Adobe Acrobat - PDF files (up to version 9)
QuarkXpress (up to version 8)
Adobe InDesign (up to version CS5)
Adobe Illustrator (up to version CS5)
Adobe Photoshop (up to version CS5)
When setting up your files, it is always best to create them at full (100%) finished size unless the program your using does not allow you to do so (for example.: QuarkXPress will only allow a maximum page size of 1219mm x 1219mm). In this case if you set your artwork up at half size, ensure that any included images are 300dpi when your file is increased in size to 100% otherwise they could be bitmapped or blurry in the finalprint. If you need to supply artwork at any size under 100% of the finished size, please advise us at the time of supplying your files. Ideally Adobe Illustrator is used for vector graphics and Adobe Photoshop for photos.
Text should not be created in Photoshop unless special filters or effects have been added. Effects in Illustrator and InDesign should be avoided for printed jobs as these effects are more geared for the internet and not for print use. Always supply screen and printer fonts used (Type 1 or Open Type fonts rather than TrueType) and include any placed files that were created in another application. Any links that you have embedded into any Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign files need to be included. Please supply a high resolution PDF file and/or a laser/Sherpa print of the pages of your publication. If supplying high resolution images, please supply your scans in TIFF format (with no LWZ compression) or as composite EPS files with any clipping paths and transfer functions included in the file.
Adobe Acrobat (PDF Format) - The preferred minimum accepted setting is the 'Press Quality' setting. Preferably, do not apply any compression or down-sampling in your PDF settings, although this may result in a large-size file which may not be suitable for emailing to us. It is imperative that you set up your files correctly and at the right resolution for print quality, for example: outline or embed all fonts, ensure you select the press quality setting & do not down-sample. Please ensure imported pictures are also set up carefully as they can not be fixed easily later in production if they are incorrect.
If you are not sure about the settings required for PDF's, please contact our art department.
SENDING FILES VIA EMAIL:
All of the previous standards apply. JPEG files are not adequate and are generally low in resolution resulting in a poorly-printed result. Ideally, a PDF proof is required and all Adobe Illustrator files should be saved as outlined EPS files. If your artwork was created in Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress please ensure that you have collected all links and fonts and enclose them in a folder. This folder should then be compressed using ZipIt/WinZip or StuffIt prior to emailing to our art department.
STS Creative Printing now offers it's own browser-based FTP service. Please fill in each required field of the contact form and keep your browser window open until uploading of your file/s is complete. Once the file/s have been successfully transferred to our server, you will receive an email notification advising you that the upload was successful.