File Preparation

File Preparation for Digital Color Printing at Graphic Traffic:

Minimum Bleed requirement: 1/8” on all sides.

3/16” Margin for all Live items (text logos, etc).

Make sure all images are CMYK or Spot color. RGB files will not print as intended.

All images must be 300dpi at the final output size (except for large format color posters which can be as low as 150dpi).

All PDFs must be high resolution, CMYK and include the fonts.

Please be sure to include crop marks on any file with a bleed.

Please Review:
Bleed: Your document is considered to bleed if any of the printing extends to the edge of the paper once it has been trimmed to final size. With a bleed, documents are printed on an oversized paper and then trimmed down to the trim edge. An extra 1/8” allowance is necessary on all edges of the document with bleeds.

CMYK: Abbreviations for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. Even though we are not printing with inks (laser is toner based), all files should be set up as CMYK to obtain the best results. RGB files are suitable for web and screen based viewing and for photographic output, but may not give the desired results when printed on a digital color press. Note: Many times our clients describe their images as looking “muddy” or “dull” when printed from RGB files.

All documents should be set up as CMYK when submitting for output. To change the color settings of a Photoshop file (.psd, .tif, .jpg) go to Image>Mode>CMYK.

Mottle: Mottling usually refers to an uneven pattern in ink/toner absorption and can look splotchy to the eye. Often times you will notice it when heavy coverage images or photographs are printed on an uncoated, textured or rough recycled stock. The degree of the “splotchy-ness” depends on a few factors including (but not limited to) the image itself, the color tones and/or values on the paper. We can make recommendations on alternative papers if we feel your document is not looking its best.