Key points to remember before creating a PDF file using DTP softwares such as Indesign, Illustrator, Quark Express, etc.

STEP 1

Preparing your Artboard for design

Before you export a print ready PDF, you need to ensure that your artwork is prepared with the correct amount of bleed. This can be defined before you prepare your artboard for designing.

The same option can be used whether you are preparing a file for Booklets, or Business cards or any other print items.

YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:

• Minimum bleed requirement is 3mm either side of the artboard

• Files must be supplied as INDIVIDUAL PAGES and NOT FACING PAGES if preparing a booklet or brochure

• If preparing a double sided business card, a minimum of 2 pages per document should be supplied per business card eg. If you have 5 different names, you MUST supply 5 different PDF files with a maximum of two pages per PDF document where one page will be the front and the other, the reverse. This MUST be for each of the 5 different names

• Ensure that the correct document colour mode is selected. A print document must always be a CMYK document and not RGB

STEP 3

Stripping off your profiles

Please remember to strip off all profiles from your files before preparing your PDF files. We use the Industry Standard FOGRA 39 and your PDF files are refined on our RIPS which will strip off the profiles and assign our print profile, hence it is better to avoid any friction at a latter stage and strip off all the profiles before you supply us the files.

Other handy points to remember

Converting Text to Outlines/Curves

Please remember that every machine has different fonts. The fonts could be licensed to any one individual or simply we may not have a font at our end which you may have used and in order to avoid fonts going funny, please always ensure that your text is converted to outlines before you output the file for PDF.

This is really easy and can be done once the artwork is complete and before you output for PDF. Simply go to the Type Menu and Select Create Outlines.

TYPE>CREATE OUTLINES - For Indesign/Illustrator ITEM> CONVERT TEXT TO BOX - Quark Express

Key points to remember before creating a PDF file using Microsoft Office.

STEP 1

Document Size is correct

Before you prepare PDF, you need to ensure that your artwork is prepared on the correct size.

The size can be chosed from the Page Layout Option in Microsoft Office - which includes Word, Powerpoint or Publisher. Do not use the default size which is usually the presentation size as this will create a PDF file which will not be the correct size and when scaling using our automated RIPS, this will distort the file and its contents

With your document file open, Select PRINT from the FILE menu

Now we’re back to the Adobe PDF Document Properties Dialogue Box...

Key points to remember before creating a PDF file using Microsoft Office.

STEP 1

Document Size is correct

Before you prepare PDF, you need to ensure that your artwork is prepared on the correct size.

The size can be chosed from the Page Layout Option in Microsoft Office - which includes Word, Powerpoint or Publisher. Do not use the default size which is usually the presentation size as this will create a PDF file which will not be the correct size and when scaling using our automated RIPS, this will distort the file and its contents

STEP 2

With your document file open, Select FILE>SAVE AS

From the resulting dialogue box, select PDF from the Save As Type: Dropdown list