We create page layout art for our presses with the following programs:

Name		File Extension
CorelDraw 9		.cdr (Versions 5 to 11 acceptable)
PageMaker 6.5		.p65 Include all image files and fonts
Quark Express 4		.qxd Include all image files and fonts
MS Publisher		.pub Least preferred of any format.

We can accept other files in the following formats:

Name		File Extension
Vector		.cdr, .ai, .eps, .ps, .wmf
Raster		.bmp, .jpg, .tif, .gif, .psd, .ppd, .pdf The preferred format for illustrations and photographs is tiff (.tif) at 300 dpi (dots per inch) minimum, 600 dpi maximum. Images download from the web (.jpg, .gif, .png - usually at 72 dpi) are normally too compressed to reproduce satisfactorily and may not be acceptable. We will, of course, print any image you wish, but will not gurantee the quality of the image.
Text		.txt This is the prefered file format for all text files. Formatting of text files is not required because the formatting is done in the page layout program. .doc (MS Word, WordPerfect) Time spent removing the formatting from these files will be charged at the regular rate. This creates a paradox: we don't want your formatted file, but we need to see a hardcopy of the way you want it formatted. The solution is to format the document as you want it, print it out, then save it for us as "plain text." Most word processor programs offer this option.

ABOUT FONTS

We use IBM-compatible PCs running Windows XP. We have a collection of over 10,000 fonts, both TrueType and Type 1 (Post script). This is a very small number compared to the number of fonts that are now available. While the chances are great that we will have the font(s) in your document (or be able to come up with a very close match) you should always include the fonts you used in your document on the disk. For Windows users these fonts are normally found in the Fonts Folder which resides in the Windows folder on your C: drive. Simply drag the appropriate font files to the disk. The easiest way is to use the Fonts folder in the Control Panel, but you may also use Explorer or My Computer.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON WORKING WITH FONTS

ABOUT GETTING THE FILES TO US

Before you send us your files make sure the files are significantly named. Windows allows up to 256 characters for the file name, so it can ber very descriptive. "LTRHD.DOC" may tell you everything you need to know, but we would prefer something like "VANCE SHEET GOODS 2-COLOR LETTERHEAD 08-15-2003 VERSION 3.DOC"

The same thing applies to digital photo files. "CR1076388.jpg" is not informative. "87 Ford Tractor In Shade.jpg" is much better. In Windows, it's very easy to rename files, just be careful not to change the file's extension (the three characters after the dot- we used to call that a period.) Click here for a short 'how-to' on renaming files.

You may email your files to us, but we would prfer to have them physically delivered on disk; 3-1/2" floppy, 100 Meg Zip Disk, or cd.

ABOUT HARDCOPY

If you use your home (or business) printer to provide us camera-ready copy (we make the plate directly from your art), there are certain limitations as follows:

Laser output is preferred. 300 to 600 dpi resolution. 150 lines per inch halftone resolution.

Color Inkjet copy is normally unacceptable. Here's why:

Inket printers create all those wonderful colors in the same way that the 4-color printing process works- with differences. Inkjet gray, for example, is not really gray. It contains proportions of all the colors. Our camera cannot see the blue component, so grays lighten or disappear completey. That nice drop shadow behind your photograph will look crummy or simply not be there in the printed piece.

We will print from your hardcopy, but we would prefer that you prive the file on disk and let us print it out on our black and white laser printer on paper designed specificially for this type of art.