What type of file formats do you accept?

23 March 2017

Adobe Acrobat PDF format files are our preferred choice. PDFs must be press-optimised (print ready) with 3mm bleed, crop marks, and fonts embedded.
Quark Xpress or Adobe InDesign files are acceptable if ‘collected for output’ (Quark Xpress) or ‘packaged’ (Adobe InDesign) so that all the files and fonts are included. Pages must be set up to the correct size with bleed.
Adobe Illustrator files are acceptable, saved in EPS format. Bleed and crop marks must be included and all fonts converted to outlines.
Photoshop or similar files should be supplied as 300dpi CMYK, TIF files with LZW compression turned off. Highest quality JPG is acceptable, bleed and crop marks must be included.
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files are acceptable, but ideally should be converted to PDF format.

PDF files
When creating PDF files please note that books or booklets over four pages must not be supplied as spreads – always create a PDF containing individual pages. This does not affect your original Quark or InDesign files which may have been set up as spreads.
Bleed
If your artwork requires bleed (i.e. if the design extends off the edge of the page) you must allow 3mm bleed. It is advised that colour areas also bleed onto tabs where appropriate, to avoid white edges when folded in. We recommend that any text is kept at least 8mm away from the edge of the page.
Photos
Photographic images should be supplied as 300dpi CMYK.
Images
For lithographic print, images must be supplied in Pantone Spot Colours or CMYK.
For digital print (short run folders), ideally images should be supplied in CMYK format.