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Introduction

It seems that whenever you start using a new output service, it always takes some time to figure out those little time/money-saving tricks that help you get up to speed and use the services efficiently. PhotomediaVR would like to share some of the secrets we've learned while producing and printing large format digital pieces, of course if you ever have any questions as to how to set up a file or the best way to accomplish something just give us a ring!

Final File check list

__ Include layout, all imported graphics (EPS & TIFFs), and all typefaces even the ones in your EPS files, with both printer and screen fonts

__ Set up file between 25% and 400% of actual size

__ Background blends done in Photoshop

__ Include hard copy, color if possible, with final size listed

__ Check quality of all artwork

__ Pick colors using TRUmatch color guide or another process color guide

__ Switch all spot colors to process colors

__ Check resolution of scanned images

__ Save scanned images as EPS or TIFF files in RGB or CMYK mode

__ Notify us of what software and version you are using to create your document

__ Include a list of any special instructions

__ IBM/Windows/PC users should call ahead to verify any special requirements

Setting up your document

Document size

You can set up any document from 25% actual size to 400% actual size. Typically, if you set up your files at 50% actual size, it makes it easier for you to print b/w hard copy on your laser printer, and easy enough for us to print it at 200% to get your final size.

When setting up your document, make the page size the same size as your print. Don't leave extra white space around you document unless you want it in your final piece. (i.e., if you are setting up a 30" x 20" print at 50%, you would end up with a document that is 15" x 10" on a page that is 15" x 10") The exception to this rule would be if you were ganging up a few pieces on one page/print.

Document layout

There are many programs that one can use to layout a piece. Many times, people will ask us if there is a program that works best to print from. The answer is yes. Laying out your document in either QuarkXPress or Macromedia Freehand is your best bet for a quick, smooth print job. And it will make us really happy, too! If you are going to have small white type on a dark background, make sure the typeface isn't too thin, or else you might get some "fill-in" in some of the characters. Don't put thin rules around your prints because the thin rules are hard to trim up to. If you put a rule around a print just for your hard copy, make sure you take it out before you give it to us.

Bitmap/Scanned Documents

If your whole document is a bitmap file (such as a Photoshop file, 3D Rendering or a scan), the file must be saved as a Macintosh TIFF with no compression and with no extra channels or masks.

Cropmarks & Bleed

Unless otherwise noted, we will trim your prints to the edge. If you need cropmarks to be printed and not cut off, let us know and we will print with the cropmark option. If you are printing a piece which will need a certain amount of bleed to remain on the final piece, that amount should be added to the document size and treated like the rest of the page.

How to pick your colors

The most accurate way to pick colors for your digital prints is to pick them using a TRUmatch color guide. If you do not have one, you can either purchase one at PhotomediaVR ($85) or you can come here to pick colors from our TRUmatch book. If you are in a crunch and you have to pick some colors quickly, your next best option would be to use some other form of a process color guide, to obtain CMYK values. The last thing you want to do is pick your colors from a spot color guide such as a Pantone Spot color guide. The digital printer prints in CMYK and there is a good chance that if you pick a spot color to print, the equivalent process color will look very different. We have obtained our best color matching by using the TRUmatch color guide.

Document elements

Scanned photos

One of the first question people ask is, "What resolution should I scan my photos?" This question is actually a lot easier than most people think. At final size, your scanned photo images should be between 75 and 150 pixels per inch (ppi). If your photo image has a great amount of detail, you might want to keep it toward the 150ppi mark. If not, you could keep it toward the 75ppi area. How big of a file you are able to comfortably work with on your computer is another consideration. A 16" x 20" photo at 75ppi is only 5.15MB, but at 150ppi that same photo is 20.6MB.

Okay, I understand that, but how do I figure out what resolution to scan my photo on my scanner? The easiest way to do this is to create a new document in Photoshop using the final size and resolution of your photo (let's say 16" x 20" photo at 75ppi). Photoshop will show you that the photo will be 5.15MB. You can then close/cancel that file without saving, and scan your photograph at a high enough resolution to give you a 5.15MB file.

If you don't feel comfortable scanning your own photos or you don't have a scanner on-site, we can scan them here for you and place them right into your layout before printing. We can also check and enhance your photo scans to ensure proper image quality. After you have your photos complete they should be saved as RGB (or grayscale) eps or TIFF files. If you have any questions, or run into any problems about scanning just give us a call.

People will ask us many times whether we prefer CMYK or RGB files. If you are scanning images yourself in RGB there is no need to convert to CMYK. If you are sending us files from your printer or files that you have already converted to CMYK there is no need to change them to RGB. RGB files are 25% smaller than an equivalent CMYK file, and our RIP does a great job of converting to CMYK before printing so we will usually use RGB. The only time CMYK files are safer to use is when you are creating your background blends. If you are creating new artwork or enhancing an existing photo in RGB it is a good idea to keep the colors within the CMYK gamut. Photoshop has a CMYK preview that does a good job at showing you what a RGB file will look like when it is printed in CMYK.

Scanned line art

Line art, on the other hand, should be scanned in at a high enough resolution to be 300ppi at final printed size. If your scanner will not scan that high, you might want to think about converting the line art to a drawing (either by hand, in a program such as Macromedia Freehand or Adobe Illustrator, or by using Adobe Streamline to automatically convert it to a postscript drawing). Line art should be saved as a b&w (bitmap in Photoshop) EPS or TIFF file.

Cropping

For both photo and line art scans you should try to crop out as much of the scan that you don't want. If you can see it in your scan, and you don't want it to print, crop it out in your retouching program (such as Photoshop). Extra scanned image area increases our RIPing time, which in turn may affect your deadlines!

Backgrounds with blends

To this day, we have yet to find a better way to do background blends than doing them in Photoshop. If you create a blend in a drawing program there is always a chance that you will see banding or stepping. The best way to guarantee that there will be no banding in your backgrounds is to do them in Photoshop. This is also something that we can do for you here.

The first step in creating your blend would be to create a new CMYK document in Photoshop. At 100%, the document should be 30ppi; at 50% 60ppi; 25% 120ppi; etc. The most accurate way to pick your top and bottom colors is to use the TRUmatch color guide. Input the color values into the foreground and background color boxes and fill your document using the blend tool. After you have applied the blend, go to the Filter menu, then the Noise sub-menu and select the Add Noise filter. Use "4" as the amount and select "Uniform" as the distribution. Then save it as an EPS or TIFF. It will then be ready for you to import into your layout program.

EPS vector graphics

EPS graphics are a little easier to deal with than scanned images. You can rotate your EPS graphics directly in your layout. If you have EPS graphics in your layout it is always a good idea to include the original artwork just in case you need us to make a change to the artwork. Also, make sure that you include all typefaces that appear in your EPS graphics.

One thing to keep in mind is the quality of the graphics you are using. When graphics of medium quality are printed small, many bad features of those graphics are hidden; when you take that same graphic and print it three feet wide, you can see all of the bad features very clearly.

Giving us your file

What to include

Here is a list of everything that should be included when you give us your file to output on our large format digital printer:

Final layout

All typefaces that are in the layout and EPS graphics (both printer and screen fonts)

All imported EPS graphics with the original artwork

All imported scanned images

Hard copy of the final version, color if possible, with final size listed

How to get us your files

We can take a variety of media. If your files fit on either an 800k or 1.4MB (3.5") floppy disk that will work fine. If your files are larger, we can also take the formats listed below. If you are currently using a different type of cartridge drive from one of the ones listed below, give us a call to find the best way for us to transfer your files to us.

100 / 250MB Zip disks – Mac/PC (3.5")

1000MB JAZ disks – Mac/PC

650MB CD-ROM disks – Mac/PC (5.25")

And most important

Please remember that these sheets are provided to help you. If there is anything you don't understand, or if you need clarification, please feel free to contact us!