Six things to check before you go to print

The following are six of the most commonly overlooked details that businesses make when submitting their own artwork to be printed. Pay close attention to these pitfalls and you can avoid timely and costly delays when purchasing printing.

#1 - Include a bleed on your job. A bleed is what we call the extension of image beyond the edge of the paper. Contact your printer for specifics but .125" should be sufficient in most cases.

#2 - Include Crop Marks. When submitting your files as PDFs, be sure to check the Crop Mark checkbox. This specifies exactly where the project will be trimmed to.

#3 - Use images with the proper resolution. Use images in your documents with a minimum resolution of 300dpi. This will ensure the highest quality when printing color and greyscale pictures.

#4 - Convert your images to CMYK. Many times images can be overlooked and left in RGB mode. Be sure to check all images have been converted.

#5 - Include all linked images. Include a copy of any linked image in your document. Low resolution reproduction can result from any missing files.

#6 - Include any fonts used in your document. Be sure to include screen and printer versions of all fonts used in your document.

You can also avoid costly reprints and delays by having a clear understanding of creating print ready PDFs for your printer. Lynda.com has excellent video tutorials on the subject plus you can get a free 24 hour pass here.

If you'd like more information or help with preparing your files for printing, feel free to contact the pre-press experts at Eprint by calling (209) 249-9010.