Supplying your own artwork
Firstly, this is intended only as a guide to help you supply artwork to us in the correct format and not a tutorial on how to design.
We print using CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black). Most home design packages use RGB (Red, Green and Blue)
and this is not acceptable for litho printing. So Rule 1 is supply files to us in CMYK.
Black text should be made up of only 100% black (that's the 'K' part of CMYK) and NO Cyan, Magenta or Yellow). Litho printing involves using 4 plates one for each of the 4 colours), if black text is made up of more than one colour the printer must aline these perfectly or the text may have rough edges. Rule2 only 100% black for black text.
When scanning images for print make sure they have a resolution of at least 500dpi. Rule 3 scan images at 500dpi in CMYK.
The next rule is the most important one. If any element on your layout makes contact with the edge of the page you will have to use bleed. The trick is to place the element so that it goes over the border where the document will be cut after printing. (See image on right. We are using the white dashed line for illustration purposes only to show where the card will be cut. The line would not be included in the actual design).
Most brochures and A4 leaflets require a 3mm bleed (per side) so an A4 leaflet will have a finished size of 297mm x 210mm but it will be supplied to the printer at 303mm x 216mm. (Business cards and A5 leaflets need a 2mm bleed, per edge). Make sure that the bleed is added to ALL sides and not only the side that has the element. Any questions it's best to give us a call.
After the brochure is printed it will be cropped to it's correct size. The bleed in your document gives the cropping some room for error.
Rule 4, use bleed.
