Preparing artwork correctly for print can be a detailed and time consuming process, but by following the guidelines on this page, you can ensure that your files print correctly on our systems. SYSTEM HARDWARE Like the vast majority of companies in the creative industry, we use Macintosh hardware to run our systems, plus specialist Silicon Graphics workstations. We are also able to handle PC files in specific formats - please check the listing below. FILE FORMATS We can output files of the following formats. Please always send us the native file from your application (and all associated image files), not an EPS or PDF file. Also, to avoid confusion, ensure that your disk only contains the files we will be working on. Macintosh Applications Macromedia Freehand (to version 10) Quark XPress (to version 4.1) Adobe Photoshop (to version 6.0) Adobe Illustrator (to version 9.0) Windows Applications We can convert and output Windows versions of the Macintosh applications listed above. Please avoid using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher and Corel Draw to create finished artwork as they do not provide the pre-press features required for output. MEDIA TYPES We can accept files on the following media: Floppy disk, 100mb/250mb Zip, CD-Rom, DVD-Rom, Optical disk, Syquest disk, E-mail (files no larger than 1mb please), ISDN (01207 230015) FONTS Please supply the fonts you have used in your job (both screen and printer fonts for Postscript fonts). To comply with copyright law, we will delete your fonts from our system once your job is output. Alternatively, convert your type to paths to remove the necessity to supply fonts.

Follow the tips below to ensure your job prints correctly: Ensure that all images are converted to CMYK format and not RGB Avoid postscript fills - they can print incorrectly Don't apply LZW or JPG compression to images as these forms of compression degrade the finished image Save your image files at 100dpi (dots per inch) at finished size Ensure picture boxes in Quark XPress are filled with a solid colour such as white, not 'none', or your images may print with a ragged edge Convert duotone images to CMYK before saving Don't alter default overprint settings unless a desired effect is required