Our preferred file type is a PDF, since they allow for smaller file sizes and embedding fonts. By embedding fonts it guarantees that your file will be printed in the type face that you designed it in. If fonts are not embedded, a default font replaces the missing font. While most programs will notify us of this when we open the file, there are cases when it hasn’t resulting in the document being printed with the default font. So for the closest, easiest, and most accurate Print on Demand experience we highly recommend that you upload PDFs when you place orders.

While we can read and print from your Microsoft Word Documents, we highly discourage it. Mainly because, although possible, Word is not a program meant to be used to create a professional brochure or flyer. Many difficulties could occur with you order should you choose to upload a Word file to us.

1. Missing Fonts, resulting in fonts being replaced with a default font.
2. Errors with margins and page breaks, resulting in changes to paragraph format and layouts.
3. Bad links to images, resulting in blurry or pixilated images.
4. Inability to manage print quality.

So to summarize, while we can print from a word document, to best insure that your project matches what you see on your computer we encourage you to send us Adobe .PDF files, as they are the best bet to ensure that your copies are to your satistfaction.

As in Word, fonts are an issue with Publisher as well. If we don’t have the fonts you used your document will look different to us. If you use publisher you may be asked to email us the fonts that you used. Your font files can be found on your computer in the font folder of your windows program.

Go to your hard drive and select the Windows folder and then select the Fonts folder. The font file should have a similar name to the name of the font. Sometime it is only an abbreviation with the .ttf as the file type. Simply attach that file to your email like you would a picture or other file and send it to us.

1. Print to .PDF - If you have purchased the full version of Adobe Acrobat (not the free Adobe Acrobat Reader that is available online) you will have a print driver that give the ability to print to .PDF from any design or word processor program you have on your computer. Simply select Adobe PDF as your selected printer, select the desired printing options and click print.

2. Photoshop - First flatten the layers of your image. Go to the menu and select Layers>Flatten Image. Then
File>Save As and select Adobe PDF.

3. Illustrator - Convert all text to outlines. To do that select the text area and either;
a.) hit Crtl+Shift+O
B.) Go to the menu Type>Create Outlines
c.) Right click on the selected text and choose Create Outlines

Then simply chose File>Save As and choose Adobe PDF

3. Quark Express - Choose File>Export>Layout as PDF make sure the Embed Fonts box is checked in the PDF options

4. InDesign - Convert all text to outlines then Chose File>Export then select Adobe PDF as your file type

5. CorelDRAW - Convert all text to outlines then Choose File>Publish to PDF.

6. For other programs look under your Save As and Export options to see if you can save or export to a .pdf.

*NOTE* If you are unable to send us a PDF we will keep an eye out for any error messages that the program tells us such as: missing fonts, missing links for images, and obvious formatting errors. However if no message is given to up by the program we will not know if fonts are missing, if images are bad quality etc.

1. All documents and images should be at least 300 DPI (a.k.a. pixels per inch/dots per inch). This resolution results in you getting a crisp, clear and professional look to your order.

*NOTE* It is NOT recommended that you use graphics or pictures downloaded from the internet. Pictures on websites or screen shots of websites are only be 72 DPI, as that is the resolution of a computer monitor and a web standard for websites. A 72 DPI graphic will appear fuzzy or pixilated when printed.

2. For best color matching results please use a CMYK color profile for color copies. This will help (but not guarantee)that your copies will be as close as possible to your desired colors. If there are concerns over matching a specific color, please use the Comments section of our order form to relay that concern to us. These are digital copiers, not a offset press so match specific colors with 100% accuracy is not possible.

3. Please upload a PDF file if possible.

4. Margins - Our printers by default leave a 1/4” white margin on all sides. So please design your document with at least a 1/4” border on all sides unless you want a full coverage bleed to the edges. In that case please follow the directions on bleeds below.

A bleed is the term used to describe the printing of a document with no white margins of the edges of the paper.

*NOTE* Our printers by default leave about a 1/4” white margin on all sides.

To Correctly set up you file for a bleed.

1. If printing an 8.5x11 or 11x17 document, please design you document to be at least
a 1/4” larger on all sides.

For Example:
8.5 x 11 = 9.0 x 11.5 (for a 1/4” bleed)
11 x 17 = 11.5 x 17.5 (for a 1/4” bleed)

2. Then use crop marks to show us where to cut the document down to the correct size. Please see the image to the left as a sample document with crop marks correctly placed. If your document is 2 sided it is a big help to put registration marks (they look like little targets/crosshairs) on your file. It helps us line up the front and back pages.

To place crop marks or registration marks look in your print setup for an area or tab called “Prepress” or “Marks & Bleeds”. Graphic design programs like Illustrator, InDesign, Freehand, and Corel Draw, and Adobe Illustrator Professional should all have a printing or page/printing setup option similar to this.

*NOTE* Simply making your background color or image fit the entire 8.5x11 or 11x17 page does NOT make your document a full bleed, it will still have the 1/4” white margin. It MUST HAVE a 1/4" bleed over.

Important Tips To Ensure Accurate Printing

1. Flatten Your artwork. This is important because it does two things; reduces the size of your document for easier transfer and; eliminates the issue of missing fonts, that way fonts will appear on our computer just like they do on yours. Otherwise if we do not have a particular font you used Photoshop would ask us to use a substitute.

2. Use Print Resolution of 300 DPI. Make sure any document you design for the purpose of printing is at least 300 DPI (or dot/pixels per inch) in resolution. This will insure that your copies will come out crisp and clear.

3. Avoid using 72 DPI web images. What that means is avoid using pictures in you document that you saved off of a website. Websites use a standard screen resolution of 72 DPI (dots/pixels per inch), trying to print a document that using these types of images will result in fuzzy, blured and pixelated copies. We will still print these images, but be advised that the output will not be crisp and clear.

4. To save a Photoshop Document as a PDF is a simple and easy task. Simpley flatten you document and then select SAVE AS and choose the PDF file type. Bingo! You have a pdf. See the pictures below for pictures to help you through the process.

Important Tips To Ensure Accurate Printing

1. Make sure all type is set to outlines . This is important because it does two things; reduces the size of your document for easier transfer and; eliminates the issue of missing fonts, that way fonts will appear on our computer just like they do on yours. Otherwise if we do not have a particular font you used, InDesign would ask us to use a substitute.

2. Use Print Resolution of 300 DPI. Make sure any document you design for the purpose of printing is at least 300 DPI (or dot/pixels per inch) in resolution. This will insure that your copies will come out crisp and clear.

3. Avoid using 72 DPI web images. What that means is avoid using pictures in you document that you saved off of a website. Websites use a standard screen resolution of 72 DPI (dots/pixels per inch), trying to print a document that using these types of images will result in fuzzy, blured and pixelated copies. We will still print these images, but be advised that the output will not be crisp and clear.

4. To save an InDesign Document as a PDF simply follow the Illustrated steps below.

Important Tips To Ensure Accurate Printing

1. Convert all text to curves/outlines. This is very important as it ensures that your type will print as it appears on your screen. If you do not covert all text to outlines and we do not have the fonts you used a subsitute font will be selected by the Illustrator or Acrobat.

2. Use Print Resolution of 300 DPI. Make sure any document you design for the purpose of printing is at least 300 DPI (or dot/pixels per inch) in resolution. This will insure that your copies will come out crisp and clear.

3. Avoid using 72 DPI web images. What that means is avoid using pictures in you document that you saved off of a website. Websites use a standard screen resolution of 72 DPI (dots/pixels per inch), trying to print a document that using these types of images will result in fuzzy, blured and pixelated copies. We will still print these images, but be advised that the output will not be crisp and clear.

1.3 Choose the .PDF file type and click save.

Important Tips To Ensure Accurate Printing

1. Use Print Resolution of 300 DPI. Make sure any document you design for the purpose of printing is at least 300 DPI (or dot/pixels per inch) in resolution. This will insure that your copies will come out crisp and clear.

2. Avoid using 72 DPI web images. What that means is avoid using pictures in you document that you saved off of a website. Websites use a standard screen resolution of 72 DPI (dots/pixels per inch), trying to print a document that using these types of images will result in fuzzy, blured and pixelated copies. We will still print these images, but be advised that the output will not be crisp and clear.

Important Tips To Ensure Accurate Printing

1. Convert all text to curves/outlines. This is very important as it ensures that your type will print as it appears on your screen. If you do not covert all text to outlines and we do not have the fonts you used a subsitute font will be selected by the CorelDraw or Acrobat.

2. Use Print Resolution of 300 DPI. Make sure any document you design for the purpose of printing is at least 300 DPI (or dot/pixels per inch) in resolution. This will insure that your copies will come out crisp and clear.

3. Avoid using 72 DPI web images. What that means is avoid using pictures in you document that you saved off of a website. Websites use a standard screen resolution of 72 DPI (dots/pixels per inch), trying to print a document that using these types of images will result in fuzzy, blured and pixelated copies. We will still print these images, but be advised that the output will not be crisp and clear.

1.3 Choose the .PDF file type and click save.