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 colors (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 with 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 mis-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.

We accept files created in the following native applications:

 1.  Acrobat PDF® 11..........................................Mac          4. Adobe® Photoshop®. CS2, CS6, CC........Mac

 2. QuarkXPress® 6.5........................................Mac           5. Adobe® Illustrator®. CS2, CS6, CC.........Mac

 3. Adobe® InDesign® CS2, CS6, CC...........Mac

We can accept files created in the following native applications but we are not responsible for the outcome and you will be charged for the time we use to manipulate these files:

 1.  PowerPoint®........................Mac and PC                        3. Word®...................................Mac and PC

 2.  Excel®...................................Mac and PC                         4. Publisher®.............................Mac and PC

Application Requirements

PDFs

1. All fonts must be embedded.

2. All elements of the file must be colored per our guidelines.

3. All placed graphics and images need to be high-quality, colored according to our guidelines for

     the product ordered. Whenever possible, place vector images into the layout before converting

     to a PDF. Please be aware that when changes need to be made to placed images (coloring,

     mode, etc.), there is the possibility of the quality being compromised.

4. Please name the PDFs you send without punctuation of any kind (except pdf), and keep the file

     names short.

QuarkXPress®

1. Along with your file sent for placement, we need the supporting graphic file(s) given the same

     name as the graphic(s) in your document. (Changing the name after placement will make the

     graphic come up as "missing" or "modified" when read by our imagesetters.) Place graphics at

     100%. Placed graphics need to be high-quality or good vector art to receive the best quality

     printed product.

2. Color all text and graphics according to the enclosed color specifications for the type of product

     you are ordering.

Adobe® InDesign®

1. Change all text into "outlines" in your document.

2. If you are using an imported graphic in your InDesign® document, be sure to include or embed

     the original graphic file. Place graphics at 100%.

3. Color all text and graphics according to the MKI color specifications for the type of product you

     are ordering. Placed graphics need to be high-quality/vector art to receive the best quality

     printed product.

Adobe® Photoshop®

1. Files must be saved as a TIFF without compression.

2. Do not color an image in Photoshop® (for spot printing).

3. Please submit black and white bitmap images at 600 dpi and grayscale images at 300 dpi for

     standard spot printing. For full-color printing or Multicolored, CMYK images need to be

     submitted at 300 dpi. Images that come to MKI at lower quality than what is recommended will

     be output as sent.

4. Color all text and graphics according to the enclosed color specifications for the type of product

     you are ordering.

5. All files need to be submitted at the size being used for printing.

6. If bleeds are needed, allow 1/8" on all sides, adding a 1/4" to the overall size of the piece.

Adobe® Illustrator®

1. Change all text into "outlines" in your document.

2. If you are using an imported graphic in your Illustrator® document, be sure to include or embed

     the original graphic file. Place graphics at 100%. Placed graphics need to be high-quality or

     good vector art to receive the best quality printed product.

3. Save the file as an Illustrator EPS.

4. Color all text and graphics according to the enclosed color specifications for the type of product

     you are ordering.