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Create a new document. File>New>. Enter the exact size that your postcard will be, then click OK. E.g.. 4 x 6", 5 X 7", 4 X 9" or 6 X 8". |
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If your company postcard design includes bleed you need to add 1/8" of image bleed (see the large thumbnail view). Bleed is a term used by printing companies that describes the printed image meeting the sheet edges. Bleed is very easy to create once you understand it. NOTE: If you are sending digital files to press frequently bleed is probably the most important printing term to understand. |
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Check your colour model! File> Document Color Mode> CMYK Color. Always make sure that your document is in CMYK mode when designing postcards you intend to have produced in four colour process or by us. CMYK or 4 color process is a common type of printing utilizing 4 primary colours: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Kilo (Black). By overlaying different transparent values of these primary colours we can print a rainbow like an original photo. NOTE: If you choose to work in RGB Mode the colours you see onscreen tend to "Glow" more than the printed postcard. When we create our files they re always save in RGB and CMYK. This way they can be quickly accessed for print or Digital Media |
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Flatten your Transparency. Object> Flatten Transparency. One of the biggest challenges in printing and lithography is outputting true transparency values. When files are produced with our technology we need to "rip" (raster image process) the file. Files that contain transparency often generate mammoth post script code that is require by the "rip". The more code, the more chance for error. By flattening the transparency file sizes and ripping complexities are high reduced. |
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Create outlines out of your text. Type> Create Outlines. Select all (ctrl A -win) and make basic paths out of your fonts. This an excellent feature that allows creative desktop publishers the opportunity to "go hog wild" with the use of fonts, if so desired. With Adobe's "create outlines" feature you can eliminate those pesky font conflicts that can disrupt originality, cause unnecessary delays and generally make your pre-press experience with commercial printers a frustration. |
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Save your artwork for printing. File>Save as> eps or ai. We will accept either format but eps is a safer bet. Particularly when graphic designers apply multiple effects such as transparencies, drop shadow, gradient blends, etc. By saving your file as eps (Encapsulated PostScript) you may discover file errors that will result during production causing further, unnecessary delays. |
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Click OK. Hooray your done!! This is the file that you will send to us for top-notched four colour printing. Another good tip is to save this file unique to its purpose e.g. "Your_File_Name_To_Printer_Sept15_06" To avoid possibility of overwriting your native file. Are you ready to go now?
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