We can accept a wide variety of file formats (listed below) for our custom labels and tape. However, we prefer all files to be submitted as PDF’s to minimize any font, image, text, or formatting complications.
ACCEPTED FILE TYPES
.PDF – Portable Document Format. Document color mode should be CMYK Color.
.AI – Adobe Illustrator. Convert all fonts to outlines and embed any linked graphics. Document color mode should be CMYK Color.
.INDD – Adobe InDesign. Convert all fonts to outlines and provide all linked graphics. Document color mode should be CMYK Color.
.PSD – Adobe Photoshop. Flatten your layers before submitting your files. Document color mode should be CMYK Color.
.JPG or .JPEG – Photographic images. Set your camera to the highest resolution if using your own photos. Note that most jpeg images downloaded from the web are low quality and unsuitable for printing.
.TIF or .TIFF – Tagged Image File Format. This graphic file format will retain the highest possible image quality.
File preparation Tips
Size & Bleed
Artwork that contains images, text or graphics that extend to the very edge of the finished piece is called “bleeding off the edge” or simply “bleed”. Files with bleed need to be built to the final trim size plus 1/16″ extra on each side for the bleed. For example, if you are ordering an 8.5″ x 11″ sell sheet, the graphic file’s size should 8.625″ x 11.125″.
When saving the file into the proper format (preferably PDF), do not use crop or printer’s marks. These tools will increase the dimensions of the file as a result.
If your artwork contains a graphic or artistic border close to the paper edge? See related Bleed above and Safety Zone below. When paper is trimmed there is a cutting tolerance of 1/16″, which may result in uneven borders. For this reason, we do not recommend borders. However, if they are necessary in your piece, the border should be at least 1/4″ thick and at least 3/8″ from the bleed line. Perfect trimming is not guaranteed.
Does your piece have any images, text or other elements close to the page edge? If too close, it may get cut off. For that reason, you should establish a no-go “safety zone” of at least 1/8″ from the edge of the final trim size. To avoid any images or text being cut off when the piece is trimmed, do not place them in the safety zone.
Color & assets
Files that contain color text, artwork, or images must be saved in four color “CMYK” (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) color mode. Files submitted in RGB or Pantone color mode will need to be converted to CMYK. Converting RGB to CMYK will cause a color shift as they are not the same color spectrum.
In contrast, files that are black and white must have all artwork or images in Grayscale color mode.
For vector files created in softwares such as Adobe Illustrator or InDesign, all text must be converted to outlines before saving the file. When using a bitmap-based software application such as Adobe Photoshop, simply flatten the image. Also, avoid font sizes smaller than 8pts or fonts that are narrow. These may not print, will lack crispness, or may not display well against dark backgrounds.
Along with this, all lines should be at least .5pts thick to make them printable. Thinner lines may display on your screen but are too thin to print.
While your computer screen will display low resolution images, when printed they will look blurry. For best printing results, a resolution of at least 300 effective PPI* is recommended. Files with resolution lower than 300ppi* can be printed, but results may be unsatisfactory.
*Effective PPI is the resolution of an image at the size it is placed in your document. If you have an image with a resolution of 300ppi, place it in a document and scale the image to 200% your Effective PPI of that image will be 150ppi, which is not suitable for printing. If you took that same image with a 300ppi resolution and placed it in a document and scale the image to 50% your Effective PPI of that image will be 600ppi, which is very high resolution.
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