Artwork Specifications
We believe in the adage “Measure twice, cut once”. Use these guidelines to ensure a smooth hand-off of artwork to our production team.
FILE FORMATS
Our primary preferred file type is .AI (Adobe Illustrator native format). We also accept .PDF, .PSD (Photoshop native), and EPS. If you need help arriving at the correct format, contact us and we'll try to assist. We can often work with other file formats too, but feel free to send us a sample file in advance to save time when you order. Note – if using Photoshop to design your labels, please read the Special Note under the Resolution section on this page, which explains the challenges associated with textual content built in Photoshop.
COLOUR
For best results, all files should be designed and submitted in CMYK mode (not RGB) – otherwise automatic conversion will occur when we send the files to press and significant color shifts can occur.
FONTS
All Fonts should be outlined (or flattened) – please do not send live fonts with your files.
Below, you will find instructions on how to "Outline" your fonts.
In Adobe Illustrator it is a 2 step process.
Step 1
Under the “select” tab in the task bar, click on “All.”
Step 2
Under the “type” tab in the task bar, click on “Create Outlines”
** Make sure you do not have any locked layers or “Select All” will only select unlocked layers **
In Adobe Photoshop it is a 1 step process.
Under the “Layer” tab on the task bar, click on “Flatten Image”
FILE NAMING
Each individual label design should be in its own file and named appropriately to indicate which label it applies to, e.g. Pasta Sauce 750ml Tomato Basil.ai – or similar convention that clearly differentiates between designs.
BLEEDS
Bleeds should be included (1/16" or 0.063"on all sides) where appropriate. A bleed is where the background design or color carries beyond the edge of the label, a critical component to allow for minor shifts during the cutting process.
CLEAR SPACE
Clear Space of at least 1/16" should be allowed inside the finished size – no significant elements (type, images etc) should encroach into this space, except for background colors/patterns which should be extended to provide the "bleed" mentioned above.
RESOLUTION
For best results, files should be created at 300 DPI resolution. Note - higher resolutions than 300 DPI do not produce better printed results, but lower resolutions can be disappointing when printed. Special note: it's important to understand that Photoshop is designed for editing photos, not text. While it can be used for textual content, the printed output can be questionable due to the way Photoshop treats fonts (known as "rasterizing") which can pixelate the content noticeably. Conversely, Illustrator works in "vector" format and preserves the sharpness and quality of the fonts regardless of how much zooming is done. So, for commercial print purposes, whenever textual content is involved (like labels) Illustrator will almost always achieve a better result. It is certainly possible to use Photoshop for some elements of the design, but the results should be imported into Illustrator if possible - which is the best platform for overall design tasks.
EMBEDDED IMAGES
Please make sure all placed graphics and images are embedded and not included as a linked image.
Note - Embedded images should also be sized at 300 DPI (at intended image size when printed) – anything higher has no effect on the finished result and should be avoided to keep files to a manageable size.
PROOFING
Please check all artwork for spelling or typing mistakes – we DO NOT proofread artwork.