be CMYK
11. Tiff or raster EPS
12. 300 dpi, CMYK & Vector EPS
13. All fonts embedded, outlined, or included in a separate folder
14. All nested images embedded or included in a separate folder
15. CorelDraw!, Microsoft Publisher, Word, Excel, Power Point
16. Pagemaker files may be subject to reformatting charges.
17. Most programs allow data to be exported as PDF, EPS or TIF.
18. This option is recommended to avoid extra charges.

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