Artwork Preparation for Printed Products
Ordering & Help
Artwork Preparation
Here at Creative Solutions we aim to make the process as easy and simple as possible to get your print from the design stage through to our printers. Use this page as a guide to preparing artwork, whether you have your own artwork ready or need our design team to produce it for you.
This page consists of three main areas:
- How to supply us with your own artwork
- Best Practices and things to consider
- Use our Graphic Design service
If you have any questions about your artwork and what you need to do, speak to our friendly team on 01297 630130 who will gladly assist you, or drop us an email at sales@creativesolutions.co.uk
Getting Your Artwork Ready For Print
We've tried to make ordering your product online as easy as possible. Just buy your product as normal online, and send us your artwork when you have it ready. Don't worry if it's not ready straight away, we'll keep your order safely stowed away until your happy your artwork is good to go.
We'll never go to print without you giving the green light. Our graphic design team will let you know if there's a quality problem with your artwork.
You can download our PDF Guide to Setting Up Your Artwork with all the information from this page.
If you require any clarification on any topic, please contact our Studio on 01297 630130 - we're here to help and ensure your printing meets our high standards and your expectations.
You dream it, we'll create it.
Ordering
Order your product online and checkout.
Artwork
Send us any artwork files and logos.
Proof
We will create a digital artwork proof for you to check.
Once signed-off, your order and artwork are sent to the production team.
Delivery
Always securely packaged with trackable courier services.
Best Practice & Things To Consider
Everything you need to know about the design process and your artwork.
Artwork Layout & Template Files
Artwork should be setup 20%, 25%, 50% or actual size. Please indicate scale within file name and on any proof.
We can email scaled templates (PDF, EPS, Ai, InDesign) files. Please call sales on 01297 630130 or email sales@creativesolutions.co.uk with your request.
Fonts, Lettering & Typography
When collecting files for output, please ensure that all fonts used are converted to outlines.
Experience has shown that whilst fonts may use the same name, slight variations do exist. Therefore we advise you not to rely on fonts from another source but to send fonts all converted to outlines.
Fonts used in Illustrator, InDesign and CorelDraw can converted to boxes/curves before saving to output and therefore no font files are required. To do this, select all and then convert in one action (usually from the 'Type' or 'Style' menus).
Photo Scans & Images
Images should be provided at a minimum of 300dpi @ 25% (size-for-size taking in to account magnification) and saved in CMYK format. TIFF file formats are preferred but we also accept images in any other formats included JPG and EPS. Care should be taken when providing images in other formats as compression can reduce final print quality.
Template Bleed Area
We usually recommend all critical information is within a 50mm bleed around the outside.
Sending Your Artwork To Us
By far the easiest receive your files is via our website using our FTP (File Transfer Protocol) facility:
- FTP Upload- Use the file upload upload tab at the top of the page in the menu bar. Fast and easy to use. Maximum file size is 2GB.
We can also accept files saved on:
- USB Stick (returned immediately after saving to our network)
- Email- send to sales@creativesolutions.co.uk
Colours, Pantones and RAL Swatches
We recommend using Pantone or RAL colour swatches rather than relying on screen colours. If you use screen colours as a guide, ensure that your monitor is closely calibrated.
Whilst every effort is made to match specific Pantone & RAL colours, it is not always possible to match specific colours when using CMYK printers. If colour is critical then please supply a reference.
Logos
All logos used should be EPS vector files (these can be magnified to any size without degradation of quality). If you do not have an EPS version, we can create a replica copy from a JPG or TIF file supplied (subject to sight of file- approximate studio charge £60 plus VAT). The EPS file can be forwarded to your for subsequent print requirements.
Mac & PC File Applications
We can accept files saved in:
- Adobe Illustrator all versions
- Adobe InDesign all versions
- Adobe Photoshop all versions
- Corel Draw
- Microsoft Powerpoint versions 2200 and XP (requires transferring to graphics software- studio time charged)
- Microsoft Publisher versions 97,98,2000 and XP (requires transferring to graphics software- studio time charged)
- Microsoft Word 2010 and XP (requires transferring to graphics software- studio time charged)
The Graphic Design Process
We like to make the design process as simple and as smooth as possible for you. We'll need a couple of thins to guide the creative process to produce something truly tailored to you.
What We Need From You
- Contact Information for fluid communication throughout the process
- An artwork brief or your ideas
- Any artwork, imagery, logos
- Corporate brand guidelines where necessary
Over To Us
- We will communicate with you throughout the design process to home-in on your vision
- You'll be able to see Digital Artwork Proofs created by our designers. Make as many amends as needed until you're 100% satisfied.
Need Help?
We have worked with a full range of clients and businesses, so have lots of examples and product knowledge to let you know what would work well with your vision. Download our Artwork Guide PDF to have this information to hand.
Still looking for an answer?
If you cannot find an snswer to your question here, please also check our Terms & Conditions, or please contact us!
Think a question needs to be added to this page? Let us know! Contact us via the button below and FAO the Marketing Department.
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