1.
Graphic Design Software
We support the following design software programs - free 30
day trials of these programs can be downloaded from
www.adobe.com for both PC and Mac.
-
Adobe Illustrator
-
Adobe Indesign
-
Adobe Photoshop
If you are not using one of these design programs please review
Item # 4 "Sending Us Your Artwork" for instructions on which file
format to send us.
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2. Design Specifications
Before You Begin Designing:
-
Your supplied artwork files are expected to be in final form,
which means they are ready-to-print without the requirement
for changes or modifications.
-
You must supply your designs on DVDwest.ca
design templates. We
cannot accept templates from other manufacturers.
-
Remember - you are creating artwork for commercial printing
which has different rules than designing for the internet.
The Basics:
-
Design page properties must be set to CMYK colour mode and
300dpi - never RGB colour mode.
-
If you are using bitmap graphics, imagery or photos they
should be created at 300dpi and in CMYK colour mode.
-
Saving your bitmap images and photos as .TIF (or .TIFF)
files will produce higher quality images than .JPG, .GIF, .PNG,
or .BMP.
-
If you are designing using transparencies, gradients,
drop-shadows or anything other than 100% solid colour, the
tonal range must be between 15% and 85% of solid colour.
Tones outside that range may not reproduce properly.
-
Always allow 1/8" (3mm) of bleed past the finished edges of
the design. Download more information about 'bleed'.
-
Don't crowd the finished edge of the design with text and
imagery. We recommend leaving a minimum gutter distance of
1/8" (3mm) to 1/4" (6mm).
Download more information about
'gutter'.
-
Artwork files for stapled booklets are to be supplied in
printer-spread format.
-
Delete all images, text and/or layers that are not required
to print in the finished design.
-
Indicate whether your CD/DVD disc design requires a white
flood/backprint.
-
If you are designing your CD or DVD discs for "silkscreen
printing" please review our silkscreen print design
tutorials #1 and #2.
Text:
-
Minimum recommended type size for positive print: 5
points.
-
Minimum recommended type size for reversed/negative print:
6 points.
-
IF USING PHOTOSHOP: Because text and line-art tends to be
pixelated when included in bitmap images, we highly
recommend that Photoshop be used to process images but NOT
for typesetting or creating line-art. For best results it
is preferable to save your images in Photoshop as .TIF (or
.TIFF) files and then complete your design with
typesetting and line-art in a program such as Illustrator
or Indesign.
Convert Your Text To Outlines/Paths:
To avoid compatibility issues caused by different computer
platforms and font types, we require the following:
-
All fonts to be converted to outlines/paths.
-
If using Photoshop you must 'rasterize' all text layers.
If you do provide your own font files separately please
review Item # 4 "Sending Us Your Artwork" for
instructions.
Linked Or Placed Images:
-
If you are 'linking' or 'placing' your images into
your design page make sure you supply those source
files to us in a separate folder. Please name the folder
appropriately so it can be clearly identified.
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3. Proofs &
Approvals
Your supplied artwork files are deemed to be received
in final form which means they are ready-to-print
without the requirement for changes or modifications.
DVDwest.ca provides three proofing options as noted
below:
Proof Option "A" - Electronic Proofs
-
This is Precision Disc's default proofing option.
-
One round of electronic proofs are included in your
quoted price.
-
Design files are reviewed and electronic proofs
(normally in .PDF file format) are e-mailed to you.
-
Electronic proofs are for confirmation and warranty
of the physical layout only - they are not for
colour reference and do not provide colour warranty.
If colour accuracy is a concern we recommend you
choose Proof Option "B".
-
A clearly worded written approval is required
(approval via e-mail is accepted).
Proof Option "B" - Hard-Copy Printed Proofs
-
This proofing option must be specifically
requested.
-
There is a fee for hard-copy printed proofs -
please contact your Account Representative for
pricing.
-
Electronic proofs must be approved prior to the
supply of hard-copy proofs.
-
Hard-copy printed proofs are for confirmation and
warranty of the physical layout and colour
accuracy.
-
Up to 5%-10% colour variation between hard-copy
printed proofs and the finished product may be
unavoidable due to tolerances inherent with offset
printing processes.
-
Colour adjustments of hard-copy proofs may not be
possible. In the event colour adjustments can be
made, the machine time and re-proofing are charged
for (unless the re-proofing was due to our error
in proof generation).
-
A clearly worded written approval is required
(approval via email is accepted).
Proof Option "C" - Pre-Approved Artwork Files
-
This proofing option must be specifically
requested.
-
Client supplies pre-approved artwork files,
by-passing review and proofs.
-
No proofs supplied. No layout or colour warranty
offered.
Viewing Your Proofs
The purpose of the proofs is to give you one
last chance to review your design for overall
accuracy and completeness of the design
components before it goes to print. Any errors
or omissions that you do not correct in the
proofing stage will be present in the finished
product. View your .PDF proofs with Adobe
Acrobat and ensure the “Overprint Preview”
function is turned on.
Proof Approvals
-
It is the sole responsibility of the client to
review all details of the supplied proof which
includes (but is not limited to)
layout/design, pages sequencing, dimensions,
spelling and punctuation.
-
In order to proceed with production the client
must submit a clearly worded written approval
of the proofs in person, via fax, or e-mail. A
verbal approval cannot be accepted.
-
By providing an approval in writing, the
client indemnifies and holds DVDwest.ca free
from responsibility and liability for any
errors or omissions in the proof that are not
found and corrected by the client.
Furthermore, the client acknowledges that the
reworking and/or reprinting of materials due
to client error is at the sole expense of the
client. Such costs will be formally quoted in
writing and must be approved by the client in
writing before any additional work can take
place.
Artwork Revisions, Changes and Re-Proofing
Charges
As noted in Section # 2 and the beginning of
Section # 3, your supplied artwork files are
expected to be supplied in
final form, which means they are
ready-to-print without the requirement for
changes or modifications.
-
If revisions to existing files are required,
or if new artwork files are required after
proofs have been generated, the proofing
process must begin again. Due to the extra
work involved an additional proofing charge
will be required for each additional round
of proofs (except in instances where the
required change to the proof is due to our
error in generating the proof).
- Re-proofing of a single CD or DVD disc:
$10 per additional round of electronic
proofs.
- Re-proofing of printed inserts/packaging:
$15 per additional round of electronic
proofs.
- Re-proofing of posters/merchandise items:
$10 per additional round of electronic
proofs.
- Re-proofing of hard-copy proofs: Contact
your Account Representative for confirmation
of pricing.
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4.
Sending Us Your Artwork
As noted in Section # 1, we support specific
graphic design software programs. Please
supply your artwork files in the following
formats.
-
Adobe Illustrator: Supply .AI files
-
Adobe Indesign: Supply .INDD files
-
Adobe Photoshop: Supply .PSD files
-
All other design programs (including
Quark): Supply .EPS files
Please don't supply us with multiple
versions of the same artwork files - just
one version of each design file is all
that is required.
When Your Design Is Finished
-
Leave the design template in the design
for our visual reference but ensure it
is on its own design layer. Never
flatten the design template into the
artwork.
-
Convert all text to outlines/paths. If
using Photoshop please rasterize all
text layers.
-
If you are designing using linked/placed
images please supply those images in a
separate folder.
-
Place all of your relevant design files
and folders into one folder. Name the
folder with your Job Number and your
Project Title.
-
MAC USERS: Use 'Stuffit" to compress
your design folder. Name this file with
your Job Number and Project Title.
-
PC USERS: Use 'Zip' or 'Winzip' to
compress your design folder. Name this
file with your Job Number and Project
Title.
-
Submit your design file on CDR with your
other order assets or upload it to our
FTP dropbox. If you are sending a CDR
please ensure the disc is clearly marked
with your Job Number and the title
"Artwork Files". Never supply your
artwork files on the same disc as your
Master content files.
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5.
Important Information You Should Know
Colour Accuracy
As noted in Section # 3, electronic
proofs are never to be used for
evaluation of colour. This is because
computer monitors don't represent colour
values accurately.
- Your
order will go to print based on the
colour values as supplied in your
artwork's imagery.
- If
colour correctness is a concern we
recommend you request hard-copy
printed proofs for approval and
warranty of layout and colour.
- Note:
Due to variations inherent with offset
printing processes, a colour variation
of up to 5%-10% between the printed
paper proofs and the final printed
product may be unavoidable and this is
considered to be within acceptable
industry tolerances.
- If the
colouration of your hard-copy printed
proofs is not to your satisfaction
there may be nothing we can do about
it from a standpoint of printing. In
many instances the only way to alter
colouration will be for your to revise
your artwork and resubmit it to us. In
this event, re-proofing charges will
apply.
Client
Supplied Colour Samples
Client-supplied printed colour samples
can be accepted for some products but
not all. Please contact us to discuss
your particular project.
- Even
if we can accept your colour sample it
may not be possible for our printers
to “match” the colouration on your
supplied sample - but we will come as
close as our printing equipment will
allow. This is because the printing
equipment, calibration, inks and
substrates you used to print your
sample are different than what we will
use to print your order.
-
Because we cannot guarantee a match to
your supplied sample we require you to
order hard-copy proofs for sign-off.
- If the
colouration of your hard-copy printed
proofs is not to your satisfaction
there may be nothing we can do about
it from a standpoint of printing. In
many instances the only way to alter
colouration will be for you to revise
your artwork and resubmit it to us. In
this event, re-proofing charges will
apply.
Ready-By-Date
IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that
you do not (A) schedule the release of
your product, (B) book a product release
event, or (C) schedule a trip or tour
prior to receiving your product.
- Every
effort will be made to fill orders
within the timeline quoted at the
outset of the project, however, quoted
ready-by-dates are to be considered
estimates only and are not guaranteed.
Though uncommon, due to the inherent
nature of custom manufacturing delays
can sometimes occur and Precision Disc
Manufacturing Corp. assumes no
responsibility for any damages growing
out of or owing to any delays.
- Don't
let artwork issues delay your order -
learn the 6 simple mistakes that cause
over 75% of artwork related delays and
problems [download].
- Don't
let artwork issues delay your order -
learn how to properly sequence your
stapled booklet into printer spreads
[download]
Silkscreen Printed Discs
- The
biggest stumbling block for Silkscreen
Printed discs is understanding how to
design with colour separations.
Please
read this tutorial for instructions on colour separations.
- Unless
you are experienced with designing for
Silkscreen Print you should refrain
from using anything less than 100%
solid colour in your design.
Silkscreen Printed gradients,
transparencies, drop shadows and
screens in your design will not have
the consistent and smooth appearance
that you see on your computer monitor.
Please read this tutorial for
instructions and examples on designing
using less than 100% solid colour.
- For
spot colour silkscreen printing - best
results come from line-art graphics
and text. Bitmap images tend to be
jagged in appearance and don't print
well so Photoshop is not recommended
for Silkscreen designs.
- Tonal
range for Silkscreen Printing at less
than 100% solid colour is between 15%
and 85% of solid.
- For
spot colour silkscreen printing you
must specify Pantone Matching System
(PMS) Solid-Coated colour numbers. The
PMS designation is “C”.
Supplying Your Own Film For Silkscreen
Printed Discs
We do not recommend that clients supply
their own film unless they are very
experienced in designing artwork for
commercial print. Please note: When film
is supplied the job will go to print as
per the film supplied and no proofs are
generated for approval. IMPORTANT: If
supplying film, you must use our design
templates. We cannot accept film that
has been ripped using other templates.
Film
Specs For Silkscreen Printed Discs
(PMS/Spot or CMYK):
-
Positive, emulsion up, round dot,
output resolution 2400 dpi, line
screen 100 LPI
- Film
angles: Yellow: 0 / Magenta: 75 /
Cyan: 15 / Black: 45
- Film
must be free of pinholes,
contamination, creases, scratches,
etc.
- All
layers must be labeled with the job
number, project name and date.
- All
layers must be labeled with the
appropriate PMS colour # or CMYK
value.
- All
layers must be labeled with the type
of product being printed on (CDROM,
DVD5, etc.)
Film
Specs For CMYK Offset Printing:
-
Negative, emulsion down, round dot,
output resolution of 2400dpi, line
screen 200 LPI
- Film
angles: Yellow: 0 / Magenta: 75 /
Cyan: 15 / Black: 45
- Film
must be free of pinholes,
contamination, creases, scratches,
etc.
- All
layers must be labeled with the job
number, project name and date.
- All
layers must be labeled with the
appropriate CMYK value.
- All
layers must be labeled with the type
of product being printed on (CDROM,
DVD5, etc.)
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