Guidelines for Designing a Printable PDF
The software we use.
We work with PC and Mac operation systems. We use Adobe InDesign for layout. We use Adobe Acrobat and Pitstop to process PDF-s. Vector graphics: Adobe Illustrator, Freehand and CorelDraw. Image processing: Adobe Photoshop.
Designing a printable PDF
When designing in a design programme, designate the document template according to the “pure” measurements of your work. For example, for an A4 (210x297mm) format printed work, you should choose a document template in the same measurements. This way, the design will be positioned in the middle of the pdf-page.
If you know which paper type to use, you should set the colour profile for coated or uncoated paper already in the design programme. At the same time, we recommend not adding a profile to the pdf later.
Add an equal 5 mm of bleed to each margin. Do not forget to also add bleed to the printing file. For example, the printing file measurements of an A4 (210x297mm) format printed work upon adding a 5 mm bleed is 220x307mm. The measurements remain the same in the pdf resulting from processing the printing file with Distiller.
Crop and assembly marks. We recommend not adding these in designing a printing or pdf file. If excluding these is not possible, crop marks should be positioned at least 0.5 mm + bleed from pure measurements. The resolution of printable images should remain in the range 240-350ppi (for 1:1 printing size).
Figures necessary for the post-processing operations of die cutting, spot-varnishing, blind embossing, etc have to be designated on the pdf-design by a respectively referred SPOT-colour (e.g. die, varnish) not used in the rest of the design, all objects have to be designated with overprint. Special techniques should be vector-graphic objects.
If it is necessary that some colours should definitely be printed with a SPOT colour, it should be designated in the file with a PANTONE code. If there are more than one SPOT colours (in addition to CMYK), you should consider printing these colours in CMYK.
All black texts should include 100% K, but in case of rich black colour surfaces, we recommend using the combination C – 60, M – 40, Y – 20, K – 100.
Change the text into curves. This eliminates all font problems.
Clean your files of all unnecessary information, colours, layers, images. Save all necessary notices and additional information required to complete the work in a separate word file or send it by email. The pdf-file to be submitted to us should be prepared from a postscript printing file with Adobe Acrobat Distiller 5, 6, 7 or 8 by using the PDF/X-1a:2001 settings and respectively a printing-ready composite-pdf with CMYK- or CMYK- and spot colours.
We ask you to name your files in reference to the specific work and customer.
How to send your files to us?
If the size of the work is up to 5Mb, it can be sent by email. We recommend uploading works in the size of more than 5Mb to our FTP, the address and password of which are to be obtained from our sales representative. Please compress the files with a ZIP-programme. You can also bring/send the files to us on a CD or DVD.