Create 1 item sized correctly per document. (Graphics and text should be sized at 100%.)

Fonts: Using your illustration program, convert all text "to curves" or "create outlines" in your files. Never use the stylization palette to bold, italicize, add drop shadow to or put outline on your fonts. If you are using fonts not owned by MKI outlines must be created in an illustration program before submitting your artwork.

Bleed Requirements:

 1. (.125") should be allowed on each applicable side, which adds (.25")

     to the overall size. Please make sure the text still maintains the

     required margin even when graphics bleed.

Margin Requirements

Spot & Full Color printing:

1. Business cards must be set 1-up with at least a (.125") margin.

2. Envelopes must allow (.3125") from the top and side.

3. Letterheads must have at least (.375") at the top and (.25") along all

     sides and bottom.

4. Presentation folders must have the position noted in the special

     instructions, or a sample must be attached.

5. Sales sheets, flyers and brochures require at least (.25") margin for

     the text or other image that doesn't bleed on all sides. If a bleed is

     wanted, the text still needs to be (.25") away from the edge.

Full Color Process Printing:

1. Minimum image requirement of 300 dpi for this process.

2. Every element of the file must be colored with process CMYK color

     (no RGB, indexed color, etc.).

3. If RGB or other non-CMYK colors are used in your files, the necessary

     conversion to CMYK will change the appearance of the colors when

     we print, sometimes dramatically.

4. Pantone® colors - While we are often able to closely reproduce a spot

     PMS® ink using full color process, PMS® spot colors and process

     colors are produced using different methods. Therefore, colors

     produced in full color will differ from Pantone® spot colors,

     sometimes significantly. Please refer to a Solid to Process Color

     Imaging Guide for color conversions.

Spot Color Printing:

When using spot colors make sure they are true Pantone colors and not built colors otherwise the art will separate as four colors and not spot.

Printing Black vs. Black for Full Color Orders:

In order to achieve the best possible results for your order, it is important to understand when to use Printing Black and when to use 100% Black.

Printing Black is a build of CMYK inks that allow ink to appear richer and more vibrant. Using 100% Black gives the appearance of a muted black tone. Follow the guidelines below for creating the look you desire.

For CMYK or Printing Black - Use a mix of (C75%, M50%, Y15% K100%) instead of 100% Black when in registration with other colors, in areas with heavy ink coverage and for bold type or lines that are thicker than 2 1/2 points. All text should be 100% black. Please submit black and white bitmap images at 300 dpi and grayscale images at 300 dpi for standard spot printing.

Black and White line art should be scanned in as line art or bitmap at 600 dpi. Photos, color CMYK or grayscale, should be scanned in at 300 dpi for standard spot or process printing. Images that come to MKI at lower resolutions than what is recommended will be output as sent. We can not raise the resolution here. Check your scanner if it has these high resolution capabilities. TIFF or EPS formats are best.

Don't use hairlines. Make your lines/strokes at least .5 pt. Anything below that will most likely disappear when printed.

Don't use more than one spot color for the same color. For instance if it is a two color piece and your colors are PMS 123 U and Black. Please be sure that all art and text are PMS 123 U or Black. Sometimes PMS 123 C and PMS 123 CVU are used in a vector program and put it into a desktop publishing program and then PMS 123 U is used for the text. In this case you will have 4 spot color plates instead of two.

Don't forget to communicate to your printer throughout the printing process to be sure all is well.

Don't use internet photos or artwork unless you find high resolution artwork. Most internet art is 72 dpi and RGB for monitor display. It is not a file that will print well. Print files should be 300 dpi and CMYK.

Don't forget to convert your photos to CMYK.

Don't stretch your artwork out of proportion. It makes the piece look unprofessional. Most people don't want to be squished or widened in a photo and companies could sue for the miss proportion of their logo.

Don't use Microsoft Office Programs if at all possible. These programs are not set up for professional printing. They are not capable of converting from RGB to CMYK which will cause color variance that is beyond our control. Most artwork included in these programs are low resolution and do not print well. The majority of the time we will have to manipulate the files which costs you and us time and money.

Don't forget to send a high resolution PDF file with your job, if at all possible. This helps us know what the piece is supposed to look like, in case there are type or art problems.

Don't forget to provide the fonts and attachments for the file if you are not sending an embedded PDF file.