Time and Money Saving Tips for Sending Files to Your Printer

Time and Money Saving Tips for Sending Files to Your Printer

Apr 01

Here are some fantastic tips to ensure that your print job goes smoothly.

  1. What files you should send?: If you have the original file (InDesign, Word, PowerPoint, Illustrator, etc.) AND a PDF, send both. If the PDF is missing a later revision we can always go to the original file and fix it there and then print your order correctly.
  2. If Your Files “Bleed”: Sometimes colors or images run to the edge of your piece, this is called a “bleed”. Any press (digital or traditional) requires unprinted paper on a document to “pull” the paper through the press. Thus, if your piece “bleeds”, we will need to print it on a larger size sheet to give the press enough blank paper to feed the paper through the press. This means that you have to extend the bleeds in your document by 1/8” on all sides that bleed. Be sure to include them in the native file as well as saving them to your PDF.
  3. Include crop marks: Crop marks let the printer know where to cut your piece after it has been produced.
  4. If your piece doesn’t have bleeds: Make sure there is at least ¼” margin on all sides of your piece where there’s no text or images. You need at least ¼” of white space around your piece to make it look and print correctly.
  5. If working in Word or PowerPoint, don’t use the “bold” and “italic” buttons. Instead of using the shortcut, go into the font window and choose the font you would like to use.
  6. Make sure your images are at 200 – 300 dpi:. To get good quality printed pieces, your images must be at least 200 – 300 dpi at the final printed size. So if you poster is 24” x 36”, your image must be 200-300 dpi at that size. Do not download images off the web and expect them to look good when printed. Downloaded images are at 72 dpi unless otherwise specified.
  7. If submitting files in InDesign or Illustrator, include all images, fonts and links.
  8. Understand the difference between RGB, CMYK and PMS color spaces: The color of the images and text you see on your computer screen are created using three colors (RGB: Red, Green, Blue). Digital printing presses and full color presses print in 4 colors (CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Spot color processes create colors using custom-mixed colors using PMS (Pantone Matching System) which is akin to selecting a paint color from a paint chip in the hardware store. This is why the color of your documents looks different once printed. It is best to NOT design in RGB color space, rather use CMYK or specify PMS colors.

To send files via our website go to www.bostonbusinessprinting.com. On the Home Page, locate the aqua box on the left-hand side and click on “Upload A File”. Fill out the information and attach up to three files. If you have more files, go back and repeat the process. Please do not email print files to our employees as this can lose valuable time.