300 DPI is the recommended minimum resolution for any print document. You can submit files that are higher than 300 DPI but anything higher than 600 DPI will not have a noticeable difference in print quality.
Any files uploaded that are less than 300 DPI may have noticeable quality issues such as blurred / pixelated images and text. Please be aware that we print the files that you send to us no matter the resolution so carefully check the resolution of the files before you upload.
CMYK is the recommended color space and the native printing colors of our printers. Many programs have a default color space of RGB, which is the color space of computer monitors. If you upload a file that is RGB you may see a noticeable difference between the colors of the file you upload and the final product. Since we are a digital printer and do not use inks we are unable to accommodate those looking to reproduce specific spot / pantone colors.
When a RGB file is printed in CMYK, many neon or bright colors cannot be reproduced so these colors will appear darker on the final product. For the best color reproduction design your file in CMYK.
All fonts should be embedded or converted to outlines/curves. If you are using third party or free fonts found on the internet it is best to embed these fonts when creating a PDF. Some programs like Adobe Illustrator have the ability to convert the fonts to outlines / curves which is essentially the same as embedding the fonts.
By embedding fonts you will ensure that when we receive your file that your fonts look the same on our end as they do on yours. If you do not embed your fonts and said fonts are not available on our system then you run the risk of the text and possibly the layout being different on your copies.
PDF is the preferred file type to send. A PDF file contains the most information that is useful to our printers to successfully reproduce your digital files. You may upload other files such as Word, Photoshop, and PNG files, but you may be required to approve a PDF proof of these files before we can begin production.
By using a PDF file we can begin production on your order right away without having to send you a PDF proof. We can also accept flat image files such as a JPG which require no proof approval. If you are placing a rush order and need your copies right away then please upload a PDF or JPG file.
If you have Adobe Acrobat (not Adobe Reader) installed on your system then you will be able to print to a PDF from any program that allows you to print. In most situations printing to a PDF is the preferred way of creating a PDF file. Some programs like Microsoft Office and Publisher allow you to publish to a PDF, which will also work.
There may be a save as a PDF option. This is not ideal but can work. In many programs this type of PDF will retain all of its editable layers and properties. When we set up this type file for printing there may be discrepancies with transparencies, fonts, and other elements of your design. Print to a PDF is a better option if available.
To print to a PDF you will need to make sure you have Adobe Acrobat or another PDF program driver installed. In the program, select print as if you were going to print the document to your home printer. In the Printer selection dropdown you may see your home printer selected. You will want to click the dropdown and select Adobe PDF.
Once you have selected Adobe PDF as your printer you will want to edit the properties of the printer. This is usually done by finding a button that says properties, page setup, advanced, or something similar. When you click this button a dialog box like the one below will be displayed. By default Standard will be selected in the default settings. You will want to change this dropdown from Standard to High Quality Print.
If you do not select High Quality Print, your document will be downsampled to a lower quality. By selecting High Quality Print you are ensuring that your images will maintain their resolution and that important properties like font embedding will be included when you print the PDF. Once you have changed the setting to High Quality Print you can click okay and then click Print to create your PDF file.
Once your PDF is created you will want to open it and carefully check that everything looks the same as it does in your design program. If everything looks good you are now able to send us this PDF for printing.