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Print-Ready File Creation: Overview

At PrintingCenterUSA, we want your printing experience to be fast, easy and affordable. An important step in this process is for you to submit your art files as Print-Ready PDFs. To help you achieve this, we provide as much information about file preparation as possible. The price and time estimates provided to you may be affected if time must be spent correcting file errors. The best way to avoid this is to start the project off on the right foot by ensuring the design file is set up correctly from the very beginning. The main aspects that must be checked and prepared for are:

Bleeds

To prevent your printed product from having unsightly white lines around the border, you must set your document up with bleeds. Bleed refers to an extra 1/8″ of image that extends beyond the trim area of your printing piece. The project is printed on an oversized sheet that is cut down to size with the appearance that the image is “bleeding” off the edge of the paper.

It is best practice to set up your bleeds at the very beginning of your project so you don’t have to adjust at the end.

A few terms you must understand along with bleed are trim line, safety, and borders. Please refer to the graphic below for further explanation.

Resolution

PrintingCenterUSA recommends that the file and/or image resolution should be set at 300 dpi to ensure that the final document is not pixelated (fuzzy) when printed. However, some customers find 180 dpi (or better) to be an acceptable resolution. You must closely review the resolution during the proofing process to determine if there are any issues.

Enlarging an image will lower the resolution while reducing an image will increase the resolution. Enlarging an image in a layout is NOT recommended. Images that are less than 300 dpi could reproduce poorly looking fuzzy or pixelated.

Images from the internet are not recommended, as most images are only 72 dpi.

An unfavorable image cannot be resaved as a different type of file. For example, you cannot place a gif file in Photoshop and resave it as an EPS file. This does not change the compatibility of the file. If you have to use low-resolution images we will print only after you consent to the quality.

Page Count

We require that any booklet files be sent as single pages, not spreads. In the files, page 1 should be the front cover and the last page should be the back cover (see below).

Example for an 8 Page Document:

• In the image below, Page 1 is the Front Cover
• The Inside Front Cover is Page 2
• The last page is the Back Cover, Page 8.

PrintingCenterUSA’s prepress department will personally arrange the single pages from your PDF onto front and back sheets. For this reason, we do not accept spreads.

Size

To ensure price quote and design accuracy, it is crucial that the size of the order matches the size of the PDF. The PDF (saved with bleed) should be .25 inches larger for both the length and width than your desired product size. For example, if you are ordering an 8.5” x 11” booklet, the dimensions of your PDF document (saved with bleed) should be 8.75” x 11.25”. For more information on size, click here.

Booklets, Books, Magazines, Catalogs, Booklet Brochures, Programs, and other Multi-Page Products:

Calendars

Greeting Cards

Brochures and Flyers:

Color Quality

Every product should be designed in the CMYK color mode whenever possible. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black). If the product is not saved in CMYK, PrintingCenterUSA will automatically convert the design from RGB (red, green and blue; this is what you see on your monitor) to CMYK. For more information about setting up your document in CMYK, click here.

When ordering on PrintingCenterUSA’s Pricing Tool, you will be asked to select ink options (inside ink and cover ink for multi-page products). These options will appear as:

4/4 Full Color Both Sides
4/1 Full Color Front / Black Back
4/0 Full Color Front / Empty Back or
1/1 Black Front / Black Back

For example, a Postcard may have a Full Color Front (4) with only Black (1) on the back. The appropriate ink selection for this postcard would be 4/1 Full Color Front / Black Back.

Color Printing is also known as 4-color printing, full color printing, process printing, and CMYK printing. Color involves the separation of all colors into 4 different color values (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black).

File Saving

PrintingCenterUSA requires that you submit your art as a Print-Ready PDF. Click here to download and install our PrintingCenterUSA PDF Preset (for Adobe programs only). You will be downloading a .zip folder. Double click the file to unzip the folder.

Select your program for a step by step tutorial on how to load our preset and/or save as a PDF: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop,Canva, Publisher, and Word.

Note: Do not reduce the size of your PDFs. Big file sizes are OK. We need the highest resolution to ensure that your files get printed with the best quality.

Folds, Creases, Die Cutting

PrintingCenterUSA provides free downloadable templates for our products. To ensure you appropriately plan for folds, creases, and die cutting, it is best that you utilize this resource.

Our folding products are professionally creased, making an even fold that doesn’t crack the ink at the edges.

Greeting Card Folds (Landscape & Portrait):

Brochure Folds:

Die Cut Products: PrintingCenterUSA offers Rip Cards and Rip Door Hangers, which are a perforated die cut. We also offer die cut Presentation Folders and Envelopes. Click your product for free downloadable templates that include the fold lines and die cut lines for reference during design.

Ordering

1. Fill Out Pricing Tool

Once you are logged in to your PrintingCenterUSA account, go to your desired product page and fill out the pricing tool on the right.

Be sure to drop down the “Estimate Shipping” tab towards above the “Order and Upload Files” button on the pricing tool to enter your zip code and select your shipping option. The price in the estimating tool is based on zip code only. In final checkout, the full address is used and this may cause your shipping cost to change.

Click “Order and Upload Files” to continue.

2. Upload Your Art Files

Upload your Print-Ready PDF. Click Continue.

If you designed your project on PrintingCenterUSA’s online design tool, then we already have your files. Click Continue.

If you place your order without uploading your files and need to upload your files later, you can do so by logging into your PrintingCenterUSA account. Navigate to the orders section, select the order number, then click “Upload File(s)” on the left or the “CLICK HERE” button within the “What’s Next?” area.

3. Review Your Cart

Review your cart. This is the first place you have the opportunity to double check your product specifications, so review closely. If you have notes on your order, leave them in the “Job Notes/Comments” section.

From here you can either continue shopping to add more products, or proceed to checkout.

4. Select Your Shipping Address

Select your shipping address. Save & Continue.

If you do not see your address, click “+Add New Shipping Address.” Fill out your information, then click Save & Continue.

5. Review Your Order

Review your order specifications again and confirm your shipping type. Save & Continue.

If you notice order specifications that need to be changed, click “Edit Product Options” underneath the listed specs to adjust your order. Any changes made to your order specifications will affect your order total. Click “Save” to continue.

Note: If you change your shipping type from your original estimate on the pricing tool in Step 1, then your price will change. Also, price in the estimating tool is based on zip code only. In final checkout, the full address is used and this may cause your shipping cost to change.

6. Select Payment Type & Place Order

Select your payment option. Click “Payment | Place Order.” This will prompt a small payment window to open where you will securely enter your information.

Click “Place Order” to finish with the ordering process.

If you are ordering using Paypal, you will immediately be redirected to login and process the payment through Paypal. Once payment is complete, click “Payment | Place Order”

Once your order has been placed, you will receive a confirmation email with your order specifications, an estimated in-hand date, and the name of your assigned Customer Service Representative. If you requested an Electronic – PDF proof, you will receive it within 24 hours of placing your order. If you ordered a Hard Copy Proof, your proof will be shipped within 24 hours of placing your order (arrival date depends on your selected shipping date). Your project will not begin production until after proof approval. Delaying proof approval will also delay your in-hand date.

Quotes

1. Fill Out Pricing Tool

Once you are logged in to your PrintingCenterUSA account, go to your desired product page and fill out the pricing tool on the right.

Be sure to drop down the “Estimate Shipping” tab towards above the “Order and Upload Files” button on the pricing tool to enter your zip code and select your shipping option. The price in the estimating tool is based on zip code only. In final checkout, the full address is used and this may cause your shipping cost to change.

Click “Email & Save Quote” to continue.

2. Name Your Quote

3. Your Quote is Saved to Your Account

Your quote is now saved to your account where you can proceed to checkout any time you’re ready. The quote will also be emailed to you.

Please note that all quotes will expire in 30 days from the date the quote was made. Promo codes will not be saved with your quote.