www.folderexpress.com

Artwork Requirements

Software:
Folder Express® utilizes a Mac OSX operating system
Acceptable Programs:
    QuarkXPress, Illustrator, FreeHand, Photoshop, InDesign
Unacceptable Programs:
    Any Microsoft program
    Corel Draw – export as Illustrator or PDF. (Orders requiring spot colors must be sent as spot colors).
    Note: Pagemaker files are only sometimes able to work in a Mac OSX environment. Please use an alternate program if possible.

E-MAIL – artwork@folderexpress.com

• DO NOT SEND MORE THAN 20 MB AT A TIME – 10 MB is the preferred maximum size for a single e-mail (this is a total of all files sent at one time).
  
• For large files, log on to our website www.folderexpress.com and register to upload files through our ftp site. Be sure to fax your order, send a composite PDF of your file, and alert us that you are uploading files to the site.
  
• If you send multiple e-mails, please indicate that you are updating a previously sent e-mail and indicate the original date that e-mail was sent.
  
• Please provide your company name, template style, and colors in the e-mail.
  
• E-mails received after 4:00 p.m. Central Time will be preflighted the following day.
  
• Stuff or Zip your fonts to help avoid corruption during transfer. Stuff or Zip all files together when gathered – this compresses file size and helps to protect your data.
  
• Avoid extensive file names as they are often unreadable.
  

Film:

• All film supplied to Folder Express® is scanned to send digitally to plate. Screens and large areas will not reproduce well. Proofs are required and additional costs may be incurred for time and materials. Customer Service will contact you with an estimate before the order is moved into production.

Artwork Set-Up

Color:

• RGB IMAGES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
  
• Please do not embed ICC color profiles as they will be discarded when we print your order.
  
• Image Resolution: 300 dpi or higher. Remember: Pixel-based images lose resolution when their size is increased.
  
• For spot colors, Pantone® color names should be specified.
  
• Use the same color names in all files. When using multiple programs, ensure that color names are consistent – the slightest difference will cause the colors to separate incorrectly.
  
• Color Matching:  We cannot guarantee color matching to customer-supplied proofs. Folder Express® will run industry standard ink densities on the press for both PMS® colors and four-color process. If your project requires an exception to this, it must be clarified and approved before production begins.
  
•  See proof options below.
   

Fonts:

• Convert fonts to outlines/paths whenever possible.

• Postscript (Type 1) and Truetype fonts only.

• Bold & Italic – ensure that your printer font has these styles built in before you use bold and/or italic from your program’s style menu.

• Send all font files associated with the fonts you are using (i.e., all screen and printer font files).

Documents:

• Set up artwork in a page layout program (QuarkXPress or InDesign) whenever possible.

• Set up files to size. If you don’t, send positioning information.

• Include at least 1/8” bleed when necessary.

• Watch out for overprinting items, they may produce an effect you do not want.

• Use our templates – they are set up to overprint, so please include them in your document. They can be downloaded at www.folderexpress.com.

Files:

• Commands such as “Collect for Output” (QuarkXPress) and “Package” (InDesign) gather all needed links and fonts.
  
• Send ONLY the files we need.
  
• Duotones and Monotones “Embedded” in Illustrator will translate as CMYK images.
  

*You may send your art file via: disk, e-mail, ready to scan, repeat order or requiring typesetting.

PDF’s:

• Make them the correct size (i.e., not 8 1/2” x 11”).

• Embed all fonts.

• Use correct colors.

• We cannot make alterations to PDF files.

• Be sure to have 1/8” bleed in artwork for all sides on which copy is to bleed.

• Please include template.