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File Prep & Uploading Guidelines |
| Media |
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PrintedInChinaOnline.com accepts all media formats available today, but we prefer that you upload your files using our Web Upload Or FTP feature. If your file(s) are not ready to submit when you place your order you can upload your files later by visiting our My Accouunt page, clicking 'View My Orders', then clicking "upload files" by corresponding order#. The upload function will only be available if you have not uploaded files previously.
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| Applications Supported |
Our preferred file format is a print ready PDF file. Many current design and drawing applications will allow you to generate a PDF file right from the software. If yours does not, you would need to generate a PDF using Adobe Distiller if is available to you. Otherwise we will more than likely be able to work with your native files (please remember to include you images and fonts when uploading).
PPO supports the following layout programs:
| File Extensions |
Description/Program Used |
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.ai, |
Adobe Illustrator drawing or vector graphics file |
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.eps |
Encapsulated postscript image file created using Adobe Illustrator; designed for high resolution printing of illustrations; standard file format for importing and exporting PostScript files |
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.cdr |
Corel Draw Vector drawing file |
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.tiff |
Tag Image File Format; preferred bitmap graphics format for high-resolution postscript printing |
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.jpg or .jpeg |
standard format for photographic image compression developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group |
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.psd |
Bitmap file created using Adobe Photoshop |
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.indd |
InDesign Document from Adobe Systems |
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.pdf |
Portable Document File from Adobe Acrobat |
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.qxd |
QuarkXpress Document or Data File |
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.pub |
Document file associated with Microsoft Publisher | |
| Document Size |
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Create your document to the exact finished flat size of your project. Depending on the software you are using you may have to increase the size of your document if you plan on having any images 'bleed' off of the edges of the finished piece. |
| BLEEDS |
Please keep bleeds in mind when you are designing your artwork. If your artwork has a white border, then bleeds are not required. However, if your artwork is NOT white on all four sides, then you MUST include bleeds in your files . Please click here for more information on bleeds. |
| BORDERS and SAFE AREA |
The cutting process for printed materials has a mechanical tolerance of about .0625 or 1/16 of an inch. When using a border in your artwork, it is essential that your design use at least .25 or 1/4 of an inch of white space from your border to the cut line to maintain a symmetrical appearance. Click here for more information about borders.
It is also imperative that no text or essential parts of your artwork come within 1/16" of the trim line. Again, due to the mechanical tolerance during the cutting process, any content within 1/16" of the trim line may be cut off. |
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Image Files |
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All imported Photoshop files should be saved at CMYK, Grayscale or Duotone. Line art should be saved as a Bitmap. All image files should be saved at 300 dpi. DO NOT USE LZW compression when saving Photoshop files. |
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Fonts |
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All fonts used in your document must be included in your file upload. DO NOT use the type style menu in your application to stylize your fonts as this may cause problems when ripping your files. |
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Colors |
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Please remove all unused colors from your color pallette prior to finalizing your files for uploading |
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Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand |
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When using these software products please convert fonts to outline and save your drawings as EPS files. DO NOT embed your fonts in your drawings! |
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Final Disk Preparation |
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Create a folder called Final Document. Within that folder place your layout application files (ie. QuarkXpress) and create two additional folders for your fonts and images. Once your Final Document folder is complete compress its contents using either Stuffit (Mac) or Winzip (PC) depending on your platform and upload your files. To obtain these programs, click on the links below.
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