Superb Design: Pre-press Procedure

We want to help you get the best results for your print job. Please be sure to read and refer to this procedure when preparing your artwork. Failure to comply with our guidelines may delay your job.

When we receive your file...

We will:
- Check for items in the check list*
- Notify you of problems in your artwork if found
- Go straight to print if you prepare your artwork correctly We won't do this:
- Check for issues other than those listed in Common

We will not:
- Correct any technical errors
- Reprint the file if it fails to print as expected as a result of not following the guidelines.

(We will try our best to check for you. However, the responsibility still lies with the sender to ensure all items in the list are complied. We shall NOT be held responsible for any "missed-detection" resulting in different print results)

Check list
  1. Colour
    1. Only CMYK colour mode Is used in your artwork. For printing, we can only accept artwork that are done in CMYK mode. We do not accept artwork done in RGB or Pantone mode.
    2. No colour tints that contain less than 10%

  2. Images
    1. All images are in CMYK colour mode
    2. Colour/ Grayscale images resolution are set to or above 300dpi
    3. Scanned Line Art / Black & white images resolution are set to or above 1200dpi
    4. Never manipulate images in vector software
    5. All background, design effects, and images has been merged and converted to a TIFF file

  3. Text
    1. No fonts of less than 4pts
    2. Layout Program* : Curve / Create Outline / Path all fonts
    3. Adobe Photoshop : Set resolution at or 300dpi and Rasterize Type

  4. Line
      No hairline less than 0.25pts

  5. Product Size Template
    1. Artwork is prepared in the correct Product Size Template
    2. Background design expanded to Full Bleed size
    3. Vital elements are within Safe Zone
    4. No crop marks are applied
    5. Removed all guidelines and text descriptions in Product Size Template

  6. Artwork Orientation
    1. Artwork are in the correct orientation and position you want your artwork to be.

  7. Illustrator File Format
    1. Artwork is saved in required file format : Adobe Illustrator
    2. Resolution : 300 dpi
    3. Colour mode : CMYK colour mode


  8. Print Layout
    Here is a diagram of a typical document for print designs.



    Trim Line: This is the finished size of the piece.

    Live Area: The area that is considered safe to keep any important information within. For example, if an ad’s trim size is 8.25 in × 10.25 in, the live area might be 7.75 in × 9.75 in. This takes into consideration the binding if the ad is placed on the left or right of a spread and you don’t want copy to be unreadable if it is too close to the spine.

    Bleed Area: The more bleed you can offer, the better.The minimum bleed you need for a printed piece is 0.125 in (1/8 in) or 0.5cm but some specs require more than that. So if you are working with an image in CS for print preparation, keep in mind the area you might need to use for the bleed.

    Crop Marks: Indicates where to cut the paper.
    Sample 1
    crop mark

    Sample 2
    bleed area


  9. Stroke Weight
    Do not set your stroke weight beyond 0.25pt. Please take not that if you use % of Black as stroke colour, the stroke may appear to be dotted. This will be very obvious in thin strokes.


  10. Colour Mode
    The CMYK color model (process color, four color) is a subtractive color model, used in color printing, and is also used to describe the printing process itself. CMYK refers to the four inks used in some color printing: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key black. Though it varies by print house, press operator, press manufacturer and press run, ink is typically applied in the order of the abbreviation.

    For printing, we can only accept artwork that are done in CMYK mode. We do not accept artwork done in RGB or Pantone mode.

    This file has been created and saved in the RGB mode.



    This is the same file above, only it has been converted to CMYK so it can be printed, notice the color shift.



  11. Colour Tint
    Avoid setting colour tint to less than 10%. Lower shades usually results in much lighter print (or may not be printed at all) than you see on the screen.



    In order to make your tint effect more obvious, set the difference by more than 10%



  12. Text Size
    Please take note that the minimum font size for general fonts is 4pts.

    During the printing process, misalignment can caused the 4 seperate CMYK inks to overlap imperfectly. This is especially noticeable in smaller text size or reversed print. The text may appear blurry.

    Remember to outline your fonts or convert it to path. DO NOT send your fonts to us.