Light Source Printing

1. All documents must be built to final trim size as single pages. (Page size, or document size needs to be the final trim size. ex; 4x6 card is setup in a 4x6 document, not an 8.5x11 document)

2. Live image area (except for bleeds) must be centered within the document as you intend your page to appear after final trim.

3. Leave at least 1/4 inch clearance on all four sides of your page, free of any element that is not intended to bleed.

4. All bleeds must be extended at least 1/4 inch beyond the document's edge on all four sides.

5. Color images must be specified as CMYK, not RGB.

6. For 4-color process printing, all color elements must be specified as CMYK values. All metallic colors must set as knock-out in Qxpress or Illustrator files.

7. Best results will be achieved if images are rotated, flopped, or skewed in an image manipulation program such as Photoshop, instead of your page layout program.

8. Blends should not be created in your page layout program. Blends can be created in Adobe Illustrator and then imported to your page. Remember that if your bleed needs to be rotated, you should apply the rotation in Adobe Illustrator.

9. All fonts must be PostScript fonts (usually called "Type 1" fonts). Fonts other than PostScript Fonts are used at the client's own risk and may incur an additional charge.

10. Fonts should not be stylized in the page layout program; use the font containing the desired attribute. In the event that the desired font is not available, a different font must be chosen. All fonts used must be supplied in a separate folder labeled "Fonts". For Macintosh, the Adobe PostScript Font must be provided. For the IBM platform, "PFBs" must be supplied for every font used.

11. All fonts used in EPS files must be converted to outlines (or must supply all fonts used on eps files).

12. Build crossover spreads as true spreads in your page layout application. Do not build spreads on a single page that has been made to be as wide as the final spread - pages built this way cannot be split apart for imposition.

13. If your product is to be folder, please specify the correct position and folding style using proper crop marks in your file. Please provide an ac tual size folder sample.

14. All PC file names must be 8 characters or less, and do not use punctuation in the file name.

15. Color images intended for process printing should be saved as CMYK. Save all images as TIFF or EPS.

16. Do not use any form of compression (e.g., JPEG, LZW) on any of your images. Do not use TIFF files with alpha channels or bitmap mode.

17. Set a scan resolution of 300 dpi for color images at 100% full size. Use an EPS file format when a clipping path is necessary and set path flatness to 5. Scan line images with 1200 dpi or higher. This will insure optimal quality.

18. Only import your scans into a layout program at 100%. Enlargements may impair quality, and reduce only if necessary.

19. If an image is shrunk to 85% or less in Quark or Pagemaker, resize image in a graphics program to required size.

20. All files submitted whether native or PostScript must be accompanied by a hard copy laser proof. Hard copy laser proofs must be an exact representation of the submitted file and are to be full size. Hard copy laser proofs are to be printed with crop marks, file name, date and time. Hard copy laser proofs are to be marked with a page number that identifies it's position in your publication.

21. All revised files submitted will be RIP again to press for new color digital proofs at additional cost.

Digital File Submission

1. Our pre-press department supports most of Macintosh and PC platform medias

2. Do not include any unnecessary files when submitting your pages.

3. Provide a printout of the contents of each disk, and highlight the files to be output.

4. LightSource is able to accept files using the following methods:
....... Note: Stuff or Zip all files before sending over the Internet
........Upload via this the Upload File Button
........Send files less than 5mb to file@lightsourceprinting.com

5. All wire transfers must be preceded by a phone call notifying LightSource of the transfer followed by a confirmation call or email when transmission is complete.

6. Sending graphics files over the Internet can present special problems related to file formats and file encoding. Be sure you understand these issues before depending on electronic transfers in a deadline situation.

7. Soft PDF Proofing - LightSource will offer soft PDF proofing for our client's convenience. Our pre-press department will create a low res PDF file and will email it to you. Your faxed or emailed PDF approval form will release the job for production.

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