Question:
What types of files can your pre-press department work with, which do they prefer, and what are the most common issues with clients’ files?
Answer:
Huston Patterson will accept any graphic files submitted by our clients. We will always have the newest available software and are currently utilizing Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop & Acrobat) to ensure we are up to date on any changes.
Our experience suggests that some types of files work more smoothly than others and are more user-friendly, should a correction be needed on the current or future printing.
Based on our experience, we recommend the following file types:
- Illustrator – type outlined, fonts & images included. Images should be 300 dpi or above.
- InDesign – type outlined, fonts & images included. Images should be 300 dpi or above.
- High Resolution PDF – fonts & images included. Images should be 300 dpi or above.
The most common issues with files are missing fonts and missing or low resolution images.
There are many fonts available to designers, some have the same name but are slightly different. For example, the kerning (space between letters) may be different, or the weight or style of letters may be slightly different.
To ensure that the correct fonts are available, it is always best to supply them with the files. Failure to do so may result in an unexpected change or an inability to properly correct a file.
Low resolution image files will print. However, the quality of the reproduction may be severely limited. One thing to keep in mind is that when an image is enlarged the resolution will be decreased.
For more tips from me, Joe Morelli, and the Real People of HP, explore our additional blogs and videos, or contact us directly at Huston Patterson.
