Preparing Files
When placing your next print order with 48HourPrint.com, begin your design process with one of our application-specific design templates for all 48HourPrint.com products. These templates are files that include predefined guidelines indicating bleed, trim, and safety specifications, and are available for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Publisher, QuarkXpress, CorelDraw, and Macromedia Freehand. Using our templates helps eliminate pre-press problems and keeps your print job on schedule.
File Size
All files need to be built to the final trim size plus bleed. So your file should be ¼” larger than the product size that you are purchasing. (i.e.: 2x3.5 business card = 2.25x3.75 graphic file). When generating the file into the proper format, don’t use any crop or printer’s marks for this will increase the dimensions of the design file.
Fonts/Text
If working out of vector based software such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Freehand, all text must be converted to outlines before generating the final PDF file. If working out of Adobe PhotoShop, simply flatten the image. Please also make sure that you are not using a font size smaller than 7pt.
Resolution
We recommend that all images used are at least 300dpi for printing purposes. Submitting files with a higher resolution than 300dpi is not necessary.
Color
We require that all submitted files be saved in CMYK to ensure color accuracy as all RGB submitted files are converted to CMYK. Please refer to our CMYK Color Chart for color values
Compression
We suggest compressing your file(s) using WinZip for the PC and if you are using a Mac, we suggest using the native Apple Archive-.zip process, as this will decrease the chances of corruption. Using StuffIt for the Mac is also acceptable. Please note, however, that compressed files can only be uploaded through our 24 Hour Proof option. AutoFlight does not accept compressed files.
Safety Zone
Don’t place any critical images or text beyond the safety zone, which is at least 1/8” from the final trim size, to avoid it getting cut off when the finished piece is trimmed.
Accepted File Types
.PSD - Adobe Photoshop
.EPS - Adobe Illustrator
.INDD - Adobe InDesign
.QXD - QuarkXpress 6
.CDR - Corel Draw 12
.FHD - Freehand
.PUB - Microsoft Publisher
.PPT - Microsoft PowerPoint
.DOC - Microsoft Word
.PDF - Adobe Acrobat
.TIF - Tagged Image
.JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group File Format
.BMP - Bitmap File Format
Free PDF Writer
If you need a program that creates PDFs, 48HourPrint.com recommends CutePDF. It's a free and powerful tool that creates PDFs quickly and easily.
Please note that Autoflight, our instant proofing system, only supports .PDF, .TIF, .JPEG, .BMP, and flattened .PSD file types.