Files
PDF version must be no higher than 1.6.
The files must be composite (not separated).
We recommend including all inner pages of the document into a single file, but its size must not exceed 1 GB. In case the document must be split between several files, the names of the files should provide information about pages contained within, e.g. 001-016_documentname.pdf, 017-032_documentname.pdf etc.
Each PDF page must contain a single separate page of the document. Do not use spreads.
Bleed
The document size must include bleed in addition to trim size. Reserve no less than 3mm for bleed.
Trim, crop and bleed marks
It is recommended to include trim and bleed lines as well as crop marks. Crop marks must be no closer than 2mm to trim box.
Safe document
Important information, such as pictures or text, must be no closer than 5mm to the trim line.
For booklet brochures, important information in 2nd and 3rd covers as well as first and last inner pages must be placed no less than 8mm away from the inside. Also there must be at least 2mm of free space reserved on the inside in order for the inner block to be glued to the cover.
For UV varnishing forms, please allow at least 3mm of unvarnished area along the creasing line.
Resolution
300-350 dpi for CMYK and grayscale objects
600-2540 dpi for 1-bit bitmap files.
Pictures at less than 150 dpi cannot be printed with quality.
Lines
No hairlines less than 0,02 mm are allowed in the document.
Fonts
All fonts must be embedded within PDF. If you are sending an open file format, e.g. Illustrator, all fonts must be converted to outlines.
Any fonts used at size 7pt or smaller, must include one of the colors: 100% Black, 100% Cyan, 100% Magenta, 100% Yellow or 100% Pantone.
Color modes
We highly recommend using CMYK or Grayscale color mode. Pantone can be used when additional colors are required. RGB and Lab colors (as well as Pantone, when printing in CMYK mode) will be automatically converted to CMYK. In such a case you might be disappointed by the results.
When printing on chalk paper, we recommend converting the colors using Coated Fogra39 (ISO 12647-2:2004) profile. Use the manufacturer-recommended profiles for color conversion when printing on other types of paper.
Color gradients, light backgrounds
We do not recommend using color gradients into 0%, because a color distortion can occur. Minimal safe gradient margin is 3%.
Minimal value for one CMYK channel is 3%.
Black color
If you want to print a black color onto an opaque background (such as golden or silver), you must not use a 100% black. You must include other component colors (e.g. C50 M40 Y30 K100). Attempting to overprint pure K100, the resulting black color will be inadequate.
In fact, we recommend any black objects (excluding text < 24pt and lines < 3pt) to include other component colors (e.g. C50 M40 Y30 K100). This helps avoinding undesired black overprint effects. Also, black comprising other component colors will be richer than pure K100.
Gray objects
Gray backgrounds made of only black color should comprise 5-40% black.
Gray backgrounds made of CMYK colors, the following proportions are recommended: CMY: 5-20%, K: 5-100%.
Under no circumstances can gray color be composed of only CMY without using black color and the amount of black color must be proportionally higher than CMY amounts.