File Set-up

Digital File Preparation - Guidelines

L A R G E F O R M AT

Our ability to reproduce images is more accurate than ever, with nearly any effect attainable at a reasonable cost. Color Reflections has mastered the technologies and perfected the processes required to make the most of the new digital workmanship.

For the most part, what you see on your screen is not what you get on output. Your monitor is a phosphorous display that emits light, while output uses inks or dyes that absorb light.

Please help us facilitate color matching. Since all systems interpret color differently, and color shifts occur depending on the nature of the materials used and on the individual color in question, it is essential to inform us when color matching is critical.

Keep these helpful hints in mind when preparing a digital job:

Please be aware of the native color space for the device you are outputting to.

Use CMYK and Pantone colors for the Arizona, Grand Format, and the Heidelberg DI. For all other devices, use a RGB color space for raster art and Pantone colors for type, vector art, and page layout colorized bitmaps. (We do not support Pantone Duotones).

sRGB is not an acceptable RGB. sRGB is a color space used for monitor color and internet images. It has a limited gamut in comparison to the color match of RGB. If your images are set up as sRGB, you will get unexpected results.

Color Reflections can best match your critical color when provided with a PMS color chip. Though even then, certain colors may not be able to be reproduced exactly.

Exact color matching may require additional system time to custom blend your request. Densities and tones can only be reproduced as accurately as the original artwork, negative, transparency, or computer file will allow.

Files with color specified from two different programs may not match.

For example PMS #356 in Illustrator may not be the same shade in Quark. (Please use the same page layout program in creating your job).

For best overall results reproducing Pantone colors please specify Pantone coated, instead of uncoated colors in your applications color palette and do not convert Pantones to CMYK or RGB before sending.

Do not forget to include your printer and screen fonts in your placed EPS documents. Even better, convert them to outlines.

Please organize your files. Supply only the elements needed for output, complete with file names, in an organized cohesive manner.

To produce a high quality image...

As a rule of thumb, if your scan scales to its final output size and holds a resolution of 100dpi (1/2 size at 200dpi, 1/4 size at 400 dpi, 1/8 size at 800 dpi, etc.) it will be sufficient for large output. Very large mural size graphics may be set at a lower resolution, call for details.

Image resolution is determined by the number of pixels in an image (pixel height by pixel width.)

Be sure to determine your resolution requirements at the pre-scanned stage.

To determine the resolution, open your document in Photoshop.

Under the image menu, use the image size command and make a note of the height and width, which is measured in pixels.

If your raster/bitmap file will fit onto a floppy disk, it doesn't have enough pixels to create a high resolution large format output.

While we can resize your file and "res it up," the image will gain softness and rarely yield a desirable result.

Rasterized files (Tiff, Targa, Photoshop EPS, etc..) and Bitmap files are already in a set format once they have been scanned into your computer, thus their resolution is predetermined.

For example we cannot take a file that is 500 by 300 pixels and produce a high quality output.

The resolution of a rasterized file is defined by the number of pixels contained within the image. Clearly distinct from a rasterized file, vector based or "draw-style" applications create only a description of the elements that when sent to output can be "rasterized" at any resolution the output device can handle.

Assemble your documents in Quark, not Illustrator.

Use Illustrator solely for placed vector art. Keep in mind that the attributes setting should always be set at 9600 to avoid faceting.

Photoshop files should always be flattened (background layer only). Layered files are not ready for output. System time will be required to prep your files accordingly.

Do not rotate scans in page layout programs and be sure to include all source files for placed graphics.

Set your document up to a percentage size of your final output. For example, if you are making a 62"x 32" Durst print, make your Quark page 31"x16" or 15 1/2"x8".

Do not place proportioned art in the middle of a page with your own crop marks. Please create a custom sized document.


				*AL's DESK* *File Set-up*



	HOME Services \| Services \| File Set-up \| Durst Lambda \| Fuji Frontier \| Finishing \| Price Lists \| Quick Quote \| Client Projects \| Gallery \| News \| Links