What are some guidelines to produce high-quality files?

Add crop marks to identify edges where the paper will be cut.
Make sure art is centered in the trim box.
Include 1/8" bleed outside the final product size on all four sides of your file.
Keep text and images that don't bleed positioned away from the edge of the final product. We recommend 1/8" inside the final product size on all four sides to ensure critical elements aren't affected if the paper shifts during production.
Provide CMYK files. All other color spaces (RGB, spot colors, etc.) will be converted to CMYK.
Use high-resolution art. We recommend all rasterized images be at least 300 dpi.
If your product folds, check our folding guides to be sure your artwork is set up properly.
If you're using a rich (or built) black, we recommend the following CMYK build: 75% cyan, 70% magenta, 40% yellow, and 100% black. This formula has been developed specifically for our presses and delivers optimal results. If you prefer a different build, keep total ink coverage below 300%.
Black at 100% is to be used for text, barcodes, QR codes, and indicias. The build for these items is 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 0% yellow, and 100% black. Do not use the rich black formula for text.
Be sure to make the size of your native ﬁle the ﬂat size of your document.
Send instructions with your ﬁles if you need to communicate special information (like a CMYK build) or have an uncommon situation (like a custom layout). Although notes to prepress are typically not necessary if files have been created correctly, erring on the side of clarity can alleviate potential delays.
Don’t exceed 300% ink coverage, or it will saturate the stock and cause problems.
Print out your files to check all folds and die-cuts for proper image placement.
Design carefully so that folds don’t interrupt your message or visual effect and so that crossover images are handled skillfully. Don’t split type.

Your crop marks should match the finished size of the product you’re ordering. If a variation exists between your file’s crop marks and the finished size of the template, ARTSUBSTANCE will center your artwork based on the file’s crop marks.

Your product will be centered based on the trim box instead of the crop marks of the PDF. In most cases, crop marks and trim boxes are set to be the same. Trim boxes are helpful in interpreting the size of a custom order.

If your file contains unsuitable crop marks (e.g., ones that are manually “drawn” or rasterized), our system may fail to recognize the trim and orientation of your art. This discrepancy could result in a finished product that does not meet your expectations. Please contact a customer service rep if you need details about the guidelines.

If you’re uncertain how to define the page boxes when creating a PDF, or if your layout software does not support them, just ensure that your artwork is centered in your PDF page as mentioned above. In rare cases, an undefined trim box could result in the system failing to correctly recognize the orientation of the file, as indicated by the red trim box overlay on your proof. Please contact customer service if you have any questions.