Art Preparation: Checklist

If you have any questions about creating, saving, or sending your artwork, please call us at (800)-608-8008 or (651) 772-5100 in St. Paul, MN, USA.

Use the checklist below to save time and keep costs down when preparing and sending electronic artwork to Digital Excellence.

Software

We prefer to receive files in one of the following formats:

Macintosh

File Preparation

Use one of the DE templates to create your artwork file.
Line art or text created or scanned in Photoshop needs to be no less than 1200 dpi for high-quality output. All other artwork should be no less than 300 dpi.
Do not enlarge artwork more than 110% when placing into QuarkXpress, Pagemaker, or InDesign. If artwork needs to be larger, recreate or rescan at size needed or larger.
Text should be no smaller than 6 pts.
When using the four-color process, make sure all files are CMYK rather than RGB.
When using Pantone spot colors, make sure all files have the Pantone coded colors (for example, 032 CVC) rather than CMYK or RGB.
Save files in EPS or TIFF format if possible. Include file extensions (for example, .eps or .tiff) in the filename.
Include 1/8" bleed on all artwork, except for CD or DVD artwork.
Client must indicate at time of order if artwork has a flood. The Graphics Department needs this information for printing film. Also, indicate if areas in the flood have a knockout where silver from the CD or DVD will show through.
Tonal range to be within 15% to 85%.
Do not include center whole on CD artwork, have artwork go to the middle. However, make sure the text does not go into the mirror.

File Transmission

DE accepts files via e-mail, ftp or on other media. Here’s what you need to know:

You must include:

A hardcopy composite.
ALL screen and printer fonts needed for your artwork. (Adobe fonts are preferred.)
ALL supporting and embedded graphics used in the artwork.

Via E-mail

Compress files before sending (use Zip for PC, Stuffit for Mac).
Create a message addressed to graphics@digx.com.
In the Subject line, please enter the client name with ISBN number or your DE representative’s name. This will help us locate your artwork quickly.
Please attach artwork along with any fonts or graphics used.
DE will notify you when we have received your e-mail.

Via FTP (Internet Explorer is preferred if using a PC, otherwise use Netscape if using a Mac)

Name your file using the client name or your DE representative’s name. This will help us locate your artwork quickly.
Access our FTP address:

On the FTP site, open the “Uploads” folder and drag your artwork file to the “Graphics” folder.
Notify your DE representative of the file name that has been placed on the FTP site.

Via Other Media

DE prefers artwork to be submitted on 3.5" disks, zip disks, or CD-ROM.

Got a question? Need a quote? Send E-mail to sales@digx.com or contact us by phone at 1-800-608-8008.