Artwork Requirement Guidelines
To save time and money on your order, please follow these guidelines when preparing your computer generated art files. Please read and follow all the instructions to ensure trouble-free, timely production of your order.
- Computer generated artwork can be supplied via our website directly to our pre-press department.
- Watson prints using Indigo Digital Web Presses using SWOP CMYK inks. All colors, including PMS / Pantone spot colors are converted to CMYK prior to printing automatically in the press RIP. Use only Pantone® colors for process or spot colors. We cannot be responsible for color changes due to in house conversion. Please supply art for color match prior to printing.
Watson does not print fluorescents, pastels, or metallic inks. - Our software programs include Adobe Illustrator, through version CC, Adobe Photoshop, through CC. Page layout programs (i.e. Pagemaker, Indesign, or QuarkXpress) are not acceptable for our pre-press process.
- Supply all linked and placed files. They should be .eps or .tif and resolution should be at least 300 ppi (pixels per inch). If files are stuffed, make them self-extracting using Stuffit. Convert all text to outlines.
- Please provide us with a color hard copy or PDF file showing die lines, sizes, bleed, or crop marks. Clearly indicate location of folds, punch holes, notches, zippers, perfs, or any special printing or finishing requirements.
- For packaging jobs printed on clear material you will need a separate white overprint layer. This layer must be created in Adobe Illustrator as a spot color and be the top layer, set to overprint. The color must be only 25% CYAN and named 5Indigo (exactly) in order for our press to recognize it as white.
- Turn-around times for proofs and jobs are dependent upon us receiving press-ready artwork in a timely manner. Files with missing links, fonts not outlined, missing white layer, etc. may require additional prep time in pre-press. This could delay your proof or job by an additional day or more.
- Proof approval forms returned with customer requested corrections or customer requested changes will be charged for art department or pre press services. There is a minimum 1 hour charge ($75.00) for additional services. Additional proofs required after the first set are billed at $75.00 each art file.
- FILE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 2:00 P.M. CENTRAL U.S. TIME. Files supplied after 2pm will not be worked on or prepped until the following day. Our press runs are scheduled at least one day in advance.
