Print-ready-file-630x450-630x200

Print Ready File

A print ready file is a digital file containing your artwork. The widely acceptable print ready file types vary, from PDF (Portable Document Format), EPS (Encapsulated Post Script), PSD (Adobe Photoshop Document), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) to TIFF (Tagged Image File Format); however a high resolution PDF is the print industry standard Minuteman Press Bristol prefer to use.

Your raw file in which you create your artwork, such as a Word Document file, Publisher or even Adobe InDesign may not be print ready when supplied, as it may contain text or image layers not supported on the computer which is handling it. A set-up of the created document can vary from computer to computer due to different types of fonts, images which are not embedded in the design and even page margins. It is important to ‘fix’ this by converting your artwork into stable and static format, which looks exactly as you intend it to look.

Here are a few suggestions for helping you create a print ready file. Please contact us for further information:

Bleed is required on any print job that requires printing all the way to the edge of the sheet. Standard bleed is 4mm. See our video Bleed in graphic design and print.

Crop marks (also known as trim marks) are required to indicate where the edge of the document is cut.

Registration marks assist in production with lining up printing plates and thus ensuring crisp and flawless registration. Please see colours and separations.

Fonts need to be converted to curves. Any fonts not converted to curves may flow differently from the original due to different versions of the same font on different computers. The difference could mean, for instance, more character spacing thus pushing text out and taking up more space.

Colours and Separations When creating your design, consider the production and always use spot colours, i.e. the Pantone system, or CMYK palette; in this way your design will be true to the actual final printed item.

CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) is the colour palette in which all colours are described as a mixture of these four process colours. CMYK is the standard colour model used in lithographic (offset) printing for full colour documents. In contrast, display devices generally use a different colour palette called RGB (red, green and blue). One of the most difficult aspects of graphic design in colour is colour matching, properly converting RGB colours into CMYK colours so that the printed item looks the same as what appears on the monitor.

Minuteman Press Bristol regards the following file extensions as print ready files:

  • PDF (high resolution of at least 300dpi at full size)

Subscribe to our design blog via RSS

Bristol-Design-Festival-Logo-630x450

Bristol Design Festival

Minuteman Press Bristol is thrilled to reveal that we are headline sponsors for the third Bristol Design Festival. Last year was a roaring success and this year will be even bigger.

The Bristol Design Festival runs from 5-11 June 2009 and features a showcase of local talent. The event is a focal point for Bristol designers and Minuteman Press was the obvious choice, delivering the results of great design (including some of our own!) in print daily.

“The Bristol Design Festival is proud and very fortunate to have the award winning Minuteman Press Bristol onboard to support the festival this year,” said the festival’s director Neil Ferguson. “Through supporting the Bristol Design Festival, they are also supporting hundreds of designers and creative businesses in the South West through these particularly difficult times. We are looking forward to working with Minuteman Press in 2009 and hopefully beyond!”

PrintWeek2

We’re in the News!

Bristol printers Minuteman Press have been making the news.

You can read our comments on the proposed partial Royal Mail privatisation in PrintWeek.

‘Spending Power is Staying Power’ is a keynote PrintWeek article in which marketing in the recession is discussed.

And as if this wasn’t enough, PrintingWorld features a cover story in which Minuteman Press director Peter Wise discusses out of house design departments for which we’ve an excellent established reputation.

A-Wise-man-at-Minuteman-630x450

A Wise Minuteman

Minuteman Press Bristol has a new managing director.

Peter Wise has taken over the reigns of the Bedminster based operation, which specialises in the design and production of materials using lithograph and digital manufacture. A combination believed to be unique in the Bristol area, allowing clients to order any materials in any volume.

Peter has worked in marketing for 15 years, having served in the UK and abroad in a variety of design and communication roles. Most recently as international marketing manager for Herman Miller, with responsibility for strategy in more than 50 countries worldwide.

In addition to a wealth of experience, Wise holds an MA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, is an active Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

In an introductory presentation to the Minuteman Press Bristol team, Peter said: “I first encountered Minuteman Press Bristol as a client and was surprised at the variety of products and services they were able to offer. The majority of print companies I have come across are incapable or unwilling to provide a ‘one stop shop’ service. My vision is to grow the business, increase the quality of goods and invest in the community.”