{"id":7339,"date":"2024-03-01T09:44:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T09:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.printingcenterusa.com\/help-center\/?page_id=7339"},"modified":"2025-06-08T19:22:48","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T19:22:48","slug":"file-preparation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.printingcenterusa.com\/help-center\/file-preparation\/","title":{"rendered":"File Preparation"},"content":{"rendered":"

File Preparation<\/h1>\n\n\n

Print-Ready File Creation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What design applications do you accept\/prefer?<\/h4><\/div>
The best projects we produce are generally designed in the following applications: InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Which file formats do you support?<\/h4><\/div>
We prefer PDF over all other file formats.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Do you accept Microsoft Word documents?<\/h4><\/div>
The best projects we produce start with a Print-Ready PDF. If you are unable to save a PDF, then please be aware that fonts within Word documents can shift from one computer to another. This may create issues with your order in prepress and delay your print production timeline. Please refer to the rest of our File Preparation<\/a> guides for more information.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Do you have tutorials for file creation?<\/h4><\/div>
Yes! We have step-by-step tutorials for Print-Ready File Creation for the following design programs: InDesign<\/a>, Illustrator<\/a>, Photoshop<\/a>, Canva<\/a>, Publisher<\/a>, and Word<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Do you have blank templates for each product?<\/h4><\/div>
We have blank templates for all of our main products using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat. These templates can be found here<\/a> but are also listed in our “All Products” navigation dropdown. If we do not have templates for your desired product, then follow our File Preparation tutorials for your design program and give us a call at 800.995.1555 with any questions.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Do you have templates available?<\/h4><\/div>
We have blank templates for all of our main products using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat. These templates can be found here<\/a> but are also listed in our “All Products” main navigation dropdown. If we do not have templates for your desired product, then follow our File Preparation tutorials for your design program and give us a call at 800.995.1555 with any questions.
We also have an easy-to-use online design tool for Books, Booklets, Photo Books, Greeting Cards, and Calendars.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Can I create a multi-page product in Illustrator or Photoshop?<\/h4><\/div>

To create a catalog in Illustrator, you can either:<\/p>

  1. Use multiple Artboards to represent your pages, then export as a PDF with all artboards after design completion, or<\/li>
  2. Use well-organized layers on one Artboard. You would export the pages of your Catalog one at a time as PDFs, then combine all of those individual PDF pages into one PDF file.<\/li><\/ol>

    To create a catalog in Photoshop, you can:<\/p>

    1. Organize your layers and groups in Photoshop well enough for you to easily know how to locate page one, page two, etc. You must save each one of those pages individually as PDFs, then combine all of those individual PDF pages into one PDF file.<\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      How do I determine which direction to orient the pages for my greeting cards?<\/h4><\/div>
      \"Greeting\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What is compression?<\/h4><\/div>
      Compression is the process of converting an image or file in a way that reduces size of a file without lessening the quality. <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What are my content limitations?<\/h4><\/div>
      Please refer to our Terms and Conditions: Adult Content<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      I have my print files designed in Word\/Publisher. What do I do now?<\/h4><\/div>
      PrintingCenterUSA requires Print-Ready PDF files. Please refer to our File Saving guide for Word<\/a> or Publisher<\/a> for a tutorial on how to save your .doc or .pub as a PDF.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Can I print QR codes or barcodes?<\/h4><\/div>
      Yes, however PrintingCenterUSA is not responsible for issues with scanning QR codes and\/or barcodes after it has been printed. To optimize your codes for print, make sure that the code image is placed on a white background, is set up using black only (not a black build), and is at 300 ppi. Test the code before submission.
      We do not have the software to generate barcodes for your print project.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What is automated preflighting?<\/h4><\/div>
      Preflighting is the process used to evaluate all digital components of an art file (usually a PDF) before it is sent to print. The preflighting process will ensure your color, bleed, resolution, fonts, etc. will all print as expected. Automated preflighting is a streamlined program that does the majority of this process automatically upon file upload. The more automated the preflighting process can become, the less time a prepress technician will have to spend editing your art file. This not only saves us time, but it speeds up the time it takes for you to receive a proof.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Bleeds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      What is Bleed?<\/h4><\/div>
      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 \u201cbleeding\u201d off the edge of the paper.
      Learn how to set up your bleed for: <\/a>InDesign<\/a>, <\/a>Illustrator<\/a>, <\/a>Photoshop<\/a>, <\/a>Canva<\/a>, <\/a>Publisher<\/a>, and <\/a>Word<\/a>.\"Bleed\n\n\"Printed\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What is your safe area?<\/h4><\/div>
      Cutting of your printing piece is done in large stacks and may vary from the top and the bottom of the stack. The safe area or inner margin in which to keep all important elements within to prevent them from trimming off, should be at least 1\/8″ inside the edge of the final trim size.
      \"Closeup <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What is trim size?<\/h4><\/div>
      The final size of the document after the last cut is made.
      Refer to the\u00a0Size<\/a>\u00a0section in our Help Center for more information.
      \"Closeup <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      How can I check if my art file has bleeds properly set up after saving?<\/h4><\/div>
      To double check the final dimensions of your PDF, open it in Adobe\u00ae Acrobat.
      In the top menu bar, select File > Properties. You can view the dimensions of your document in the Properties window. Your dimensions in the PDF should be .25 inches (length and width) larger than your chosen size on the Online Pricing Tool (final trim size).<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Do you have tutorials for bleeds, cutline and safety setup?<\/h4><\/div>
      Please refer to our bleed tutorials for the design programs \u00a0<\/a>InDesign<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Illustrator<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Photoshop<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Canva<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Publisher<\/a>, and\u00a0<\/a>Word<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Why is resolution important?<\/h4><\/div>
      Optimal print resolution is 300 dpi or above; however, if your images are 180 dpi or higher the printed product will generally appear acceptable. Below 180 dpi, images will start to appear pixelated or blurry.
      Learn how to check or change your resolution for the following design programs:\u00a0      <\/a>InDesign<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Illustrator<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Photoshop<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Canva<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Publisher<\/a>, and\u00a0<\/a>Word<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What is PrintingCenterUSA\u2019s optimal file resolution?<\/h4><\/div>
      The optimal File Resolution for print is 300 dpi. Please refer to our tutorials on Resolution for\u00a0<\/a>InDesign<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Illustrator<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Photoshop<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Canva<\/a>,\u00a0<\/a>Publisher<\/a>, and\u00a0<\/a>Word<\/a>. for more information.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Can I use images from the internet?<\/h4><\/div>
      Files off the Internet usually do not provide a good quality image for printing. Images from the Internet or websites are generally 72 dpi and are not intended for print. Color and resolution are removed from these images to allow for rapid transfer on the Internet. These images will appear fuzzy and dull when printed. We recommend at least 300 dpi.\u00a0Click here<\/a>\u00a0for a list of websites that provide high-quality images.<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What is downsampled?<\/h4><\/div>
      To make a file smaller, images are changed to a lower resolution when the file is saved.
      <\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What should I know about Image Resolution?<\/h4><\/div>

      Image resolution should be set at 300 dpi. Enlarging an image will lower the resolution while shrinking an image will increase the resolution.<\/p>