Pre-Press Academy
*This guide assumes a basic understanding of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. If you aren’t familiar with those programs, our design team is eager to help you create the product you want.
Make sure your design transfers accurately to the press. Read through the guide to learn how different aspects of your document can change the printing process, or review a specific topic by clicking on it. Instructional videos and reference pictures explain each subject. Download free file templates to get started, and use the Print Ready Checklist to ensure that your design is ready for the press.
Document and Trim Size
Begin by setting your document’s size to the final trimmed or folded size. Learn about setting up your document’s size
Bleed Area
Apply a bleed area of .125 inches to your Print Ready PDF. Find out how to correctly set up and apply Bleed.
Margins
Ensure that your document is equipped with proper margins. Make sense of margins.
CMYK Color
Design and save your document in CMYK color mode. See when other color modes are necessary.
Pantone and Spot Color
For Pantone, leave spot colors active. Otherwise, use CMYK. Know when and how to use Spot Colors.
Rich Black vs. 100% Black
Use 100% black for small type and Rich Black for large type or backgrounds. Get the most out of your black ink.
Resolution
Each image needs a resolution of at least 200 dpi. Make sure your images are crisp.
Folding Documents
If your document folds, use one of our Folding Templates. Get to know your document folding options.
Booklet Design
Design your booklet in signatures of four and save it in reader spreads. Get to know your booklet design options and best practices.
PDF Exporting
Always export your file as a Print Ready PDF. See the steps to saving your document as a Print Ready PDF file.
PDF Presets
Automate saving your Print Ready PDFs. Download our PDF Preset.
Sending Your File
Use email, FTP, or Web Portal. Learn the easiest way to get your files to us.