FAQ - File Preparation
What file formats is preferred?
We can take any Mac or IBM versions of Quark X-Press, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Pagemaker, Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Publisher, and PowerPoint, or any file output as a high resolution (300 dpi minimum) TIF, EPS, JPG, or PDF. If not submitting a high resolution PDF with fonts embedded, all fonts and graphics used should also be provided. Most programs have a function such as “Collect for Output” or “Package” to assist in compiling all necessary pieces for printing. Please contact your sales representative or our prepress department with any concerns.
What types of storage media do you accept?
We can take your files on a CD, DVD, “jump” drives, Zip discs or floppy discs.
How well will my job match what I see on my monitor?
Most people are surprised at how well their job matches what they see. But because of wide differences in monitor calibration and the different technologies used, some printed colors can not be matched exactly with the colors on your monitor. We do our best to make your job look good. In most cases, we will be printing using Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black inks (CMYK). Your monitor uses Red, Green and Blue (RGB) color space which is a wider color gamut that is available through the CMYK process.
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What is the difference between the RGB and CMYK color space and why does it matter?
RGB refers to the primary colors of light, Red, Green and Blue, that are used in monitors, television screens, digital cameras and scanners. CMYK refers to the primary colors of pigment: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. These are the inks used on the press in "4-color process printing", commonly referred to as "full color printing".
The combination of RGB light creates white, while the combination of CMYK inks creates black. Therefore, it is physically impossible for the printing press to exactly reproduce colors as we see them on our monitors.
Many programs have the capability to convert the layout/images from the RGB color space to the CMYK color space. We request that you convert your colors from RGB to CMYK if your tools allow you to. By doing it yourself, you have maximum control over the results. You may notice a shift in color when converting from RGB to CMYK. If you do not like the appearance in CMYK, we recommend that you make adjustments while working in CMYK (usually lightening). Generally, you should specify CMYK color builds that look a little lighter than you want, since the dots of ink "gain" on press, giving you more pigment on paper than you see on your monitor. Be especially careful to keep backgrounds light if there is black or dark colored text over it, so that the text remains readable.
How can I know what a particular CMYK color combination will look like?
To purchase a color guide with over 3,000 process colors with their CMYK screen percentages, please visit CreativePro at: http://www.pantone.com/products/products.asp?idSubArea=0&idArea=70 or
CDW at http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=212012
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Will you match a sample I print out on my own printer, or a previously printed sample?
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your finished piece will match your printed sample. This is due in part to the widely varying results from different output devices including inkjet and laser printers, continuous tone proofing devices, high-resolution film-based proofs, and different than true offset lithography. Even from one commercial printing firm to another, there can be significant differences in results. In particular, inkjet and laser prints are known to look substantially different than true offset lithography.
Being a custom printing company, Cottrell Printing Company uses an Epson Proofing system for “contract” color. This color proofing device produces a proof which is “fingerprinted” to our presses, giving us the closest possible representation of your finished piece. Still, there are some limitations and variance that can be expected due to differences in paper, etc. Also, this process uses CMYK inks only, so when matching Pantone or “spot color” inks, you can expect some difference in color.
Bottom line: the final product we produce for you is unlikely to match the output from your inkjet—it will look more professional!
If I'm sending a Publisher file, should I compress it with "Pack and Go," or should I just send the normal *.pub file?
While we can work with either type, we prefer to get the normal, uncompressed file. Please do not use Publisher's "Pack and Go" feature. If you are sending Publisher files with linked graphics (generally NOT recommended in Publisher), please gather all the associated files into a single Zipped file, and send us that. Compressing files with Winzip or PK Zip (or StuffIt on the Mac) is also the preferred method for Quark, Pagemaker, Illustrator, InDesign or any file with linked graphics. If you are using a font that is not included with Publisher, please send it along with your Publisher file. You can either Zip them together, or upload the font as an additional file upload (or include it on cd or zip-disk if you are sending files via mail.)
Mac fonts should ALWAYS be “stuffed” using StuffIt before submitting electronically through the internet or using our FTP site.
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What about BLEED and GRIPPER?
If your desired printed piece includes any image, background color or type that extends to the edge of the finished piece, it is necessary to add “bleed” to your design, otherwise there would be a possibility of unprinted paper left in the final trimming process. Bleed is additional image that extends an industry standard of 1/8” BEYOND the edge of your design. When final trimming, this extra image will be cut off insuring that there is image present to the edge of the page. Please leave enough “breathing room” in your design so that you are not crowding the edge of the printed piece.
How much bleed should I have for an envelope?
If you desire your artwork to bleed on an envelope it is necessary to print flat sheets of paper and then fold and glue (convert) to an envelope after the printing process. 1/8 inch is the standard amount of bleed used since it will wrap a little to the back of the envelope. Please be aware that in bleeding envelopes, some image WILL appear on the back or folded side of the envelope. This is an unavoidable physical fact due to the imperfection regarding envelope conversion equipment.
What is GRIPPER?
All of our presses are “sheet fed presses”. This means that individual sheets of paper are fed through the press, and therefore it is necessary to “grip” the paper. Using pre-made envelopes and letterhead to size (8.5” x 11”) can reduce the cost of printing due to lack of cutting and conversion processes after printing. However, in order for the press to grip the stock used, it is necessary to allow a 5/16” gripper margin in your design. Generally, a letterhead will be gripped from the top and standard business envelopes from the left or return address side.
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Do I need to impose my business cards 8-up or 10-up if they will be printed more than 1 to a sheet?
No, send us a single layout of your job unimposed, we will handle any imposition needed on our end.
How should I take pictures with my digital camera?
Digital cameras are wonderful tools that allow us to capture our images in many different ways. The camera is designed to actually take three pictures; one in red, one in green and the other in blue (similar to the way a projection TV works). It then combines the colors together and saves the image onto the picture card. It is very important to make sure that the camera is set to the highest quality setting possible. This means that if you can only save one image on the picture card instead of 12, 64 or 128 images, then this is good! You want to create the best quality picture that the camera can make. This will mean large file sizes and slow downloads from the camera itself, but it will get you the best possible results from your camera. Remember, images should be at 300dpi in their final size in the layout!
More often than not, we notice that images that come from digital cameras print darker than expected on the printing press. Check to see if you have a brightness option in your image editing program to lighten the entire piece. If you have the opportunity to change the color space from RGB (red, green, blue) to the printing press colors of CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), then do so! It is always better to have you change the color space if you can, than for us to do it. Remember, not all colors that you can see that are created by elements of light (RGB) can be created by the elements of ink (CMYK) on press. If you do not have this capability with your software, do not worry about it, we will change it for you for free! Finally, we recommend that you apply a little sharpening to the image. This will make the image a little crisper and will print better on press.
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How can I tell what resolution the image from my digital camera is?
Some digital cameras will let you know what the image resolution is, while others will tell you what the pixel dimensions of your image are. If you know what the pixel dimensions of your images are either from the camera itself or through the image editing software, you can do a little math to determine the resolution, and the size you can print the image at for clear and crisp printing.
Simply write down the pixel dimensions of your image and divide those numbers by 300 if the image does not include text and 400 if the image does include text. For example: An image without any text has a pixel dimension of 600 x 900 pixels. Once each dimension is divided by 300 the result is 2 x 3 inches. This means that you can use this image at 2 x 3 inches or smaller in your layout for quality printing results.
If your image editing software does not tell you what the pixel dimensions are, but it does tell you what the resolution is, then you know the maximum size you can use that image in your layout. We recommend that images be at 300dpi in their final size in the layout and 400dpi if the images include text. Please keep in mind that resolution and physical dimensions are in direct proportion to each other. If you have an image that is 2x2 at 300dpi and increase its size in the layout to 4x4 the new resolution is now 150dpi. So remember, when you bring an image in to your layout you can shrink it down in size (because the resolution will increase) but you will be limited as to how far you can increase it in size.
Do you have templates to help me correctly design my project?
Being a custom printer, we do have some templates available for diecutting pocket folders and envelopes, or we will be happy to design a specific template for your project. Please do not hesitate to call our prepress department for assistance.
Where can I get more information on file preparation?
Our technicians are always available to assist you during business hours. You can reach us by email at prepress@cottrellprinting.com.
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Can I upload large files to Cottrell Printing?
Absolutely. Simply log on to our FTP site by clicking the Send a File link above and then enter in the User Name and Password. Create a folder using your company name and copy your files to that folder. Please contact Cottrell to acquire log-in and password information. Then contact your sales representative with your job specifications and let us know that your files have been uploaded.
How long will it take to upload my files?
It will vary depending upon your file size, the speed of your Internet connection and the volume of Internet traffic at the time you send it.
Should I do anything special if I'm on AOL?
If you use America Online (AOL) for your internet connection, you should be aware that AOL can limit your inactivity on the web and disconnect you from the internet if you are not a current, active user. Uploading files appears to be inactivity to AOL. It is recommended that you keep your AOL email account open at the same time you are uploading your files. This can trick AOL programming into thinking you are still active on the internet, thereby preventing the possibility of getting disconnected during your file upload.
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