Because your project is important to us, please use the following guidelines to obtain the maximum quality from our equipment.

We accept PDF files sent via File Upload function of the website, disc or from a USB stick. The prepared PDF files must meet these requirements:

• PDFs saved as single file, multiple page document containing all pages in normal reading order.
• PDFs saved as version 1.3 (Acrobat 4.0), recommended PDF preset is PDF/X-1a:2001 when generating the PDF file.
• Document page numbers must match the publication’s page numbers.
• Photos resolution should be at least 300 dpi.
• All colors must be CMYK or Grayscale.
• Black type must be black only (C=0, M=0, Y=0, B=100), not Registration or Rich Black.
• All fonts must be embedded.
• PDF document size must match the final trim size of the printed piece. Consult our standard product size tables below to set your document size.
• All bleeds must exceed trim by 1/8″, no printer or crop marks are needed.
• Maximum ink density 240% (Cyan 60%, Magenta 50%, Yellow 50%, Black 80%).
• Transparencies must be flattened.
• Dot-gain set to 30%.
• Please supply printed laser proofs for each page.

Please remember that any inconsistencies in photo quality will be reproduced. Computer monitors display a larger gamut of colors that cannot be reproduced on press. The color you see on your monitor is probably not what you will get in the printed piece. We recommend all images (color and B/W) to be calibrated and color corrected using our press profile.

Part of the offset-lithographic printing process includes a normally occurring condition called dot-gain. This effect can be compensated for within Adobe Photoshop. Atlantic Color’s dot-gain is 30%.

Please contact us if you need help or have questions on any of these topics.