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Digital File Specifications
This section of our Web site outlines digital file formats accepted by W.A. Fisher Advertising & Printing for use in production. Along with your digital files, you should provide a proofed hard copy of the work to ensure accurate production of your project. In some cases, a proofed PDF file can be accepted in place of the hard copy.
You may also read our supplemental PDF that provides (advanced) tips for creating your own digital files to be used in high-quality offset printing.
Any digital files provided to W.A. Fisher Advertising & Printing must include all parts necessary to re-produce in our pre-press software. This includes all fonts, images and any other linked documents as outlined below. Where applicable, all images and documents should have a resolution of no less than 300dpi at its intended size unless specifically stated otherwise below. All full-color images and colors must be saved in the CMYK color space with the exception of Pantone or spot colors. All grayscale images should be saved as grayscale, not color. All black & white images should be saved bitmapped. Be sure to read this section of our Web site in its entirety before submitting digital files to W.A. Fisher Advertising & Printing.
Current methods of supplying data files to W.A. Fisher Advertising & Printing include the following:
Disk: We accept CD or DVD (Mac or Windows format) for digital files. Be sure that all media is clearly labeled with your business name (if applicable), your name, phone number and optionally your email address in case we need to contact you about problems with the media.
If your compressed file archive is less than 3MB in size, you can send us the file via email at chriss@wafishermn.com.
When providing digital files via email or FTP, we recommend the files are compressed in a single file archive. We can accept compressed files in the following formats: Stuff-It - SIT, SEA, HQX, Zip - .zip (not .exe), Rar - .rar (not .exe), Ace - .ace (not .exe), Tar - .tar, Gzip - .gz, Gzipped Tar - .tgz, .tar.gz. Be sure that all compressed files have an extension at the end identifying the type of file. For instance, if you created a self-extracting Stuff-It archive, then be sure that ".sea" is at the end of the file name.
Continuous Tone Image Reproduction
While we prefer to scan your original art for optimal results, you may provide digital images in formats as described above. Save all full-color images in the CMYK color space, grayscale images as grayscale, and black & white images as bitmap. Don't save images with screen angles or transfer functions. PostScript files should be saved in binary format only.
Resolution should be set to 300 dpi. Higher resolution may be used, but this will increase raster image processing (RIP) time without appreciably improving image quality. This resolution provides high quality 150 lpi halftone screening. Resolutions lower than 300 dpi will produce "pixilated" images resulting in an unpleasant look to your scan.
When scanning art, logos, and other forms of line art, image resolution should be set to 800 dpi minimum.
All RGB colors must be converted to CMYK. To convert RGB to CMYK on a desktop system use the following parameters: 95% black ink limit; Medium GCR; 300% total ink limit.
As in all printing processes, reproduction of "small dots" is process-critical. Optimal press highlight is 6% cyan and 5% magenta and yellow.
Print Positioning and Bleed
It is preferred that all documents be designed using single pages. In larger multi-page jobs, your design may require imposition (the creation of electronic printers spreads). The offset presses will have very slight variations (usually 1/32") in front-to-back registration. Please keep this in mind while preparing your documents. All files must contain a minimum of 1/8" bleed on each side in order to allow for trimming. Small variations in page-to-page image are normal. Accordingly, a design should not be so tight that an ordinary change in position will adversely affect the results. For instance, type positioned too closely to trim may be trimmed off due to ordinary shifting on press and trimming devices.