Digital Guidelines

RGB | CMYK

RGB DEVICES

Lambda
Frontier
35mm film recorder

RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

Raster-only files like Photoshop® are sent directly to the imaging devices at the final size on the media. It’s easy to use Photoshop’s Image Size calculator to determine and set output dimensions. (See the resolution chart below.) For files other than raster-only, we rely on the common PostScript® compatible graphic applications including QuarkXpress®, Adobe Pagemaker®, Adobe Illustrator®, Macromedia Freehand®, and Corel Draw®. These applications require an intermediate step called the “RIP” procedure to ready the file for printing. Color Reflections uses PostScript RIPs to interpret and rasterize the client’s original file to generate a new file which the various devices require. If you plan to use Microsoft Word®, Excel®, or PowerPoint® to build files for large output, we advise you to call us for more specific instructions.

DOCUMENT SETUP

for Quark®, Pagemaker®, Illustrator®, Freehand®, Coreldraw®, In Design® We prefer to have the files built at final size. However, for applications with page size limitations, a smaller but proportional size layout should be used. Start the document by defining the page/document setup at the final overall trim or the smaller proportional size. It is best to supply only the files that are necessary and to tell us which file names are to be printed.

CUSTOMER SUPPLIED “GO-BY”

Please provide a proof with crop marks of your file (B & W, low resolution is O.K.) so we may see the layout and communicate with you and our technicians. If your proofing device or office laser printer has trouble printing the file, it is a good indication that we may have trouble with the file also.

IMPORTED ART ELEMENTS

Please link (do not embed) any imported art or image files into the page layout file. Any clipping paths in a raster file should be set to a flatness of Blank device pixels. (Do not set to “0”.) Any Pantone or CMYK colors in both vector and raster elements will be changed to RGB 3-color mode. The Lambda, Frontier, and film recorder are photographic RGB devices.

RESOLUTION

The Lambda digital photo printer has three base resolutions: 200 ppi, 150 ppi, and 100 ppi (ppi = pixels per inch). Try to use 200 ppi for prints up 30x30 inch, 150 ppi for prints up to 48x48, and 100 ppi for prints up to 48x96+. The Frontier digital mini lab has an optimum resolution of 300 ppi. The slide film recorder uses 1024x683 (1K), 2048x1366 (2K), 3072x2048 (3K) pixels for raster files and images Postscript at 4096x2732 (4K) pixels.

FONTS

We prefer to have all the fonts converted to outline before submission. If you are using an application that does not support the outline conversion, then you need to provide all the fonts including the printer and the screen fonts.

CHECK LIST:

Build the layout to the final size or the proper proportion to the final size.
Include a hardcopy “go-by” including trim marks to use as a guide
Include any import files with your page layout file(s) and be sure they are sized and saved in the proper file format
Convert the fonts to outline or include all printer and screen fonts including any fonts used in any imports
Please supply only the files that are necessary and tell us which page layout file names are to be printed.

CMYK DEVICES

Tempo - digital screen press
Xerox & Canon color laser printers
Vutek & Grandjet large format digital
HP inkjet plotters

RECOMMENDED SOFTWARES APPLICATIONS

We rely on the common PostScript® compatible graphic applications including QuarkXpress®, Adobe Pagemaker®, Adobe Illustrator®, Adobe Photoshop® , Macromedia Freehand®, and Corel Draw®.Color Reflections uses PostScript RIPs to interpret and rasterize the client’s original file to generate a new file which the printer requires. If you plan to use Microsoft Publisher®, Word®, Excel®, or PowerPoint® to build files for output, we advise you to call us for more specific instructions.

DOCUMENT SETUP

Tempo: Build layouts at final size. All layouts for this device MUST include at least the standard 1/8 inch bleed for trimming purposes. Trims and any folds or perfs must be included. Xerox & Canon color laser printer: Build layouts at final size. Maximum sheet size is 12x18 for 11x17 layouts with bleeds. Please note that the printer has an 1/8 inch margin for the letter and tabloid size pages. In order to produce prints with bleeds, we have to choose the next larger sheet. Vutek and Grandjet digital screen presses: Due to the large size imaging ability of this printer, it is preferable and often necessary to build layouts at a smaller proportion than final size. The widest single panel available is 72 inch for the Vutek and 120 inch for the Grandjet. Wider panels must be assembled with seams. Please account for any outside size dimensions for hems, grommets, pole pockets, etc. Please supply only the files that are necessary and tell us which page layout file names are to be printed. Submitted files which need corrections by our digital department may incur additional charges and delivery delays may result.

CUSTOMER SUPPLIED “GO-BY”

Please provide a proof with crop marks of your file (B & W, low resolution is O.K.) so we may see the layout and communicate with you and our technicians. If your proofing device or laser printer has trouble printing the file, it is a good indication that we may also have trouble with the file.

IMPORTED ART ELEMENTS

Please link (do not embed) any imported art or image files into the page layout file. Any clipping path in a raster file should be set to a flatness of Blank device pixels. (Do not set to “0”) Any Pantone or RGB colors in both vector and raster elements will be changed to CMYK 4-color mode and will use any or all of the inks and toners necessary. Imports should be properly scaled and pre-rotated if necessary to eliminate lengthy RIP times. DCS files should be changed to single TIFF or EPS.

RESOLUTION

The Heidelberg DI prints at an effective 1270 dpi using a 150 line screen. The industry standard scan resolution of 300 ppi for Raster file types are technically optimal. (ppi = pixels per inch.) The Xerox & Canon use a 150 line screen. The Vutek & Grandjet we recommend 50 to 100 ppi Raster files. Vector art elements are, of course, resolution independent and result in great quality at any size.

FONTS

COLOR

Any large black portion of any element should be set to “rich black.” For Vutek and Grandjet output, this includes type. C60, M40, Y40, K100 is preferred. Please see our separate handout regarding RGB, CMYK and Pantone color matching and for instructions using color management methods.

CHECK LIST:

Build the layout to the final size or the proper proportion to the final size.
Include a hardcopy “go-by” including trim marks to use as a guide
Convert the fonts to outline or include any import files with your page layout file(s) and be sure they are sized and saved in the proper file format
Include all printer and screen fonts including any fonts used in any imports
Please supply only the files that are necessary and tell us which page layout file names are to be printed.