File Preparation Guide
Digital - Large Format........................................................................2
Digital - Photographic........................................................................3
Digital - Small Format........................................................................4
Flexography........................................................................................5
Offset - Sheetfed.................................................................................6
Offset - Web........................................................................................7
Screen Print........................................................................................8
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]
Digital - Large Format
File Preparation Guide
Below is the file preparation specification for printing in the method indicated above. To avoid additional prepress charges,
please ensure your files meet these specifications before submitting them.
Software
Color Management & Spot Colors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adobe CS packages of software (preferred)
Quark 7 or later
Mac or PC (Mac preferred)
Fonts
∙∙ OpenType (preferred), Adobe Type 1, Cross-Platform
True Type.
∙∙ Please do not use PC True Type.
Avoid any Microsoft package of software for print
publishing.
File Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bleed & Safety
∙∙ Bleed: 0.25 in. minimum (0.50 in. preferred)
∙∙ Bleed: 0.50 in. minimum on banners that hem
∙∙ Safety: same as bleed except when live-area requires
more
∙∙ Safety: on banners that hem, ≥ 1.0 in.
Small Type and Rules
∙∙ Black type that is ≤ 12 pt. should be 100% K only (not
rich black) and set to overprint.
∙∙ White knock-out type or serif fonts should be ≥ 12 pt.
∙∙ San-serif font sizes should be ≥ 6 pt.
∙∙ Black rules should be ≥ 0.5 pt. and set to overprint.
∙∙ Heavy black type and large black areas should be rich
black set to overprint.
Rich blacks
∙∙ Rich black mix for digital is: C=50, M=40, Y=40,
K=100
Images
∙∙ Image resolution should be ≥ 200 ppi, enlargements
not to exceed 150%
∙∙ No spot colors are allowed in images.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
Tonal Range
∙∙ 1-99%
∙∙ Knockout limit is 0%
∙∙ Overprint limit is 99%
Trapping
∙∙ All trapping is done at IntegraColor.
•
Color Management
∙∙ IntegraColor’s working space is GRACoL. An ICC
profile of our standard working space is available upon
request
Spot Colors
∙∙ All superfluous spot colors should be removed from all
pallets.
∙∙ All spot colors will print as CMYK.
Other Considerations
•
•
Document Builds
∙∙ All documents should be built so page or artboard
sizes equal the trim or die size.
∙∙ Bleeds are outside of the trim or die size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Illustrator Document Raster Effect Settings should be
set to 150 ppi.
Die Lines
∙∙ Dies should be created as a ¼ pt. line, spot color
named DIE, DIELINE or DIE LINE set to overprint.
∙∙ Confirm die symmetry where applicable for two sided
die cut work.
File Transfer
•
•
•
File Naming
∙∙ All file names should be alpha-numeric only
∙∙ File names should not exceed 32 characters
Packaging a Job
∙∙ Please remember to include all support files including
sub-support files
∙∙ Please include all fonts including fonts used in support
files.
File Transfer
∙∙ http://files.integracolor.com
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]
Digital - Photographic
File Preparation Guide
Below is the file preparation specification for printing in the method indicated above. To avoid additional prepress charges,
please ensure your files meet these specifications before submitting them.
Software
•
•
•
•
•
Adobe CS packages of software (preferred)
Quark 7 or later
Mac or PC (Mac preferred)
Fonts
∙∙ OpenType (preferred), Adobe Type 1, Cross-Platform
True Type.
∙∙ Please do not use PC True Type.
Avoid any Microsoft package of software for print
publishing.
File Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bleed & Safety
∙∙ Bleed: 0.125 in. minimum (0.25 in. preferred)
∙∙ Bleed: 0.25 in. if post-print lamination
∙∙ Safety: same as bleed except when live-area requires
more
Small Type and Rules
∙∙ Font sizes should be ≥ 10 pt.
∙∙ Black rules should be ≥ 0.5 pt. and set to overprint.
∙∙ If your document is CMYK, heavy black type and large
black areas should be rich black, set to overprint.
Rich blacks
∙∙ If your document is CMYK, rich black mix for digital is:
C=50, M=40, Y=40, K=100
Images
∙∙ Image resolution should be ≥ 200 ppi, enlargements
not to exceed 100%
∙∙ For CMYK images soft black drop shadows should be
black only set to multiply.
Tonal Range
∙∙ 1-99%
∙∙ Knockout limit is 0%
∙∙ Overprint limit is 99%
Trapping
∙∙ All trapping is done at IntegraColor.
Color Management & Spot Colors
•
•
•
Color Management
∙∙ IntegraColor’s CMYK working space is GRACoL. An
ICC profile of our standard working space is available
upon request
∙∙ IntegraColor’s RGB working space is Adobe RGB
(1998)
Spot Colors
∙∙ All superfluous spot colors should be removed from all
pallets.
∙∙ All spot colors will image as RGB.
Other Considerations
•
•
Document Builds
∙∙ All documents should be built so page or artboard
sizes equal the trim or die size.
∙∙ Bleeds are outside of the trim or die size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Illustrator Document Raster Effect Settings should be
set to 150 ppi.
Die Lines
∙∙ Dies should be created as a ¼ pt. line, spot color
named DIE, DIELINE or DIE LINE set to overprint.
∙∙ Confirm die symmetry where applicable for two sided
die cut work.
File Transfer
•
•
•
File Naming
∙∙ All file names should be alpha-numeric only
∙∙ File names should not exceed 32 characters
Packaging a Job
∙∙ Please remember to include all support files including
sub-support files
∙∙ Please include all fonts including fonts used in support
files.
File Transfer
∙∙ http://files.integracolor.com
Device
∙∙ The photographic imaging devices are RGB, not
CMYK. Therefore, working in RGB is the preferred
method UNLESS you have other matching pieces that
are printing on a CMYK device. If you have matching
components printing CMYK, please work ALL
elements in a common CMYK working space.
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]
Digital - Small Format
File Preparation Guide
Below is the file preparation specification for printing in the method indicated above. To avoid additional prepress charges,
please ensure your files meet these specifications before submitting them.
Software
Color Management & Spot Colors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adobe CS packages of software (preferred)
Quark 7 or later
Mac or PC (Mac preferred)
Fonts
∙∙ OpenType (preferred), Adobe Type 1, Cross-Platform
True Type.
∙∙ Please do not use PC True Type.
Avoid any Microsoft package of software for print
publishing.
File Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bleed & Safety
∙∙ Bleed: 0.125 in. minimum (0.25 in. preferred)
∙∙ Bleed: 0.25 in. if post-print lamination
∙∙ Safety: same as bleed except when live-area requires
more
Small Type and Rules
∙∙ Black type that is ≤ 12 pt. should be 100% K only (not
rich black) and set to overprint.
∙∙ Font sizes should be ≥ 6 pt.
∙∙ Black rules should be ≥ 0.5 pt. and set to overprint.
∙∙ Heavy black type and large black areas should be rich
black, set to overprint.
Rich blacks
∙∙ Rich black mix for digital is: C=50, M=40, Y=40,
K=100
Images
∙∙ Image resolution should be ≥ 300 ppi, enlargements
not to exceed 150%
∙∙ No spot colors are allowed in images.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
Tonal Range
∙∙ 2-98%
∙∙ Knockout limit is 2%
∙∙ Overprint limit is 98%
Trapping
∙∙ All trapping is done at IntegraColor.
•
Color Management
∙∙ IntegraColor’s working space is GRACoL. An ICC
profile of our standard working space is available upon
request
Spot Colors
∙∙ All superfluous spot colors should be removed from all
pallets.
∙∙ All spot colors will print as CMYK.
Other Considerations
•
•
•
Document Builds
∙∙ All documents should be built so page or artboard
sizes equal the trim or die size.
∙∙ Bleeds are outside of the trim or die size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Illustrator Document Raster Effect Settings should be
set to 300 ppi.
Die Lines
∙∙ Dies should be created as a ¼ pt. line, spot color
named DIE, DIELINE or DIE LINE set to overprint.
∙∙ Confirm die symmetry where applicable for two sided
die cut work.
Books
∙∙ Avoid non-center spread cross-overs
∙∙ All shingling is done at IntegraColor.
File Transfer
•
•
•
File Naming
∙∙ All file names should be alpha-numeric only
∙∙ File names should not exceed 32 characters
Packaging a Job
∙∙ Please remember to include all support files including
sub-support files
∙∙ Please include all fonts including fonts used in support
files.
File Transfer
∙∙ http://files.integracolor.com
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]
Flexography
File Preparation Guide
Below is the file preparation specification for printing in the method indicated above. To avoid additional prepress charges,
please ensure your files meet these specifications before submitting them.
Software
Color Management & Spot Colors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adobe CS packages of software (preferred)
Quark 7 or later
Mac or PC (Mac preferred)
Fonts
∙∙ OpenType (preferred), Adobe Type 1, Cross-Platform
True Type.
∙∙ Please do not use PC True Type.
Avoid any Microsoft package of software for print
publishing.
File Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
Bleed & Safety
∙∙ Bleed: 0.125 in. minimum (0.25 in. preferred)
∙∙ Safety: same as bleed except when live-area requires
more
Small Type and Rules
∙∙ Black type that is ≤ 12 pt. should be 100% K only (not
rich black) and set to overprint.
∙∙ Font sizes should be ≥ 6 pt.
∙∙ Black rules should be ≥ 0.5 pt. and set to overprint.
∙∙ Heavy black type and large black areas should be rich
black, set to overprint.
Rich blacks
∙∙ Rich black mix for flexography is: C=50, M=40, Y=25,
K=100
Images
∙∙ Image resolution should be ≥ 300 ppi, enlargements
not to exceed 150%
∙∙ Spot colors created in images including bumps,
varnishes and spot coatings must be trapped.
Standard trap is ½ pt., half in and half out, at 100% of
finished size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Gray images should be black only if possible.
∙∙ High GCR images work best.
Tonal Range
∙∙ 4-95%
∙∙ Knockout limit is 4%
∙∙ Overprint limit is 95%
∙∙
•
Setting tonal range correctly for flexography is
CRITICAL
•
•
Color Management
∙∙ IntegraColor’s working space is GRACoL. An ICC
profile of our standard working space is available upon
request
Spot Colors
∙∙ All superfluous spot colors should be removed from all
pallets.
∙∙ All spot colors that are intended to print as process
color should be converted to CMYK.
∙∙ Spot colors left in documents will be separated as
spot colors and additional charges may be incurred.
Grays
∙∙ Make grays black only whenever possible.
Other Considerations
•
•
Document Builds
∙∙ All documents should be built so page or artboard
sizes equal the trim or die size.
∙∙ Bleeds are outside of the trim or die size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Illustrator Document Raster Effect Settings should be
set to 300 ppi.
Die Lines
∙∙ Dies should be created as a ¼ pt. line, spot color
named DIE, DIELINE or DIE LINE set to overprint.
∙∙ Confirm die symmetry where applicable for two sided
die cut work.
File Transfer
•
•
•
File Naming
∙∙ All file names should be alpha-numeric only
∙∙ File names should not exceed 32 characters
Packaging a Job
∙∙ Please remember to include all support files including
sub-support files
∙∙ Please include all fonts including fonts used in support
files.
File Transfer
∙∙ http://files.integracolor.com
Trapping
∙∙ All trapping is done at IntegraColor except for image
trapping.
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]
Offset (Sheetfed)
File Preparation Guide
Below is the file preparation specification for printing in the method indicated above. To avoid additional prepress charges,
please ensure your files meet these specifications before submitting them.
Software
Color Management & Spot Colors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adobe CS packages of software (preferred)
Quark 7 or later
Mac or PC (Mac preferred)
Fonts
∙∙ OpenType (preferred), Adobe Type 1, Cross-Platform
True Type.
∙∙ Please do not use PC True Type.
Avoid any Microsoft package of software for print
publishing.
•
File Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bleed & Safety
∙∙ Bleed: 0.125 in. minimum (0.25 in. preferred)
∙∙ Bleed: 0.25 in. if post-print lamination
∙∙ Safety: same as bleed except when live-area requires
more
Small Type and Rules
∙∙ Black type that is ≤ 12 pt. should be 100% K only (not
rich black) and set to overprint.
∙∙ Font sizes should be ≥ 6 pt.
∙∙ Black rules should be ≥ 0.5 pt. and set to overprint.
∙∙ Heavy black type and large black areas should be rich
black.
Rich blacks
∙∙ Rich black mix for offset sheetfed is: C=50, M=40,
Y=25, K=100
Images
∙∙ Image resolution should be ≥ 300 ppi, enlargements
not to exceed 150%
∙∙ Spot colors created in images including bumps,
varnishes and spot coatings must be trapped.
Standard trap is ¼ pt., half in and half out, at 100% of
finished size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
Tonal Range
∙∙ 2-95%
∙∙ Knockout limit is 0%
∙∙ Overprint limit is 95%
Trapping
∙∙ All trapping is done at IntegraColor except for image
trapping.
Color Management
∙∙ IntegraColor’s working space is GRACoL. An ICC
profile of our standard working space is available upon
request
Spot Colors
∙∙ All superfluous spot colors should be removed from all
pallets.
∙∙ All spot colors that are intended to print as process
color should be converted to CMYK.
∙∙ Spot colors left in documents will be separated as
spot colors and additional charges may be incurred.
Other Considerations
•
•
Document Builds
∙∙ All documents should be built so page or artboard
sizes equal the trim or die size.
∙∙ Bleeds are outside of the trim or die size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Illustrator Document Raster Effect Settings should be
set to 300 ppi.
Die Lines
∙∙ Dies should be created as a ¼ pt. line, spot color
named DIE, DIELINE or DIE LINE set to overprint.
∙∙ Confirm die symmetry where applicable for two sided
die cut work.
File Transfer
•
•
•
File Naming
∙∙ All file names should be alpha-numeric only
∙∙ File names should not exceed 32 characters
Packaging a Job
∙∙ Please remember to include all support files including
sub-support files
∙∙ Please include all fonts including fonts used in support
files.
File Transfer
∙∙ http://files.integracolor.com
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]
Offset (Web)
File Preparation Guide
Below is the file preparation specification for printing in the method indicated above. To avoid additional prepress charges,
please ensure your files meet these specifications before submitting them.
Software
Color Management & Spot Colors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adobe CS packages of software (preferred)
Quark 7 or later
Mac or PC (Mac preferred)
Fonts
∙∙ OpenType (preferred), Adobe Type 1, Cross-Platform
True Type.
∙∙ Please do not use PC True Type.
Avoid any Microsoft package of software for print
publishing.
•
File Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bleed & Safety
∙∙ Bleed: 0.125 in. minimum (0.25 in. preferred)
∙∙ Safety: same as bleed except when live-area requires
more
∙∙ Safety: For perfect-bound books, set safety to
minimum 0.5 in. at bound (spine) edge.
Small Type and Rules
∙∙ Black type that is ≤ 12 pt. should be 100% K only (not
rich black) and set to overprint.
∙∙ Font sizes should be ≥ 6 pt.
∙∙ Black rules should be ≥ 0.5 pt. and set to overprint.
∙∙ Heavy black type and large black areas should be rich
black, set to overprint.
Rich blacks
∙∙ Rich black mix for offset sheetfed is: C=50, M=40,
Y=25, K=100
Images
∙∙ Image resolution should be ≥ 300 ppi, enlargements
not to exceed 150%
∙∙ Spot colors created in images including bumps,
varnishes and spot coatings must be trapped.
Standard trap is ¼ pt., half in and half out, at 100% of
finished size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
Tonal Range
∙∙ 2-95%
∙∙ Knockout limit is 0%
∙∙ Overprint limit is 95%
Trapping
∙∙ All trapping is done at IntegraColor except for image
trapping.
Color Management
∙∙ IntegraColor’s working space is GRACoL. An ICC
profile of our standard working space is available upon
request
Spot Colors
∙∙ All superfluous spot colors should be removed from all
pallets.
∙∙ All spot colors that are intended to print as process
color should be converted to CMYK.
∙∙ Spot colors left in documents will be separated as
spot colors and additional charges may be incurred.
Other Considerations
•
•
•
Document Builds
∙∙ All documents should be built so page or artboard
sizes equal the trim or die size.
∙∙ Bleeds are outside of the trim or die size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Illustrator Document Raster Effect Settings should be
set to 300 ppi.
Die Lines
∙∙ Dies should be created as a ¼ pt. line, spot color
named DIE, DIELINE or DIE LINE set to overprint.
∙∙ Confirm die symmetry where applicable for two sided
die cut work.
Books
∙∙ Avoid non-center spread cross-overs
∙∙ All shingling is done at IntegraColor.
∙∙ Perfect-bound books should be built as single,
consecutuve, non-facing pages with bleed extended
on all four sides.
File Transfer
•
•
•
File Naming
∙∙ All file names should be alpha-numeric only
∙∙ File names should not exceed 32 characters
Packaging a Job
∙∙ Please remember to include all support files including
sub-support files
∙∙ Please include all fonts including fonts used in support
files.
File Transfer
∙∙ http://files.integracolor.com
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]
Screen Print
File Preparation Guide
Below is the file preparation specification for printing in the method indicated above. To avoid additional prepress charges,
please ensure your files meet these specifications before submitting them.
Software
Color Management & Spot Colors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adobe CS packages of software (preferred)
Quark 7 or later
Mac or PC (Mac preferred)
Fonts
∙∙ OpenType (preferred), Adobe Type 1, Cross-Platform
True Type.
∙∙ Please do not use PC True Type.
Avoid any Microsoft package of software for print
publishing.
File Preparation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bleed & Safety
∙∙ Bleed: 0.25 in. minimum (0.50 in. preferred)
∙∙ Bleed: 0.50 in. minimum on banners that hem
∙∙ Safety: same as bleed except when live-area requires
more
∙∙ Safety: on banners that hem, ≥ 1.0 in.
Small Type and Rules
∙∙ Black type that is ≤ 12 pt. should be 100% K only (not
rich black) and set to overprint.
∙∙ White knock-out type or serif fonts should be ≥ 12 pt.
∙∙ San-serif font sizes should be ≥ 6 pt.
∙∙ Black rules should be ≥ 0.75 pt. and set to overprint.
∙∙ Heavy black type and large black areas should be rich
black set to NOT overprint.
Rich blacks
∙∙ Rich black mix for screen printing is: C=50, M=40,
Y=25, K=100
Images
∙∙ Image resolution should be ≥ 200 ppi, enlargements
not to exceed 150%
∙∙ Spot colors created in images including bumps,
varnishes and spot coatings must be trapped.
Standard trap is 2 pt., half in and half out, at 100% of
finished size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be 100% K set to
multiply.
∙∙ Gray images should be black only if possible.
∙∙ High GCR images work best.
Tonal Range
∙∙ 4-96%
∙∙ Knockout limit is 2%, Overprint limit is 98%
Trapping
∙∙ All trapping is done at IntegraColor except for image
trapping.
•
•
Color Management
∙∙ IntegraColor’s working space is GRACoL. An ICC
profile of our standard working space is available upon
request
Spot Colors
∙∙ All superfluous spot colors should be removed from all
pallets.
∙∙ All spot colors that are intended to print as process
color should be converted to CMYK.
∙∙ Spot colors left in documents will be separated as
spot colors and additional charges may be incurred.
Grays
∙∙ Make grays black only whenever possible
Other Considerations
•
•
Document Builds
∙∙ All documents should be built so page or artboard
sizes equal the trim or die size.
∙∙ Bleeds are outside of the trim or die size.
∙∙ Soft black drop shadows should be black only set to
multiply.
∙∙ Illustrator Document Raster Effect Settings should be
set to 150 ppi.
Die Lines
∙∙ Dies should be created as a ¼ pt. line, spot color
named DIE, DIELINE or DIE LINE set to overprint.
∙∙ Confirm die symmetry where applicable for two sided
die cut work.
File Transfer
•
•
•
File Naming
∙∙ All file names should be alpha-numeric only
∙∙ File names should not exceed 32 characters
Packaging a Job
∙∙ Please remember to include all support files including
sub-support files
∙∙ Please include all fonts including fonts used in support
files.
File Transfer
∙∙ http://files.integracolor.com
Note: For additional questions, please contact our preflight department at 214-678-6518,
email: [email protected]