Before you upload

For best results have your files prepared by a professional graphic designer who is familiar with 4-color process printing. Show your designer this page. If your files are not prepared according to the instructions below we will automatically make the necessary corrections and automatically bill you an additional $75. If any of the terms below sound like Greek to you, it is very likely you will be paying the $75 fee.

FILE FORMATS

MAC
Photoshop TIFF
Illustrator EPS
QuarkXPress 4

PC
Photoshop EPS or TIFF
Illustrator EPS

All files must be one of the above formats. The following are just a few of the many formats which are not accptable: JPEG, GIF, PSD, and PDF. Any file generated by a word-processing or works program, such as Word or AppleWorks, is also not acceptable.

FILE NAMES
Provide separate files for the front and back of your card. Name the files like this:

EPS
yourshowFRONT.eps
yourshowBACK.eps

TIFF
yourshowFRONT.tif
yourshowBACK.tif

Quark
yourshowFRONT.qxd
yourshowBACK.qxd

FILE BUILD REQUIREMENTS

Flattening
Photoshop files must be flattened (i.e. no layers). All channels except CMYK must be deleted.

If you use Illustrator’s advanced features (such as transparency, gradient mesh, drop shadow, or other Photoshop-like effects) you must flatten and/or rasterize your art (see Adobe’s extensive documentation). Plays411 is not responsible for the outcome if you use these features (you will have to pay for the printing regardless of results). We strongly recommend that you rebuild your file in Photoshop instead.

Placed/Embedded images
Quark: Placed images must conform to the guidlines on this page and must be included with the Quark file when you send us the job.

Illustrator: Placed Photoshop images must be TIFFs and must be embedded in your file.

Fonts
Quark: Do not use the style menu or keyboard commands to stylize fonts. Use Postscript fonts only. Truetype fonts are not acceptable. Include all fonts with your files. Be sure to include the printer fonts and the screen fonts.

Illustrator: Convert all fonts to outlines.

Full Color
Use CMYK colors only. RGB colors and Pantones or other spot colors are not acceptable. For large solid black areas use a CMYK rich black (30% C, 30% M, 30% Y, 100% K).

Black Ink
The following applies to artwork which uses only black ink (and/or shades of black, i.e. greys) as with the back of most postcards. In Photoshop use greyscale or bitmap mode. In Illustrator and Quark do not use RGB blacks, CMYK rich blacks, or spot color blacks. Use only black or percentages of black.

Resolution
Photoshop files should be 300–400 dpi for color and greyscale images. 600–1200 dpi for line art.

Bleed
Build your files with 1/16" bleed. Bleed is the area of the card which will be cut off after printing. The artwork for a 4"x6" card must be 4.125" x 6.125". Even if your artwork does not bleed, you must use these dimensions. Click HERE for a diagram. If you are using Illustrator enclose your artwork in an unstroked, unfilled rectangle with the bleed dimensions. In Quark enter the bleed dimensions in the Document Setup or New Document dialog box.

Live Area (Printing)
Keep all critical type and art at least .125" away from where the card will be cut. The live area for a 4"x6" card is 3.75"x5.75". Click HERE for a diagram.

Live Area (Postal Regualtions)
If you are planning to mail your card the artwork on the back must conform to postal regulations. Click HERE for a diagram.

Printer's Marks
Do not include any crop marks, register marks, color bars, or labels. Just the artwork.

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