File Preparation

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Linotronic Large & Small Format Digital Color FTP Instructions

 

LARGE & SMALL FORMAT DIGITAL COLOR

 
HOW TO SET UP YOUR DIGITAL FILE
 
Supported Applications / Formats
 
Adobe PhotoShop Freehand  Tiff
Illustrator In Design BMP
PageMaker MS Office Applications JPEG
Quark Postscript PDF
  EPS

 *If you don't see your program or format listed, please don't hesitate to call for advice or a possible workaround.
 

Font Usage
 
To avoid automatic font substitutions, all fonts used should be supplied with your layout.
 
     For Mac users:
          Type 1 Fonts (requires both A & B for output to PostScript printers)
 
          A.
          B.    

(Depending on the manufacturer, PostScript fonts can vary as seen below.)

PostScript Font Variations:   

     
          TrueType Fonts (requires A only)
 
          A.

 

     For Windows users:
 
          Type 1 Fonts (requires both .pfm & .pfb font files)
          TrueType Fonts (requires .ttf font files)
 
Type 1 or PostScript fonts are more precise and are compatible with our font management and RIP applications. TrueType fonts can be used but are known to be occasionally unpredictable, we cannot guarantee that they will always work. 
 
We request that you do not rename fonts, suitcases, or their postscript outlines. Doing so may result in production slowdowns and additional troubleshooting charges.
 
Avoid manually changing the style of a font. If you want to bold or italicize fonts, use fonts that contain in the name the style you desire. (i.e. Arial Bold, Arial Italic, Arial Narrow)
 
EPS images containing text, even ones imbedded, must be either be converted to paths and resaved or, if converting is not an option, you must include the font(s). This is one of the most common problems we encounter, usually creating production delays.
 
Size and Scale
    If your program allows a page size large enough, create your art at 100%.
     If your program does not allow a large enough page, create your art at 50%. 
     If necessary, you can go as low as 25%, if at all possible try not to go below this ratio.

     Always keep layout proportionate to final output size.

Inks
 
All jobs are output using standard dye based inks. These inks are not waterproof therefore lamination is highly recommended.
 
UV pigmented inks are available and generally used only in applications where durability to direct sunlight is needed.

Scan Resolution
 
On average, you need between only 100 and 150 dpi of digital information at final output size to adequately reproduce a scanned image on our large format printer. Scanning at too high of resolution is a waste of disk space and processing time.

We recommend you use the following scan resolution formula to ensure premium output:
 
Output Size / Input Size x Resolution Factor = Scan Resolution
 

   Resolution Factor      Viewing Distance  
200 Less then 1"
150 Less than 4"
100 5 - 10"
50   Greater than 10" 
Examples: 
 
8 x 10 photo enlarged to 24" to be viewed at four feet    
 		 24" / 8" x 150 = 450 dpi
 
35mm slide enlarged to 30" to be viewed at one foot
 		 30" / 1.5" x 200 = 4000 dpi
 
4 x 6 photo enlarged to 36" to be viewed at ten feet
 		 36" / 4 x 100 = 900 dpi
 


Upon completion of your scan, make sure to zoom way in and check for dust, speckles, scratches etc.  If you do not clean up these little imperfections, they will be very obvious at final output size.

 
Small Format Digital Color Laser
 
Stocks
 
   32# Laserprint (standard
   65# & 80# Cover
   Clear Film
   White Opaque Film
 
Margins
  
   5/16" All 4 sides (including crop marks)
 
Sizes
 
   8 ½ x 11
   8 ½ x 11 Full bleed, runs on 11 x 17 then trimmed to size
   8 ½ x 14
   11 x 17
   11 x 17 Full bleed, runs on 12 x 18 then trimmed to size
  

Color and Black & White Digital Services
 
      TR Printstation Manager (Color and Black and White)

     Settings after job sent from native file
Archive jobs for fast reprinting or to save settings
Merge documents from several different files and compile into one (Mac and PC)
Numbers document pages
Re-order pages
Insert and delete pages (for updating archived files)
Scale pages up to 11 x 17
Rotates pages 90, 180, or 360 degrees
Color Correction
 

The Copy Company

Ph:  206-622-4050  Fax:  206-622-4407