|
On this page you'll find the necessary information to help you get started and to begin uploading files. Including:
FTP File Upload Requirements
Pre-Press Check List
Creating Hi-Res PDF Files
Frequently Asked Questions
Computer to Press - Four Color Process or Spot Color Guidelines
We recommend you read this section with FTP requirement guidelines, pre-press checklist items and other helpful info. Want to UPLOAD YOUR FILES NOW? Click Here.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW SECTION FILLED WITH HELPFUL FILE PREPARATION TIPS!
For additional file preparation tips and how to avoid common file release mistakes, visit our new section here. |
|
 |
| STEP 1 |
Collect all files, pictures and fonts necessary for high resolution printing. (If you are NOT sure how, See Pre-Press Checklist) |
| STEP 2 |
Place them into one folder. |
| STEP 3 |
Title the folder using “easy-to-recognize” letters (No abbreviations, no slashes, no symbols, please). Spaces and dashes are okay. For Example: Express Printing Brochure 07-01 |
| STEP 4 |
Compress the folder using one of these software programs:
Compressing a file helps to keep data from becoming corrupt while sending. It is a good precaution to prevent problems.
|
| STEP 5 |
Make sure the compression program automatically added a file extension. For Example: Express Printing Brochure 07-01.sit (Without the correct file extension, the file will NOT upload.) Correct “dot-three-letter” extensions are shown above. |
| STEP 6 |
Go to the "Upload Your Files" Button at top of page & follow the directions. |
| NOTE |
MAC OSX has a built in .zip compression under the File menu, titled Create Archive.
Creating your original files on a Mac or PC does NOT matter, we can accept both. After the files have been compressed & prepared into one folder, you can save them to any disk and upload from any computer (regardless of Mac or PC). For example, original Mac files can be saved on a PC zip, then uploaded via a PC computer's browser on our website. |
|
Pre-press checklist of requirements to prepare images for output
In summary:
|
|
• Include all graphic support files (.eps, .tif, .jpg, etc...)
• Include BOTH screen fonts and printer fonts of each typeface. Preferably Postscript Type 1 fonts.
• Double check that you've include fonts inside of graphic .eps files
• Include a Mock-Up or a composite output of items or pages to be printed
• If necessary, include a color-separated output
• Define all Pantone ® color names uniformly. For example, a graphic designed in Illustrator with PMS Red 187, must have the identical spot color listed in the Quark/InDesign/Pagemaker file. Type capital letters and spaces identical (PMS Red 187 is NOT the same Red 187).
• Convert all RGB images to CMYK (a common problem with .jpg)
• Provide all photos or halftones at no lower than 300dpi/150 line screen.
• Do NOT stretch any image greater than 120%. It will loose clarity.
• Provide a minimum 1/8inch bleed
|
|
What type of software do you accept?
We accept Mac or PC versions of:
QuarkXPress
InDesign
Pagemaker
Illustrator
Freehand (Mac Only)
Photoshop
Corel Draw (PC Only)
MS Publisher (PC Only)
Acrobat (see Creating a High-Res PDF)
What type of equipment do you have?
It is a very long list, so we've developed a short summary list. If you don't see a particular type of equipment necessary for your job, give us a call at (859)255-2679.
Apple Macintosh G5s
PC with Windows XP
HP5000 6-Color Proofer
HP5500 6-Color Proofer
Heidelberg SpeedMaster 74 4-Color plus Coater Press
Heidelberg SpeedMaster 52 5-Color Press
Heidelberg 42 - 2-Color Press
Heidelberg StitchMaster
Polar Cutters
Sthal Continuous Feed Folders
To view some of our equipment, click here.
back to top
What is the FTP password and User ID?
It changes occasionally...please call (859) 255-2679 or (800) 589-3934 for the answer.
|
|
Advanced Warning...
If you have never created a PDF for hi-res output on a printing press, please do not try to learn fast so you can send a file now. Take time to learn and experiment with different settings, well in advance of any deadline. It will require considerable troubleshooting. Do not depend on this workflow until you are familiar and confident with pre-press and hi-resolution output and the nuances of Postscripting and distilling.
For More Professional Guidelines and Tips - click here. Purchase the FULL version of Adobe Acrobat® Software
You will need the FULL version of Adobe Acrobat® software, which includes Acrobat Distiller®. You will need Distiller® to control the crucial settings necessary for hi-res output. Though some application software (ie Pagemaker) contain the ability to create a lo-res PDF, owning the compete version of Acrobat offers you the versatility necessary to make hi-res PDFs. Buy it from Adobe's website. Don't confuse Acrobat Reader®, Acrobat PDF Writer®, or Acrobat Distiller® as the "full version" of Adobe Acrobat Software. These components are included in the full version, but are NOT the full version.
Visit Adobe's Website at www.adobe.com/acrobat
Producing PDF files for hi-resolution output is a detailed process with many variables.
What is PDF?
Portable Document Format. It requires the designer to Postscript or RIP the file, rather than the pre-press department. Creating a PDF file replaces the typical responsibilities of pre-press output upon the designer (reflow, color separations, etc..) It is cross-platform (Mac or PC). The file size (K) is small in comparison to native files, making it ideal for sending over the internet. Once created, it is less likely than native files to corrupt. Postscripting files to create a PDF requires a tremendous amount of hard-disk space on your computer. Once a PDF has been created - correctly or incorrectly - editing options by the service bureau or printing house are limited to text and some text and color adjustments.
| |
Though there are several ways to create a PDF file, the most reliable method follows these general steps: |
| 1. |
Save ALL files for output in one folder (including fonts and native Quark or PageMaker file). If the file has links or support files, perform a "collect for output" function or "Save Files for Remote Printing" function. |
| 2. |
Create/Save a Postscript (or .ps) file.
First, select the appropriate print driver. (Print drivers are included with the full version of Adobe Acrobat). You must have an appropriate Postscript printer driver (PPD) set up with a Distiller Postscript printer description (PPD) file. In the event that you do not have a color Postscript driver, set up a Virtual Printer Driver which will handle color. You can also find the most recent printer drivers on the Adobe Web site (www.adobe.com) |
Before printing to Postscript, you should consider the following questions or variables:
| Embed All Fonts? |
Yes. |
| Grayscale or color separation? |
Generally, a composite works well in our workflow. For spot color, choose DeviceN if available. |
| Bleed Settings? |
At least .125 inch. |
| Accurate Page Size? |
If items bleed, you'll need to create the PDF onto a larger page with crop marks so there will be enough bleed. |
| Image Resolution |
All images should be at least 300 dpi. |
| Trapping? |
If you feel comfortable setting your own trapping values, please do so. Otherwise, be sure to let us know. |
| Other Variables |
Other variables exist depending on specifications for final output and on your particular application software (i.e. QuarkXPress, InDesign, etc.) For our required settings, click here. |
| |
Next, select "print" as though you would send the file to print a hard copy, but instead select the "save as" a "Postscript" or "file" option. Then the .ps file will be SAVED on your computer as "yourfilename.ps" rather than sent to a printer. Now you have created a postscript file. |
| 3. |
Create a PDF using Acrobat Distiller. Open Acrobat Distiller (hereafter "Distiller"). Make appropriate settings in Distiller before opening the .ps file in Distiller. Depending on the application, these settings must meet the specifications required by Copy Express. However, once the PDF has been created - correctly or incorrectly - editing options by Copy Express is limited.
For this reason, it is important that your print settings and Distiller settings meet the specifications required. Items such as font handling, resolution, compression, etc. are crucial to producing a PDF for high-resolution output.
A Word of Caution: Because there are so many variables within the Postscripting and Distilling processes, it is best to read thoroughly about PDF and to experiment with the processes and their variables before depending on the PDF for an important project - especially one under a tight deadline |
Open the Postscript file (.ps) to distill into a PDF.
Congratulations! Unless errors are encountered, you will have produced a PDF ready for high-end output.
back to top
|
Possible Errors |
| Press Optimized |
If you are using Acrobat 4.0 or higher (full version of Adobe Acrobat, not to be confused with Acrobat Reader), try using the job options setting "Press Optimized," as these settings are appropriate for most high-quality output. |
| Fonts |
Missing fonts being one of the most common prepress glitches in a workflow, it is best to "embed all fonts" when distilling a Postscript file to PDF. Subset threshold should be 100%; while this won't mean the smallest possible PDF file, it should ensure a glitch-free output.
You can determine how Distiller acts when it cannot find a font it's supposed to embed. You can tell Distiller to: Substitute font(s), and Warn, Cancel or Abort the job.
Avoid using TrueType fonts if possible. Postscript fonts are preferred. Though some applications have a "Create Adobe PDF" feature under the File menu, we recommend the steps listed above instead and checking the Distiller setting each time before beginning to distill a file. |
| AcrobatWriter or PDFWriter |
Never use AcrobatWriter or PDFWriter to create PDFs for high-quality output as these drivers are not designed for Postscript. You are likely to encounter frustrating problems if you do (i.e. fonts that won't embed properly, EPS files that aren't transparent or won't knock out, gradients that show banding, etc.)
Some applications (Quark 6.5, InDesign) have built-in export-to-PDF options that work fairly well with our RIPs. If you choose to use these, it’s important that you set the fonts to be embedded and images to NOT be compressed, Transparency Flattener should be set to “HIGH”, and OPI should be turned OFF. |
Microsoft Excel or Word for PC (NOT Hi-Res)
All Microsoft software applications are similar in creating PDF files. |
If you happen to have the full version of Adobe Acrobat 4.0 or higher loaded on your PC, you may be able to simply select File/Create Acrobat PDF. Otherwise, you will need to follow the steps listed above. It is critical that you choose an appropriate printer, however. Generally, any Laserwriter 8 printer will work (HP LaserJet series). If your document contains color, make sure to select a color printer. In the print dialogue box, you will select the "Print to File" option, then name the file as "yourfilename.ps" Microsoft may try to automatically place a .prn extension on the file. Simply overwrite with the correct .ps extension.
NOTE: Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) use the Microsoft RGB color model, they do NOT use Pantone or process color models, therefore you cannot create a file for Spot Color or 4-Color Process printing directly from within these programs. Microsoft Publisher allows you to create a file for either spot or process printing under the Tools/Commercial Options tab. Although converting the files into a PDF makes it possible to edit them so they may be printed, there will usually be additional stripping charges for the editing. |
E-Printing Express's Required PDF Settings
Below are the settings you need to make on your computer before we can adequately print a PDF file. Please keep in mind that the windows may appear differently to you, depending on what version of Acrobat you are using, or whether you are using a PC or Macintosh. We can print almost any postscript or PDF file: however by following these simple suggestions, you may eliminate some of the stripping charges necessary to prepare the file to be printed properly.
|
| 4-Color Process Output |
|
Make sure all images placed into the native file are CMYK, not RGB, Lab Color, or any other color setting. If you're using Photoshop, for example, you would open the image, go to Image/Mode/CMYK, then save and place or re-link the image into the file to be printed. In a vector imaging program (i.e. Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, etc..), make sure all colors used are CMYK. |
| |
Move the two files "epilogue.ps" and "prologue.ps" from the Distiller/Extras folder into the main Acrobat folder. |
| |
Open Distiller and make the following adjustments under the Settings/Job Options window:
- Under the General tab for File Settings - Compatibility is at least 3.0 and ASCII Format
- Default resolution AT LEAST 300 dpi.
- Under the Compression tab - Do NOT compress anything. Click OFF all options.
- Under the Font Embedding tab - Choose to "Embed All Fonts", and Subset fonts at 100%.
- Under the Advanced tab - the most important options are to distill with "epilogue.ps" and "prologue.ps" and DO NOT convert CMYK images to RGB. All other options - we can adjust as needed.
- NOW you may create the PDF - either by Distilling a .ps file or exporting the native files as a PDF, depending on the program you are using.
|
Spot-Color Process Output
Follow the suggestions above, but instead of converting all images to CMYK, make sure all colors are specific Spot Colors. A PDF file will retain Spot Color Information.
back to top |
|
UPLOAD YOUR FILES
 |
First Time Uploading Files?
Click here for all the information you'll need to prepare your files correctly and successfully upload. |
Just Click |
|
|
