Preparing Artwork Files for Printing

Welcome to Inkspire Promotions, LLC! To ensure that your artwork files are prepared correctly for printing, please follow the guidelines below. This will help us provide you with the highest quality prints and a smooth production process.

File Format

We prefer to receive print-ready PDF files in vector format. Vector files maintain the highest quality at any size and are essential for precise and clean printing. If you are unsure how to create a vector file, please consult with a graphic designer or use software like Adobe Illustrator.

General Guidelines

Resolution

• Images: Ensure all images are at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the final printed size to avoid any pixelation or blurriness.
• Graphics: Use vector graphics whenever possible to ensure the best quality. Vector graphics can be scaled to any size without losing quality.

Color Mode

• CMYK: Convert all colors to CMYK mode. This is the color model used for printing and will give the most accurate color reproduction.
• Pantone Colors: If specific Pantone colors are required, please include them in your file and notify us.

Bleed and Margins

• Bleed: Include a minimum of 0.125 inches (3mm) bleed on all sides of your artwork. Bleed ensures that there are no white edges after trimming.
• Margins: Keep all essential text and images at least 0.125 inches (3mm) away from the edge of the finished size to avoid them being cut off.

Fonts

• Embed or Outline: Embed all fonts in your PDF file or convert them to outlines. This ensures that there are no font issues or substitutions during printing.
• Font Size: Ensure all text is legible, with a recommended minimum font size of 6pt.

File Naming

• Descriptive Names: Use descriptive file names that include the project name and version number. For example, "ProjectName_Version1.pdf".
• No Special Characters: Avoid using special characters in file names (e.g., !, &, #). Use underscores or hyphens instead.
  
  

Specific Software Guidelines

Adobe Illustrator

• Save your file as a PDF using the "Save As" function.
• Select "High Quality Print" in the Adobe PDF Preset.
• Ensure "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities" is unchecked to reduce file size.
• Check "Use Artboards" if you have multiple artboards and need to save them as separate pages.

Adobe InDesign

• Export your file as a PDF using the "Export" function.
• Select "Press Quality" in the Adobe PDF Preset.
• Ensure "Marks and Bleeds" are set correctly, with bleed values matching your document settings.

CorelDRAW

• Save your file as a PDF using the "Export" function.
• Select "PDF/X-4" in the PDF preset.
• Ensure "Bleed Limit" is set correctly.
  
  

Proofing

Before submitting your artwork file, please double-check the following:

• All content is correct and no important elements are missing or misplaced.
• Colors, images, and graphics are accurate and as expected.
• Text is legible and free from spelling or grammatical errors.

We will email a pre-production PDF proof for you review and approval prior to releasing your order to production.

Submitting Your Artwork

Once your file is prepared, you can submit it to us via email at Info@inkspire.com or upload it through our website. If your file is too large to email, please use a file-sharing service like Dropbox or Google Drive and provide us with the download link.

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If you have any questions or need further assistance with preparing your artwork files, please contact us at 978-410-5152 or Info@inkspire.com. Our team is here to help you every step of the way!

Thank you for choosing Inkspire Promotions, LLC. We look forward to bringing your ideas to life with our custom printing services!