Adobe Illustrator Application Guidelines

Download the template for your desired product.

Unzip or unstuff the template file.

Open the template in Illustrator ( File > Open ).

If your artwork has bleeds, we require a .125" bleeds on all four sides of your artwork (For example, a 4" x 6" postcard image with bleeds would have dimensions of 4.25" x 6.25" in your artwork file.) If your image has a white border on all four sides, bleeds are not required. If your image is not white on all four sides, you MUST include bleeds in your files.

If your artwork has borders, please note that our cutting machines have a variance of about .0625 or 1/16 of an inch. When using a border in your artwork, you should design with at least .25 or 1/4 of an inch of white space from your border to the cut line to help ensure a symmetrical appearance.

Make sure you are on the layer labeled "Your Artwork Here"

Show rulers ( View > Rulers ).

Click on the rulers and drag guidelines to the specified marks. This will help you line up your text/images to our template guides.

Select the Rectangle Tool, making sure the stroke and fill are transparent.

Create a box with the proper dimensions of your entire artwork plus .25" for bleed (if necessary).

Note the instructions included in the template.

Create a new layer for your artwork ( Layer > New Layer ).

If you are adding existing raster artwork (such as a TIFF), make sure the artwork in saved at the proper resolution before placing.

Place the artwork ( File > Place ) .

Make sure all layers are unlocked.

Select everything ( Select > All ).

Convert text to outlines ( Type > Create Outlines ).

*** Please note that once text has been converted to outlines, it can no longer be edited. So, be sure to save a copy of your file before converting text to outlines if you feel future text edits may be necessary.

Also make sure to show all hidden characters ( Type > Show Hidden Characters ) and delete any that appear. Hidden characters can sometimes cause the file to fail when printing.

Use the menu to set ( File > Document Color Mode > CMYK Color ).

Select any artwork that is in RGB Mode.

Use the Color Palette to convert any remaining RGB artwork to CMYK and adjust the color sliders as desired. Pay close attention to your reds and blues, as this is where the most difference between CMYK and RGB colors can be seen.

If you have any layers which use black, note the difference between solid black and rich black. Solid black will print as a somewhat flat color, whereas rich black will appear darker and more glossy. Avoid using a rich black for any text below 10 pt or 14 pixels in height, as the printing process may cause the text to blur. Common color values for rich black are C:60% / M:40% / Y:20% / K:100%.

If you have any gradients in your artwork, keep in mind that any gradient areas with less than 10% saturation may not print as accurately as more heavily saturated areas.

Select the black text text in your file.

Use the Menu to set ( Filter > Colors > Overprint Black ).

De-select the "Stroke" option.

Select the "Include Blacks with CMY" option.

Select the layer labeled "Delete This Layer" on the Layers Palette.

Click the Trash Icon on the Layers Palette.

Note any instructions included on the template.

Save your file in .PDF format ( File > Save As ).

If you are exporting your file to a PDF, please make sure that the PDF version is Acrobat 4 and select options to "Embed All Fonts" and "Generate Thumbnails".