PDF Requirements

  • Not recomended to export your Quark/InDesign file directly from the respected program.
  • Disable any security feature within your file
  • PDF size must match Paper Size/Trim size
  • Margins should be ½ inch
  • Embed all the fonts with in the file.
  • All color images must be converted to CMYK, all Black and white images must be converted to Grayscale.
  • OPI settings must be turned off

Click for a Detailed guide on how to create a PDF from the following applications:
Quark PDF Guide
InDesign PDF Guide

Digital File Check List

If you are sending your files to Expedi on a computer disk, or via the Internet, please make sure your job complies with the check list below. This will get your job to press faster, and eliminate any unnecessary production costs.

Use The Right Medium: There are many different types of computer disks out there. Currently we accept: 1.4 Floppies; 100mb, 250mb Zip Disks; or 1gb, 2gb Jaz Disks. We also accept jobs that have been recorded to CD-ROM or DVD. While there are other formats we can accept, these are our most preferred.

Include All Files: When sending your Quark or PageMaker templates, be sure to include all the Fonts and Images. Convert all your Illustrator artwork to outlines, or convert to paths for Freehand. This will mean you will have less fonts to send. Also make sure that you include the screen and printer fonts. Commercial programs like Flight Check will automatically collect images and fonts. If you are doing this process manually, be sure there are no missing or modified pictures in your template. If you are sending a PDF, check to see that all of the necessary files and most importantly, fonts have been embedded properly.

Know Your Images: Line Screen and DPI: Depending on the final line screen of your job, your images need to be of a certain resolution. Web jobs are printed at either 85 linescreen or 100 linescreen. Sheet-fed jobs are printed at 133-150 linescreen. If you are doing your own scans, make sure your scans are double the linescreen of which your job is being printed. For example, a job being printed at 85 linescreen should have photos scanned in at 170 dpi. Try not to over scan, but never under scan.

Color: If you are submitting color files, make sure your files are in CMYK mode, not RGB. Many scanners default to red, green, and blue - the color mode for computer monitors. For 4-color print processing, color files need to be in Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black.

Dot Gain: Because paper absorbs ink, the dots making up your images will expand (spread) on press and your images will become darker (dot gain). You must adjust for dot gain in your files. Our sheet-fed presses show about a 10% dot gain; the web presses show about 20%-30%. If an image contains any areas that have over 80% darkness for web printing or 90% for sheet fed printing, the final image will be too dark

Know Your Document: Avoid placing text or critical design near the edges of the page. It's advisable to leave at least a 1/4" inch border. If you are printing a document with bleeds, be sure that you leave a 1/4 inch trim around your borders. Only EPS files save clipping paths; patterns and picture edges around TIFFs often output jagged. Keep the clipping paths for best results. Colors never line up exactly on press, so a small margin of overlapping color (a trap) must be placed where colors join. Your software does some trapping automatically but this may not always be sufficient - you may have to adjust the trap manually. Proofs or job dummies must be submitted with your job, otherwise we have no way to accurately check the final film.

If you have additional technical questions regarding your job, do not hesitate to contact us.