The following information is intended to guide you in properly preparing and formatting electronic files containing artwork, design elements, or complete design layout files for use with the printed materials you order.
These general guidelines are not intended to assist with, or substitute for the instructions of, any software used outside of this website.
Before uploading any files, ensure that:
►Files utilize a four-color (CMYK) color space
►Files match the specified bleed size of the product and any design elements that will extend (bleed) to one or more finished edges of the product to align with the bleed size edge to provide the proper 1/8" of sacrificial area beyond the trim size edge
►Any design elements or type that are not to bleed are at least 1/8" from the finished edges of the product as specified by its trim size
►You are properly licensed to use fonts for the intended purpose of the product you are are purchasing
►Fonts are embedded into the file or converted to outlines and are crisp, clear and legible at 100% size when viewed from a reasonable distance given the purpose of the product.
►Your file and all source material used in it is created at a resolution of at least 300 dpi and at the size it will be printed
►All source material is embedded within the file you are uploading
►The file you are uploading is an acceptable format. A high-resolution, press-ready PDF (PDF/X-1a) is recommended for complete designs
►The size of file you are uploading does not exceed 50 MB
See below for complete details and additional information.
►Products are intended to be printed in full color utilizing four-color process printing methods.
►Ensure that files to be uploaded utilize a four-color CMYK color space.
►Convert files that utilize spot colors (PANTONE, etc.) and RGB color spaces to CMYK before uploading. Digital photographs and scans from paper, film transparencies, negatives or other media will often be RGB. Many logos, drawings and other digitally-created artwork utilize spot colors. Consult your graphic design or image editing software’s help or instructions for details on converting RGB and spot color elements as stand alone files, parts of larger artwork files, or parts of complete layout files.
►Please note that converting from spot colors or other color spaces to CMYK produces an approximation of the source color which may vary from it.
►Be aware that variables such as screen resolution, monitor calibration, display adapter capabilities, view angle and room lighting, just to name a few, impact the accuracy with which you see colors on-screen. Unless you are working with precision-calibrated equipment in an environment with proper color-corrected illumination and monitor placement, you should not rely upon on-screen print previews for measuring color accuracy.
►The trim size of a product is the final, finished size of the product as stated in its specifications.
►The bleed size of a product is 1/4" greater in width and height than its trim size.
This is to facilitate positioning of artwork or design elements to overlap any finished edge of the product by a sacrifical 1/8" allowing it to appear to flow, or bleed, all the way to the edge of the product after it is cut to its trim size.
Uploaded artwork or design elements intended to bleed should be sized to provide 1/8" of sacrificial area on appropriate edges when placed in the design studio.
Upload complete designs at the product’s stated bleed size whether elements within it are intended to bleed or not.
►The margins of a product are 1/8" inside its trim size
It is strongly suggested that all type and any design elements that are not intended to bleed be kept within the margins of the product.
►Ensure that all fonts used in any uploaded artwork, design elements or complete designs are properly licensed and that you have all rights and permissions to use them for the intended purpose of the product you are ordering.
►Whenever possible, embed all fonts into the file you are uploading
►When working in vector formats (see next section below) better results may be achieved when fonts are converted to outlines before the file is finalized and saved for upload. Consult your software for availability and assistance.
►If you cannot embed fonts or convert them to vector outlines, the printer you choose may require you to provide the font files
The following file types may be uploaded:
►Raster-Based Formats: JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg), Graphic Interchange Format - GIF(.gif), Portable Network Graphics - PNG (.png), Adobe Photoshop Document (.psd)
Sizing and Resolution: For best results, images in these formats should be uploaded as close to the size they will be used in the product as possible at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. When text has been saved in a raster format, resolutions up to 1200 dpi may be required depending upon the product, its size and the printer.
►Vector-Based Formats: Adobe Illustrator Artwork (.ai), CorelDRAW (.cdr)
Sizing and Resolution: Images in these formats may be scaled up or down in physical size after uploading. Recommended resolution is 300 dpi.
►Compound Formats: Encapsulated PostScript - EPS (.eps), Portable Document Format - PDF (.pdf)
Sizing and Resolution: As images in these formats may include both raster and vector graphics, they should be uploaded as close to the size they will be used in the product as possible at a resolution of 300 dpi.
►Compressed/Archive Formats: .zip, .tar, .rar
Sizing and Resolution: These formats may be used to decrease the file size of the upload. Follow sizing and resolution guidelines for the original file type being compressed
►Whenever possible, embed any files or components that were used in the creation of the artwork, design element or complete design in the file that you will be uploading. This will help to avoid the potential need to submit those source files to the printer.
►When uploading a complete, ready-to-print design, a press-quality PDF file is recommended. A PDF/X-1a compliant file with embedded fonts and CMYK color space is best otherwise choose the highest possible quality setting available in the software you are using.
►When screens are used, screen values between 133 lpi and 150 lpi are recommended.
►File size should not exceed 50MB
►Scans of reflective source materials (such as a photographic prints), transparencies or negatives should be made at as high a resolution as possible and enlarged or reduced to the size intended for use at the time of scanning. If files become prohibitively large, scan at one-half or one-quarter the intended size at increased resolution. Consult documentation for your scanner and scanning software if needed.
►Best results will be achieved from digital photos when taken at the largest size (height x width in pixels) possible and transferred to an image editor at the same size. Once in the image editor, they should scaled to the size required for use in the product at a resolution of 300 dpi.
►PDF files are provided as digital soft proofs. Digital proofs are intended to help you confirm the layout and design elements of your creation, but cannot guarantee color accuracy. If color accuracy is of extreme importance to you, please include a note requesting a hard copy proof with your order. Requests for hard copy proofs may increase production time and incur additional costs from the printer, possibly including, but not limited to: labor, supplies, production and shipping.
►Certain products, product options, printing processes and print service providers may have additional or different requirements. Be sure to adhere to any other detailed instructions or guidelines you may encounter during the course of designing, uploading and ordering.
►Questions and specific technical inquiries that are not addressed by the content provided here or elsewhere on the website should be directed to the help desk.
►Questions and support requests or any software used outside of a PrintGizmo-powered website must be directed to the provider of that software.
►Improperly prepared and utilized files can cause delays in manufacturing and unexpected results in output.