File Preparation

Fonts:
Convert fonts to curves or outlines whenever possible, include font files for all other situations. Some applications, such as Adobe Illustrator, allow you to convert fonts to outlines, this is preferred whenever possible, to eliminate any issues surrounding fonts used in your project. We realize not everybody has software that supports this feature, in these cases please make sure you INCLUDE ALL FONTS when sending your files. In these situations, we've found True Type fonts to reproduce more consistently, but we can accept Post Script fonts as well.

Color:
Convert all images to CMYK before sending them. The colors of the images that you work with are based on color modes. Desktop scanners and computer monitors use the RGB color mode. Color modes define the color characteristics of images and are described by their component colors. The RGB color mode is composed of red, green, and blue values and the CMYK color mode is composed of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black values.

Although you may not be able to see the difference between an image in the CMYK color mode and an image in the RGB color mode on screen, there is quite a difference. Colors from the RGB color space can cover a greater range of the visual spectrum (that is, they have a larger color gamut) than those in the CMYK color space. For the same image dimensions, a CMYK image has a larger file size than an RGB image.

As there are more RGB colors than can be reproduced in the CMYK color system, RGB colors outside the CMYK gamut are replaced with the closest CMYK match available. Most scanned photographs contain RGB colors that are within the CMYK gamut, and all the colors are converted to CMYK with little or no substitution.

Images that were created or altered digitally, however, often contain colors that are out of gamut. You may notice a significant difference in appearance when you convert these images to CMYK. Although we will convert all images from RGB to CMYK, we highly recommend that you make the conversion yourself before sending us the files so that you have a chance to view the difference the conversion makes on your monitor.

Vector vs. Raster Images:

Vector drawings are defined mathematically. They are resolution-independent, so they can be scaled to any size with absolutely no loss of quality. Raster or bitmapped images are defined by their pixel resolution, so they cannot be scaled to larger output size without loss of resolution. As a rule of thumb, a raster image will lose resolution proportionally to its increase in size. If you provide us a 10"x10" image with a resolution of 300 dpi, and want to output that same image at 20"x20", that image will output at 150 dpi. This formula must always be considered when creating your final file.

Saving Your Files:

Adobe Illustrator
Save as EPS at final size.
Convert all type to outlines or include your fonts. (Select all, and use the Create Outlines option under the Type drop-down menu listing)
Convert all colors to CMYK. (Select all, and use the Colors option under the Filter drop-down menu listing)
Under file menu select "Save As", type in the file name. In Save As Type field select "Illustrator EPS".
Under "Preview" select "None" (this helps maintain a more manageable file size)
If you have the software, compress the file using Zip (PC) or Stuffit (MAC).
You can now got to the upload page and send it away.

Adobe Photoshop
You can save as a PSD or TIF at final size.
Flatten your image (this will eliminate the need to include fonts).
If you have the software, compress the file using Zip (PC) or Stuffit (MAC).
You can now go to the upload page and send it away.