When supplying artwork you (or your designer) need to account for the page/trim
size PLUS an additional "bleed" area outside the crop area. For instance, if you're
supplying a business card, the default page size is 3.5" x 2" trimmed. Outside of
that trimmed area there will need to be additional 1/8" image area where there is
extra space to allow for cutting to avoid for white space. There is a cutting tolerance
of 1/16" which may cause white area to appear if there is no bleed in the supplied
file(s). Keep in mind, this is different than your margin (or safety area -- see
below). Please review some of our sample templates for a visual representation of
these instructions.
Resolution refers to the number of colored dots or pixels that make up an image.
It is commonly expressed in dpi (dots per inch) in print, or ppi (pixels per inch) on screen.
- The higher the dpi, the greater the resolution, the better the image quality. But don’t go overboard. Higher resolution images create larger file size.
- Image resolution is directly and inversely proportional to an image’s physical size. If you have an image with a high resolution and you enlarge it, the resolution will be reduced.
- You cannot simply increase the resolution of an image to increase its quality because the pixel data is not present. In programs such as Adobe Photoshop, you have the ability to resample an image as you increase its size. The software will attempt to create smooth transitions between pixels, but keep in mind the result is far from perfect.
- For printed images, the ideal resolution is 300 dpi at the final size.
Raster Images
Raster images are composed of a grid of squares known as pixels. The amount of pixels
and their concentration per inch determines the size and quality of an image. Resizing
these images can alter their appearance if there is not enough pixel data in order
to keep the image continuous. The most common example of a raster image is photographs.
Vector Images
Vector images are composed of a number of formulas that allow them to be resized
and reshaped without loosing any quality. Typically fonts, logos and business graphics
are made with vector design tools such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw. Vector
images are commonly composed of only solid color, but may also include gradients.
They are not suited for photo-realistic reproduction. Vector graphics may include
logos, presentation graphics, and line art, to name a few.
Do not place any critical images or text beyond the safety area (margin), which should be at least 1/8" within the final trim size. This will ensure that they are well within the finished piece when it is trimmed. Depending on your individual piece you may way to increase your margin for eye-pleasing results. We have set all of our downloadable templates to default margins.
When trimmed, the border should be 1/4" thick. Therefore, it should be set up to be 3/8" from the bleed line. There is a cutting tolerance of 1/16", which may cause uneven borders. We do not recommend borders. However, if they are necessary in your artwork, keep the minimum border thickness to make it possible for us to cut as evenly as possible. We do not guarantee perfect trimming due to press tolerances and cutting limitations, though we always strive to deliver a quality finished piece.
