At Conquest Graphics, we are dedicated to helping you achieve the best results for your project, at the lowest price, and on-schedule. Our File Preparation Guide will help you prepare your files for a smooth and easy printing process, with the fewest possible problems.

Our low prices are based on the assumption that your files will output correctly, without changes or alterations. Edits and/or changes to your files may incur additional charges and could potentially delay the completion of your job. By carefully reading and following these guidelines, you will help ensure that your project will proceed smoothly, without incurring additional charges and delays.

Using this guide will help you get the desired results, without additional charges or delays. If, after reading this document, you still have questions about how to best prepare your files for printing, please call us at 1-800-707-9803, email us at support@conquestgraphics.com, or click on the "Live Chat" icon. We're Here To Help!

SUPPORTED FILE FORMATS

Conquest Graphics prefers the Adobe Acrobat PDF file format because:

• Embedding fonts and graphic elements within the PDF file eliminates many missing file issues.
• PDF files, when created properly, are cleaner and usually smaller than the source files that created them.
• PDF files are more easily and accurately pre-flighted than source files, and PDF files move smoothly and rapidly through our prepress system.

For a tutorial on how to create a PostScript file for conversion to PDF, see Adobe's site by clicking here.

For a tutorial on how to use Acrobat Distiller settings to create a PDF file, see Adobe's site by clicking here.

We also accept the following applications and file types, on both the PC and Macintosh platforms:

• Adobe Acrobat PDF - all versions
• Adobe InDesign - all versions
• Adobe Illustrator - versions 8 to CS3
• Adobe Photoshop - versions 7 to CS3
• QuarkXpress - versions 4.11 to 6.5
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft Word
• JPEG
• TIFF
• EPS

If you are using an application or file type not listed here, please contact us, as it may be possible for us to accept other formats.

DOCUMENT SET-UP

Page Size: Please set your document page size equal to the finished trim size. Trim and crop marks are not required, as they are automatically specified by our prepress software based on your document pages size. Be sure to allow for 1/8” (.125”) bleeds on all sides of your document pages. Bleed is the extra portion of image that will be trimmed away from your piece to allow the image to continue off the edge. For pages without bleed, please maintain a ”safe area” of 1/8” (.125”) from the outside edges of the page, where there are no page elements, especially frames and borders. This prevents page elements from being trimmed off, and will also prevent the appearance of unevenness.

Folding: For a three-panel brochure, please adjust the panel size on the first folded panel so that it is 1/16” shorter than the other two panels, and will tuck neatly inside when folded flat. Check out the Templates section for more setup guidelines.

Spreads: Our prepress software automatically positions pages on the press sheet in the correct order and configuration for printing and finishing, therefore, it is not necessary to create spreads in your layout program. In fact, it is preferable that you do not create spreads, especially reader’s spreads. Reader’s spreads show how bound and finished pages will appear to a reader, and have no relationship to printer’s spreads, which are based on how the finished piece is assembled when bound and finished.

Color Management: Please ensure that all images, logos, and layout elements are either specified as or converted to CMYK color model. For information about the CMYK color model, click here for a definition. Conquest Graphics is not liable for color shifts that may occur as a result of RGB to CMYK conversions. For information about the RGB color model, click here for a definition.

Also, please turn off all color management controls. Make sure there are no embedded ICC profiles in your files. Please see the documentation for your software to know how to do this, as it varies from package to package.

Trapping: Make sure that any trapping controls in your creation software are turned off. Our prepress system automatically calculates trapping values where colors need to overlap, so it is not necessary to worry about trapping in your files.

Fonts: Please send us any fonts used in your project. If you are submitting PDF files, be sure that all fonts are embedded in the file. It is a good practice to avoid using the type styles in your application to make type bold or italic. It is always best to select the actual font style from the font list itself.

When using Illustrator or Freehand, convert all fonts to outline format.

Images: Please ensure that all images are converted to the CMYK color model, and are at least 300 dpi in resolution. Images may be scaled up by 20% before they lose quality. Conquest Graphics is not responsible for customer-supplied images that are low-resolution, flat, pixilated, oversaturated, or otherwise inappropriate for high-quality printed results.

Line art (non-photographic images) should be scanned at 1200 dpi for best results.

Line and Type Sizing: Do not specify a line weight of less than .25 points, nor specify “hairline” as your line weight, as that may be a device-dependent setting. Avoid reversing white type out of a dark background at any point size less than 9 points. Avoid using any type size less than 6 points anywhere in your project. Rules less than .5 points, and type less than 9 points should be specified in a solid color for best results.

Viewing on a Monitor: Computer monitors are RGB-based devices, while color printing is a CMYK-based process. Therefore, it is not possible to make critical color judgments for printing based on monitor viewing. However, please note that viewing a PDF proof on your computer is an industry-accepted method for approving correct size and layout, and for making non-critical qualitative decisions about color. Rest assured that Conquest Graphics uses the best equipment available, and utilizes industry-standard densitometry and colorimetric measurement techniques to ensure consistent, pleasing results.