You Design

Accepted File Types
We accept files from Mac & PC graphic design programs such as Adobe Indesign, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, and Quark as long as they are submitted as one of the following formats: PDF, PSD, EPS, AI, JPG, TIF. We do not accept files submitted in the following formats: MS Word, MS Publisher, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, or Printshop. However if your artwork is in one of these formats, we can often re-construct the files into one of our accepted formats for printing. Please ask us for further details and cost of this service.

Accepted File Types
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Color Mode
Design files should be created and submitted in CMYK color mode. If you send us a file in RGB color mode, there is a chance that a color shift may occur. CMYK uses Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black to create the palette of colors. CMYK is often referred to as “Full Color” or “4 color”.

CMYK vs RGB
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Resolution
We strongly recommend that you use only images of 300 DPI resolution or higher. Using images that are lower than 300 DPI will result in reduced print quality. Low-resolution files may be printed as is with your approval or will be placed on hold until we receive new files. Note: DPI stands for Dots Per Inch and represents how many dots of color are used to construct the image. The higher the DPI (more dots of color), the higher the quality of the image. The lower the DPI (less dots of color), the lower the quality of the image.
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Bleeds
All design files must be .125 inches larger then the final cut size. All image or color bleeds must extend further than the cut lines. Bleeds must be .0625 inches on all sides. Example: If you are designing an 8.5 x 5.5 postcard, your design file should be set to 8.625 x 5.625 and bleeds extending accordingly.

Please use our RMS Design Templates to help visualize the correct design format. All text and other important design elements should be at least .125 inches in from the finished edge of the design file to be safe from cuts. Although we make every effort to cut your pieces as accurate as possible, due to tolerances in the cutting process, we cannot guarantee perfect cuts every time. Back to top
Text Safe Zone
All text and other important design elements should be at least .125 inches in from the finished edge of the design file to be safe from cuts. Although we make every effort to cut your pieces as accurate as possible, due to tolerances in the cutting process, we cannot guarantee perfect cuts every time.

Text Safe Area
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Borders
Borders should not be too close to the cutline or it may be cut off-center. We recommend that all borders on the edge of your piece are at least .3125 inches thick around your design file size.
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Proper Rotation
All files submitted to us will be printed HEAD to HEAD as-is based on your files. Please set up your files so that when we print them HEAD to HEAD the final product will read the way you would like it to. Front and Back files must be set up either both vertically or both horizontally.
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Transparency Issues
Do not use shadows, glows, or any other transparency on top of a spot color. Always convert your spot colors to CMYK and flatten before sending. Flatten your images before you send your design file, you must flatten your images and convert text to outlines. We do not accept layered or linked images. These recommendations help to prevent quality issues in printing and missing font issues.
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Flatten Your Images
Before you send your design file, you must flatten your images and convert text to outlines. We do not accept layered or linked images. These recommendations help to prevent quality issues in printing and missing font issues.
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4/1 Files
If your final piece is to be printed with color on one side and black & white on the other, you must create the black & white side as 100% K (black) only. Your black & white side cannot have any C (cyan), M (magenta), or Y (yellow) in it. Back to top
Rich Black
Rich black is an ink mix of solid black (100% K), with other CMY ink values. The result is a darker, rich black. We recommend using the following values: C=60, M=40, Y=40, K=100
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Printer’s Marks
Turn off all crop marks, registration, titles before exporting your PDF file
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