Technical Specifications
By the time you get to this point in our site, we figure you have been here for a while and now you have found the not so fine print. Our aggressive pricing hinges on your ability to submit file that are properly set-up. If you have any reservations about being able to properly set up you file, you can request our services in our design section.
Read through all this information below and make sure you follow the guidelines strictly.
Overview
- File types that are accepted – .AI (Adobe Illustrator), .PSD (Adobe Photoshop), .EPS, .CDR (Corel Draw), .PDF, JPG, .TIF.
- Bleed setup – We require a 1/8" bleed on all sides of your file.
- Art resolution – Min 300 DPI
- Orientation – Head to Head
- Color usage – Please Read Color Section Below!
Format Options
We accept Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, PDF, JPEG and Tiff formats.
Illustrator Format: Make sure to flatten all transparencies in your document (See Transparencies for more information). All text must be converted to outline before submitting your artwork.
EPS Format: Make sure to flatten all transparencies in your document (See Transparencies for more information). All text must be converted to outline before submitting your artwork.
Adobe Photoshop Format: Please flatten all files before submitting at a minimum of 300 DPI and maximum of 1200 DPI with line art. (Except for banners which are all at 100 DPI. See Banner Requirement for more information.)
PDF Format: This method is preferred since it’s the industry standard to work with. Acrobat 4 or version 1.3 is recommended since it works to prevent transparency issues. All transparencies should be flattened before hand, to further prevent any errors during printing (See Transparencies for more information). Also, set your the quality to press quality. Certain fonts may not work well with PDF formats such as CID fonts so we do require all fonts to be outlined or the file flattened before you convert to a PDF.
JPEG: Make sure that you have a minimum of 300 DPI and a maximum of 1200 DPI with line art (Except for banners which are all at 100 DPI. See Banner Requirement for more information.) When using a jpeg format please be aware that a slight quality difference may occur due to the compression it uses.
TIFF: Make sure that you have a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 1200 DPI with line art. (Except for banners which are all at 100 DPI. See Banner Requirement for more information.)
Dimensions
Your dimensions should be the exact trim size plus a .125 bleed on each dimension (Example: 2 x 3.5 business card will be 2.125 x 3.625). Even if a file has no bleed with white edges you still must leave this bleed. You should not have more canvas size than required.
The only exception to this is on Booklets and Banners (please see Booklet Requirements and/or Banners Requirements for more information)
If a template is available on our website we highly recommend using it to create your artwork. Please remove the top layer of template (all the funny guidelines) before submitting your artwork.
Safe Area
The safe area is exactly 1/8" inside of the trim area. This safe area is for important text and artwork since the trim may shift during the trimming phase of production.
If a template is available on our website we highly recommend using it to create your artwork. Templates are available on our website. Please remove the template before submitting your artwork.
Orientation
We do a standard head to head process and we require all artwork to be print ready before submitting. If you have any question on orientation please feel free to contact customer service at wizard@dixonseven.com.
Color
Due to an industry wide gang run limitation we do not guarantee color and a shift in color may occur.
Please make sure all files are in CMYK mode. We do not use any spot colors or Pantone colors and they must be converted to CMYK before uploading through our website. If you use RGB or any other mode aside from CMYK there would be a color shift. For this reason, we can’t accept non CMYK artwork. Please start and finish all artwork in CMYK mode.
Check your values carefully before submitting any artwork. Certain colors may look differently on your computer screen or personal printer (even printers that are in CMYK) compared to when its printed on our offset printers.
We highly recommend using a process color guide to help you choose your colors to lessen the chance of a color shifting. Your print may also vary from printer to printer due to the press model, paper stock, and calibration. If you have any questions please feel free to contact customer service at wizard@dixonseven.com.
Silk Lamination
Orders on silk lamination will tend to cause artwork to be slightly darker or greyer so we do advise orders placed on silk to be lightened (about 10% to 15%) before submitted. However, there is no guarantee that your colors will turn out correctly. Some color shift is to be expected due gang run limitations (See Color for more information).
Multiple Files on A Single Document
The only time you may submit a multi-page document is on booklet orders (See Booklet Setup for more information). All other artwork must be separated (Example: A 4/4 14 pt business card with spot UV would have a total of 4 files. Front, Back, UV Mask Front, UV Mask Back). If your order requires a front, back, and a UV mask you must submit a separate file for each.
Transparencies
Avoid using glows, shadow effects, and transparent objects unless they are flattened or rasterized at 300 to 1200 DPI. These transparencies could cause unwanted effects on your artwork when sent to print.
Rich Black
Over saturation of black can lead to many complications on your order. It may cause the UV to not be applied well and cause your order to become splotchy due to improper drying. To prevent this we recommend using a printers black due to its low saturation but still offer a rich black. Cyan: 40 Magenta 30 Yellow: 20 Black: 100
Borders
We do accept borders on jobs but if a border is too close to the cut line it may be cut off center. Even though the machines are perfectly aligned to the paper a slight shift still may occur during the trim process.
Overprint
Turn off overprint on your artwork. Overprint can cause unexpected results on the final product so please check carefully before submitting.
Greyscale
If a greyscale image converts to CMYK a shift will occur in the final printed piece. Always check the values of your greyscale images on your final CMYK document. If you have any other color aside from black then a shift may occur.
Folding Requirements
All folds may come standard with our brochures and no custom folds are allowed. Please compensate for a shift that may occur during the folding process (up to an 1/8"). All artwork should be within the safe area between each panel that is folded (See Safe Area for more information). Artwork that is exactly lining up against these fold lines is not recommended due to this limitation. When creating something like a greeting card or folded business card remember to check the orientation before submitting. We highly recommend referring to our templates to see the orientation of each panel (See Orientation for more information).
For more complicated orders like vertical brochures and any custom orders that has a more complicated orienation we do ask that you call customer service at 801.819.3575
Scoring Requirements
A score is a crease made in a sheet made of a heavy stock paper to eliminate cracking and to facilitate a straight and accurate fold. Please be aware that a slight shift in the score may happen during the scoring process (up to an 1/8"). Artwork that is exactly lining up against these score lines is not recommended due to this limitation.
You may have up to two scores done on any one product. The score can not be in different directions and must run parallel to each other. There must also be a minimum of 1.5" distance between each score. When uploading artwork with a score do not put instructions on the artwork or they may get printed. Instead please send us a separate instructional file to wizard@dixonseven.com (Please see Samples & Instruction)
Perforation Requirements
A perforation is a series of small holes done to a sheet of paper so that a section can tear easily over a straight line. Please be aware that a slight shift in the perforation may happen during the perforation process (up to an 1/8"). Artwork that is exactly lining up against these score lines is not recommended due to this limitation. You may have one score done on any one product. When uploading artwork with a score do not put instructions on the artwork or they may get printed. Instead please send us a separate instructional file to wizard@dixonseven.com (See Samples & Instruction for more information)
Numbering Requirements
When using numbering please lighten a box over the area you wish to have numbered. The dimensions of the box should be .75 x 3/8′. If you have two sets of numbers leave at least a space of 2.25" between the two boxes.
If you have a spot UV on the side that has the numbering on it please leave a space so the numbering can be printed properly. If you have foiling or embossing done to please have it at least 1/8" away from the numbering (See Foiling and Embossing Requirement for more information)
Booklets Requirements
For booklets we require you to have a multi-page PDF of all your pages. They must be paginated in single page spreads starting from the cover first and numerically down to the back cover. Booklets also must have a 1/8" bleed on all sides. Two page spread artwork (artwork that flows into two pages) is not recommended since the trim may shift up to a 1/16 of an inch. Please see PDF under Format Options for more information on what we require.
Banners Requirements
Banners must be done at actual size. When submitting a rasterized image please have it at 100 DPI. No bleed is required for banners.
Grommets will be applied standard on your banner on each corner and for larger banners in the middle.
Envelope Requirements
All envelopes must follow the template given on our website. We recommend not having envelopes that bleed past the fold lines since the fold may shift during the process up to an 1/8".
If you plan on having color on the flap please make sure you leave a slight space between the fold and the flap (about 1/32". However we do not recommend using these types of designs due to the shift that may happen).
Templates are available on our website. Please remove the template before submitting your artwork.
Presentation Folder Requirements
All presentation folders must follow the template given on our website. All presentation folders will come with a business card slit on the right panel. Templates are available on our website. Please remove the template lines before submitting your artwork.
Event Ticket Requirements
All event tickets must following the template on our website. Please make sure to send us an instructional file if perforation and/or numbering is required (see Samples & Instructions and Numbering for more info). Orientation is critical for a two-sided event ticket especially if they have a perforation. We highly recommend that you double check the orientation with us before submitting at 801.819.3575 or email us at wizard@dixonseven.com (See Orientation for more information).
Templates are available on our website. Please remove the top layer of the template before submitting your artwork.
Samples & Instructions (Scoring, Numbering, Perforations)
Avoid sending proofs or samples along with artwork or within layers or it may get printed. If you wish to send us instructions on numbering, perforations, or scoring please send those files to wizard@dixonseven.com .
To set up a perforation, scoring and/or numbering instruction you would send us a copy of the front artwork faded out by 50% then add a dashed line where you want the score or perforation to be. Please put in bold red over the dashed line PERF or SCORE. Where you wish to put the numbering place a white box with the number you want to start at. Include in the email the job number so we can reference your order and on the header type in SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONS.
Please be aware that the scoring and perforations may shift during this process up to an 1/8".