How should artwork be prepared?
We coordinate prepress (at an additional charge - see the prepress section of our webpage) from your digital files and provide you with a color-calibrated proof to approve. We accept QuarkXPress, Pagemaker, Illustrator, InDesign, Freehand and Photoshop files for both PC and Macintosh on the following media: Zip disks, Jaz disks, CDRs, floppy disks, via email (not recommended if files are cumulatively greater than 5 megabytes) or via uploading to our ftp site (not recommended if files are cumulatively greater than 10 megabytes). We recommend that you use Bellwether's templates/specifications that can be made available to you through our web page or through email. Please check with us before emailing us files or uploading to our ftp site.
If you need us to scan your camera ready artwork or do minimal layout work, we charge $45.00 an hour. Depending on the complexity of your art, it usually takes anywhere from thirty minutes to 4 to 6 hours. We also provide design services. Upon request, we can provide a design quote based on the scope of your project.
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WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN APPROVING MY ARTWORK PROOFS?
Overall:
* Please consider that there is a certain amount of shift that can occur during the cutting/folding process. We recommend type and other important objects to be at least 1/16 of an inch from the trim line/fold lines or they risk getting cropped off.
* Be sure all type and fonts are correct. This is especially important for vector-based files (i.e. files created in Quark, InDesign, Illustrator or Freehand).
* Check for typos and misspelled words.
* Check that no filters or effects have been lost or look incorrect.
* Make sure bleed extends all the way to necessary edge.
UPC:
If a UPC number has been designated to your project and inserted into the artwork upon request, OR if you have supplied a UPC number to have a barcode inserted into your artwork, you are responsible for making sure that the UPC number on the barcode in your proofs matches the UPC number for your release. If you have requested for a barcode image to be inserted into your print work files and it does not appear on your proofs, please point this out prior to approval. If you do not bring this to out attention, we will not be responsible for the barcode being missing from your final print work.
For PDF/jpeg proofs:
Overprint objects might not display properly on a PDF proof. Please double-check your files.
It is often helpful, when viewing the PDF in Acrobat Professional to select the "Overprint Preview" (or "Separation Preview" in Acrobat 6.0) viewing option to double check this detail.
Because PDF proofs (as well as jpeg proofs) are viewable only on a computer monitor, and no 2 monitors preview colors the same, colors in these proofs may vary from the final printed product due to the difference in color modes between what you see on your monitor and the ink on paper. By approving a PDF or jpeg proof, you are agreeing to accept color variances on press.
If color variance is an issue, you may choose to get a higher end proof (if available) and/or to do a sample run (both options will incur additional costs, however).
For Epson proofs:
Note, Epson proofs are not high end / 100 % color accurate proofs, though the colors on this type of proof are close to what will appear on your print job. By approving an Epson proof, you are agreeing to accept some amount of color variances on press.
If color variance is an issue, you may choose to get a higher end proof (if available) and/or to do a sample run (both options will incur additional costs, however).
For Uncoated stock:
For jobs that are being printed on uncoated paper-stock or on the uncoated side of board stock, it is very important that you are aware that final printed results will be less bright and may have less contrast than if the same job, using the exact same digital files, were printed on coated stock. Instead of inks sitting on top of a coating if printing on coated stock, some portion soaks into the uncoated paper-stock or uncoated side of board stock and spreads. This results in a phenomenon that printers refer to as dot gain, where a printed dot expands and line screen "holes" fill in a bit. Most of our printers apply compensation curves that help diminish this dot gain effect. If color accuracy and image integrity are a concern, please discuss this with your CSR prior to approval of your proofs.
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