Page Layout

Applications

Any page layout files not laid out in Quark Xpress® may incur additional cost.

Bleed

Any images or artwork that run off the edge of a page are described as needing “bleed.” When a job is trimmed in the finishing stage, extra image outside of the trim (bleed) is needed to ensure no white edges. The standard is 1/8".

Binding

If a job is being saddle-stitched, the pages can be set up in facing pages. If a job is perfect binding (pages glue together in a spine), the pages should be set up as single pages so that bleed can be added on both the left and the right.

Die Line

A die should be supplied and assigned a separate die spot color (other than in color palette) to separate correctly and should be .5 pt. in width. We recommend building the die in Adobe Illustrator® and placing it as one image in Quark®. Adams can build at an additional cost.

Element Alignment

Overlapping elements and elements repeating either vertically or horizontally should be lined up by the numbers, as opposed to visually. Shown here is a sample of the Measurements Bar from Quark XPress®. The two left-most columns show the X and Y coordinates and the width and height dimensions.

Gradients & Blends

Depending on it's size and values, a Quark® blend or gradient may or may not band. Banding is the pronounced separation of values in a blend. Generally if a one color blend goes from 100% to 0%, then it can span as far as 7.5". You can figure that for every 10% change, the maximum span is about 3/4". For example, a blend that goes from 30% to 60% should be no more 2 1/4" wide. When rebuilding the blend in Photoshop®, use a 2% Noise, and then 15% Gaussian Blur. If you aren't sure if the blend needs to be rebuilt or not, go ahead and do it, to be on the safe side.

Hairline Rules

When imaged to a 2540 dpi imagesetting device, hairline rules practically disappear. If they do show up, will not print on press. The minimum rule width recommended is 0.25 pt.

Page Size

Page size should be built according to their final print size. A 4-page 8.5" x 11" brochure should be set up on 8.5" x 11" facing pages, for example. Pages should not be placed in oversized documents.

PC Files

Any layout files done in the PC format will need to be saved in Mac format, and checked carefully by the customer for any discrepancies.

Quark® “Fake Duotones”

When a black & white tiff raster image is placed in Quark®, the image can be colored with one color, and the background can be colored something else. This results in a “fake duotone” and will not rip properly. We recommend rebuilding the image in Photoshop®, and using curves demonstrated at right. Then the file will not need to be colored at all in Quark®.

Short Panels

On files that fold inside of each other (tri-fold or gate-fold brochure, etc.) the innermost panels need to be shorter than the others, usually by 1/8" or 1/16", to ensure that the piece folds flat, and does not bow out.

Super Black

On jobs running 4-color process and that have large areas of solid black, we recommend using super black to “beefup” the black solid. Our pressroom has determined that a sufficient breakdown of this super black is as follows: 
40% cyan, 30% magenta, 30% yellow, 100% black (shown at right).

Support Files

To ensure a smooth workflow, please make sure all fonts and support files are provided with the page layout files.

Unneeded Items

Be sure to delete any empty text or picture boxes from your files. These can cause unnecessary problems in ripping. Raster images are images composed of dots such as halftones and scanned images (Photoshop® images).

Color Matching

Don't rely on your monitor to show accurate photographic color. It works using “transmissive” light. Printing shows color with "reflective" light. There is no way to perfectly match these two processes. Use PMS swatchbook values to build CMYK breakdowns for spot colors. Adams' scanning department offers the expertise and technology to give the results you demand from your photographic images.

Color Settings

Check photos for CMYK or Grayscale mode. (RGB, Index or Lab Modes will have to be converted, resulting in some color change) Use the following separation setup (shown at right) by going to File>Color Settings>CMYK Setup in Photoshop®)

Format

Check images for correct format. TIFF format is generally used for photos and keep file size manageable. EPS format is used for photos with clipping paths or duotones. (JPEG Compression reduces the quality of the images, which cannot be restored by resaving as EPS. Do not save a line screen in the file unless a large dot pattern is a design element.)

Gradients & Blends

See Page Layout section.

Layered Files

When you build raster images in PhotoShop layers, we request that you send, along with your final production files, a copy of the final layered version(s) of the file(s). This will enable us to make any adjustments needed in final production, or any alterations you may request after proofing, with a minimum of delays. We will always consult you for approval or instructions regarding any changes to these files.

Resolution

Photos need to have a correct resolution. We recommend that all photos have a resolution of 120 pixels per centimeter, or 304.8 pixels per inch, and NO LESS than 300 pixels per inch at 100%.

Vector images are images composed of lines and curves, such as those created in Illustrator® or FreeHand®.

Color Naming/Editing

A spot color used in a vector graphic created in either FreeHand or Illustrator will automatically import into the Quark layout document with the graphic. It is important to use the same color name - including suffixes (CV, CVU, etc.) and upper/lower case letters - in the Quark document as in the vector graphic program in order for the document to rip properly.

FreeHand®

Files created in FreeHand® can not use the Transparency function (Shown at right). It will not rip properly. Adams can provide a ripping-stage solution if necessary.

Gradients & Blends

The same rule applies as did for blends and gradients in Quark®. See Page Layout section.

Illustrator®

In Illustrator®, you have the option of labeling each element with its own resolution setting. This should be set to 2540 dpi to rip properly. If it is set to something low like 300 dpi, the edges of that vector art will be choppy, regardless of how it is ripped. Select the object and then change the setting to 2540.

Unused Colors

Colors created in an application's color palette remain there whether used or unused in the file. This can sometimes cause confusion and problems in the ripping process, so it is best to delete any unused colors. This can easily be done in Quark 1 by going to Edit>Colors, then scrolling down to "Colors Not Used." Select each color to be deleted, then hitdelete (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Registration, White and Yellow cannot be deleted).

...and in FreeHand 2 : Simply select the color in the color list and scroll under the “Options” button to “remove.” If the color is in use, the application will tell you, and you can make appropriate changes.

...and in Illustrator 3 : Click on “Swatches” in color palette, then scroll to “select all unused” with pull-down arrow. All unused colors will show a white outline; drag them to trash.

MM/TrueType

Multiple Master and TrueType fonts can sometimes cause problems in the CreoScitex® Brisque ripping workflow. If possible, it would be helpful to avoid them, but at the least, please make sure that we get a copy of yours.

Provided

To ensure that your files perfectly represent what you expect, please send us all fonts used in your files. We have many fonts on file here, but they may be different versions from yours and not match exactly what you desire.

Style Buttons

When style buttons are used on type, they look fine in the Quark® document, but they will not rip properly. For example, if you send a file that uses Times, and the only font supplied is Times (plain), then any type that uses the style button for BOLD will not work when the job is ripped. However, if Times Bold is supplied, then any text in Times that has the Bold button selected will rip properly. If possible, do not use the style buttons at all, because if you don't have a Bold or Italic version of a font, the font cannot be made Bold or Italic and rip properly.

File Submissions

While there may be many file sources for your final project, we request that you send us only those files needed to actually compose or make requested changes to your job. This will prevent confusion of file versions, image versions, etc. Always send us duplicates - NEVER SEND US YOUR ONLY COPY OF YOUR FILES!

Hard-copy Proofs

We ask that, when possible, a full-size final proof of your document(s) be provided with your files. If the final piece exceeds your laser printer's capabilities, please note the percentage of size reduction on the proof. This will aid us in preventing output errors.