PREFERRED FILE FORMAT REQUIREMENTS

“PDF” Files (Adobe Acrobat) : We prefer high-resolution, CMYK PDFs with the fonts embedded.

From Photoshop, please use the [PDF/X-1a:2001] preset.

From Illustrator and Indesign, save or export your file with the [PDF/X-1a:2001] preset, and change the compatibility to Acrobat 5 compatible (PDF 1.4). Please note that we still may request native files. Please do not Distill your PDFs.

From Quark Xpress 6.5 and lower, you will need to create a Post-Script file and Distill it. The Distiller preset of "Press Quality" or "PDF/X-1a 2001" should be used. Note: Print Quality and Press Quality are not interchangeable.

From Quark Xpress 7, you will need to Export your Layout as a PDF. The Default PDF Output Style will work with a few tweaks. Click the Options button to make the following changes: Image Compression should be altered for the Color and Grayscale images. The resolution for both of these items should be changed to "Bicubic Downsample" to 300 DPI. The bleed should be set to .125" if you are submitting a bleed ad. Crop marks may be added if desired. DO NOT CHANGE the Color Settings, or the Transparency Settings (Color should be Composite CMYK and Transparency Flattening Resolution should be 300 DPI.)

 

ADDITIONAL FILE FORMAT REQUIREMENTS

CorelDraw: We do not accept CorelDraw files. Please note some older versions of CorelDraw cannot create high-res PDFs. If you must create a CorelDraw PDF, please also send all fonts and images used.

Excel (Microsoft): We do not accept Excel files. Please send image files, fonts, and a printout so we can try to recreate the ad.

Freehand: Freehand files should be saved as Freehand EPS with fonts outlined (converted to curves or paths). Also send all images used.

Illustrator(Adobe): We accept AI or EPS files from Illustrator CS2 or lower. Include all linked images used. Outline all fonts or send font files (outlines preferred). Convert all colors/image mode to CMYK. (No Pantone or Spot colors.) Any black text or thin strokes should be only 100% K. For CS2, document raster effects should be set to 300 DPI (Effect Menu: Document Raster Effects Settings). All placed images must meet the requirements for the program they were created in. Do not include crop marks unless it’s a full page ad. Please delete hidden or unused layers. — We also accept Illustrator PDFs. Please save your file with the [PDF/X-1a:2001] preset, change the compatibility to Acrobat 5 compatible (PDF 1.4) and check the box to "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities".

Indesign (Adobe): We accept Indesign files from Indesign CS2 or lower. All placed images must meet the requirements for the program they were created in. Please package your Indesign files with all Images and Fonts included. If you prefer to send a PDF, please export your PDF with the Adobe preset of [PDF/X-1a:2001] and change the compatibility to Acrobat 5 (PDF 1.4)

Pagemaker: We do not accept Pagemaker files. Try converting it to an acceptable file format (i.e. Photoshop or Illustrator). If this is not an option, please send image files, fonts, and a printout so we can try to recreate the ad.

Photoshop (Adobe): We prefer PSD (CS2 or lower), EPS or TIF files. JPG is also acceptable. We cannot accept GIF files! All files must be CMYK (or grayscale for black & white images). Any Photoshop file should be at least 300 DPI at the size used in the ad. Line art/logos/text should be 600 DPI at the size used in the ad. (i.e. if you place an image in another program at 2”x2”, the image needs to be at least 2”x2” at 300 DPI in Photoshop.)

Powerpoint: We do not accept Powerpoint files. Please send image files, fonts, and a printout so we can try to recreate the ad.

Publisher (Microsoft): We do not accept Publisher files. Please send image files, fonts, and a printout so we can try to recreate the ad.

Quark Xpress: We accept Quark documents, Version 6.5 and lower. Please save down any Quark 7 files to Quark 6. Send all images and fonts used. All colors must be separated CMYK. All placed images must meet the requirements for the program they were created in. Do not send Quark EPS files! Please note: If you save a Quark 7 file to a previous version, items using transparency will not open correctly in Quark 6. In this case, please send a PDF. Please see PDF requirements above.

Word or Wordperfect: We do not accept Word or Wordperfect files, except for text files submitted for a create. Wordperfect files would need to be saved as a Plain Text file. Please send image files, fonts, and a printout so we can try to recreate the ad. Images cannot be extracted from these documents in a useable format. They must be send separately.

Stuffit, Zip or Compressed files: We prefer ZIP files, however we can expand any compressed file format. Note: we cannot open .EXE files.