PDF  FILE  PREPARATION  GUIDELINES  FOR  PRINT  PRODUCTION    

GENERAL    

•  File  format  of  choice  is  PDF  version  1.3  –  1.5    (pdfx1/a:2001).    

•  Only  one  PDF  file  per  component  must  be  submitted  (e.g.  -­‐  1  for  all  cover  pages,  1  for  all  text  pages,  1  for  inserts)  

•  All  pages  within  the  PDF  must  be  the  same  size.  

•  Correct  Trim  Size  must  be  recognized  as  the  Trim  Box  by  Acrobat.  (Creating  your  original  document  to  the  correct  final  product  size  in  your  page  makeup  application  is  the  best  way  to  achieve  this.)  

•  Minimum  recommended  type  safety  is  .25”  (6.35  mm).  

•  Minimum  recommended  bleed  allowance  is  .125”  (3.18  mm).  

•  Black  text  should  be  100%  K  (CMYK  colour  space)  or  100%  Gray  scale  only.  Do  not  use  RGB.  

•  Fonts  must  be  fully  embedded  (not  subsetted).  

•  Trim  marks,  when  included  in  a  PDF  file,  must  be  offset  to  a  minimum  of  .125”  (3.18  mm).  

•  Optimal  continuous  tone  image  resolution  is  300  dpi.  1200  dpi  for  bitmapped  images.  

•  Images  should  be  in  the  grayscale  colour  space  for  black  only  components  or  CMYK  /Pantone  for  colour.  All  RGB  should  be  converted  to  avoid  colour  shifts.  

•  Files  must  not  contain  trapping.  

•  Total  Ink  coverage  should  not  exceed  220%  for  offset  printing  or  240%  for  sheetfed.  

•  File  should  not  contain  ICC  profiles  

•  File  naming  conventions:  • abc123-­‐Body.pdf  • abc123-­‐Covers.pdf  • abc123-­‐Insert.pdf  

 TEXT  FILES    • Files  must  be  in  single  page  format  (not  spreads).  • Ensure  the  ‘Print  Line’  is  updated  to  reflect  the  correct  printing  version.  • If  the  book  was  previously  printed  outside  of  Canada,  ensure  update  the  print  line  to  ‘Printed  

in  Canada’.  

 

 

 COVER  FILES    • A  single  PDF,  that  includes  front,  back  and  spine  must  be  saved  as  one  page  spread.    If  there  

is  an  IFC  (inside  front  cover),  then  this  page  must  be  saved  as  a  single  spread  as  well.  Both  spreads  should  then  be  saved  in  a  single  2-­‐page  PDF  file.  

• Spine  width  must  be  set  based  on  the  paper  caliper.  There  will  be  a  bindery  tolerance  of  +/-­‐.0625”  (1.60  mm)  beyond  this  caliper  measurement.  

• Bar  codes,  when  included,  must  be  defined  as  100%  Black  in  the  final  PDF  file.  Ensure  you  do  not  use  RGB  as  the  Color  Mode  to  prevent  the  Barcode  from  printing  with  multiple  inks.  

• If  final  product  uses  Otabind™,  there  is  a  0.5"  (12.7  mm)  margin  at  the  gutter  on  the  first  and  last  text  page  and  on  the  inside  front  and  back  covers.  

• Minimum  size  for  any  text  intended  for  spot  or  raised  UV  treatment  is  12pts.      

 

SAMPLE  LAYOUTS  –  COVER  FILE  

 

     

     

SAMPLE  LAYOUTS  –  CASE  BOUND  (PRINTED  CASE)  

 

       SAMPLE  LAYOUTS  –  DUST  JACKET  

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAMPLE  LAYOUTS  –  END  SHEETS  

•  Supply  as  4  page  layouts  in  spreads.  •  Endsheet  page  trim  size  should  match  the  text  page      

   

   

EXTRA  CHARGES  Files  prepared  in  this  manner  and  saved  as  recommended  will  preflight  efficiently.  Please  Note:  if  there  are  changes  required  to  your  file,  extra  charges  will  apply  for  the  following  items  (additional  items  may  apply):    

1. Color  Correction  2. Revised  Pages  (adding/deleting/editing)  3. Updating  the  Print  Line  4. Changing  production  line  to  ‘Made  In  Canada’  5. Adjusting  type  safety  and  bleeds  6. Converting  multiple  PDF  files  to  single  PDF  files  7. Preparing  cover  files  if  not  supplied  as  single  PDF  8. Adjusting  type  safety  and  bleeds  9. Adjusting  Page  Geometry  10. Converting  RGB  and  PMS  colors  to  CMYK  

 FILE  NAMING  CONVENTIONS  Files  must  be  submitted  as  a  single  file  PDF  and  named  appropriately:    

• abc123-­‐Body.pdf  • abc123-­‐Covers.pdf  • abc123-­‐Insert.pdf  

   

 RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  DIGITAL  PRINT  

 GENERAL

• When possible, output PDF in an optimized format. Files saved as PDF version 1.5 flattens transparencies and reduces final file size.

• Avoid background colors with over 50% ink coverage that cover more than 25% of the page.

• Solid bars across the page are prone to print artifacts such as banding and density variations. Consider adding patterns.

• Use less saturated colors or limit the size of objects with heavy ink coverage during document design.

• Avoid using Rich Black. • Avoid scanned images. "White" areas usually contain some dot which will dirty

the image. • Convert all spot colours to CMYK or Pantone.

TEXT

• For optimal black text quality, ensure that text is 100% black only. Less than 100% K or multi-coloured black text (rich black) may yield text that contains colour fringing.

• Black text size should be no less than 6 pts. • Avoid rasterizing black text. Once rasterized, black text may be negatively

affected by the colour management system. If raster font data must be used, avoid scaling to reduce blurring artifacts.

• Avoid converted to outlines. Text should retain its font format to avoid negative affects of the colour management system.

• All fonts used should be in embedded. Avoid artificially bolded or italicized text. • Do not use anti-aliasing for fonts to maximize character edge definition. • Coloured text size should be no less than 8 pts. Slight press mis-registration may

decrease legibility at small text sizes. • Select fonts for small text based on legibility. Avoid condensed or compressed

versions. Use of light faces and fonts containing fine serifs should be avoided. • When using dark colored text, reduce the number of component inks to a

minimum. IMAGES

• Continuous tone image resolution should be between 200-300 dpi. • For images that contain text and line art 600 dpi is recommended. • Compress images as little as possible. Lossy compression methods may result in

lower quality output. • Eliminate black data below a few percent in images to create higher perceived

image quality. When images are color separated (CYMK) there may be objectionable black pixels in the highlights and facial tones.

• Maximum ink density for digital print is managed by the press colour management system. No image manipulation for UCR is required.

• Dot gain compensation is not required.

SOLID OBJECTS (e.g. Logos, Line Art, Graphs, Colour Text)

• Use vector format if possible. If required., rasterize at 600 dpi for best results • Avoid background colors with over 50% ink coverage that cover more than 25%

of the page. • Solid bars across the page are prone to print artifacts such as banding and

density variations. Consider adding patterns.