Artwork Specifications

Software

• If possible, please layout your design in Adobe InDesign (version CS2 or earlier), Adobe Illustrator
(version CS2 or earlier), Quark XPress 7 or CorelDRAW (version 12 or earlier).
• Files of items created in Adobe Illustrator, Freehand or Adobe Photoshop may be placed into your design.
• Use Pantone Solid Coated swatches for spot colors. Process colors may not print as shown on your monitor or as printed on your printer.
• All art, including imported files and raster images, should be in the CMYK color mode.
• After the document is designed exactly as you want it, please do a “SAVE AS”. This will eliminate fonts or colors you may have experimented with but did not actually use.
• We can open Adobe Pagemaker (versions 6.5 & 7) with Adobe InDesign. Please include a hard copy (printout) as converting these files may reflow your design.
• If unable to use the suggested design software, please save in Adobe PDF format. Although we can print using the PDF, we may be unable to make design corrections or changes.
• We cannot use Microsoft Publisher, Powerpoint or Office files.

Card Measurements

• Please refer to the “Specifications for Card Designs” sheet for card sizes.
• Crop marks need to be set at physical size, but it is best to set page size at exact card size.
• If there is color, a background or an object that touches or goes over the edge of the card, use the full bleed measurements.
• The design must be kept within the Image Area, except for the bleed elements.
• Please do not round corners or outline card edge. All lines print!

Raster Images

• Raster images are files created with a scanner or digital camera.
• Color and grayscale images should be scanned at a minimum of 300 dpi resolution.
• Black & white images and line art should be scanned at 1200 dpi resolution.
• Do not use artwork taken from a website. It is usually only 72 dpi and will not print well.
• Although digital cameras save files as 72 dpi, the physical size of the image is large. If possible, please
reduce the image dimensions and increase the dpi to 300 before placing or importing into your design.

Fonts

• To achieve the greatest clarity and readability, lay out type in InDesign, Illustrator or CorelDRAW.
• Do not apply Bold or Italic styles to typeface. Always use the actual typeface (i.e. BTimesBold, ITimesItalic, etc.)
• You may convert all type to paths, curves or outlines. Be sure to proofread all type before converting.
We are unable to make changes to converted type.

Bar Code and Signature Panel

• If your card requires a bar code, please leave a white space (no background or image) of at least 1/2” in
height and 2 3/4” in length for cards and at least 3/8” by 1 3/4” for key tags. Adjustments may be
necessary due to bar code symbology.
• If a signature panel is requested, it will start at 1/8” from the bottom of the card and will be 3/8” in height
for a single signature panel, 3/4” high for a double signature panel and will be the width of the card.

Sending Your Files

• CD-R/RW, DVD R+/- RW+/- or floppy disk in PC readable format.
• Please include a hard copy (printout) of files, contact name, address, e-mail and phone number.
• Include all design files, support files, images and fonts.
• PC files are preferred, but we can work with most MAC files if exported correctly (file extensions added
to file names and text converted to outlines, curves or paths).
• Files are accepted via e-mail (10 MB limit). Please compress files into single ZIP or StuffIt file.