Document requirements for offset CD/DVD cover printing :
Final press-ready PDF/X 1A files are required. CMYK TIFs at 300 dpi are also acceptable but usually lower quality for text. Any professional graphic artist can prepare these files or may prefer the client pay a nominal prepress fee to the printer. Whoever prepares the final PDFs does take on additional risk and must carefully inspect the resulting colour separations.
In case we have to adjust your files we usually need the native files from Adobe Creative Suite or Quark Express on a Macintosh. Other file formats may be be acceptable (possibly with a small extra cost). All required fonts must be supplied.
Warning: transparency effects can cause unpredictable results. Check your proofs carefully or flatten your artwork before making final PDFs.
Our CD and DVD packages do include a preflight of your PDF or native files. Print-only orders do not include a preflight - you must supply final files or pay for processing your native files.
In detail, here are the specs for our offset printing:
- PDF/X-1A PDF files (or CMYK TIF files) are required
- All fonts must be embedded
- Trapping must be set to false if we are to apply automated trapping
- A trapped PDF will be returned to you for inspection - you should inspect this in Adobe Acrobat with Overprint Preview ON and also check each printing plate in Output Preview. The free version of Adobe Reader is not suitable for checking proofs.
- DO NOT supply PDFs generated by Photoshop. The preferred program for generating press-ready PDFs is Adobe InDesign. Quark Express is also used.
- Color profile suggested: US Web Coated (SWOP) V2
- Files are usually imaged direct to plate so films are not required
- Maximum recommended ink density: 280% to 300%
- You will not get a rich one color black. For a rich black use something like 100K 60C 50Y 50M.
- Presses: 40" 12 Colour Heidelberg Speedmaster with Perfector & Perfecting Coating Solutions with auto-register; 29" 8 Colour Heidelberg Speedmaster with Coater; 40" 6 Colour Heidelberg CD with Aqueous Coater, prints on up to 40pt. board; all with advanced CPC24 image control.
- 4-color CMYK process printing is standard. PMS colors are printed as 5th color at additional cost
- Posters, postcards, promo items, etc may be printed on other presses.
Accepted documents for short run laser printing:
We can accept almost any file that we can open on a Mac or PC. RGB images are fine for laser printing. An extra fee may apply for setup.
Accepted documents for inkjet on-disc printing:
We need RGB or greyscale TIF or JPEG images at 300 dpi. You can make the image 120 mm and just put a center mark. No cropping is needed since we will crop the art to fit the discs used.
Disc printing surface diameter varies between 116 and 119mm. The inner circle knockout varies between 22 and 46 mm.
Inkjet-printable discs are available with a white or silver matte surface. The silver surface can give a glowing effect to brightly colored text and logos.
Glossy white surface discs are now available.
Accepted documents for 1-color thermal on-disc printing:
We need RGB or greyscale TIF or JPEG images at 300 dpi. You can make the image 114mm and just put a center mark. No cropping is needed since we will crop the art to fit the discs used.
The reliable disc printing surface diameter is about 114mm. The inner circle knockout is about 38mm but avoid the mirror band.
The standard thermal-printable discs we use are Taiyo Yuden silver lacquer. Other options are available.
