Artwork Requirements:

PRINTING WHITE

•  ILLUSTRATOR White: If white is to be printed, white needs to be specified as a SPOT COLOR.

Double click on the White SWATCH in Swatch pull-down box and the swatch settings will appear for the color white. Re-name the white swatch as "WHITE_INK." The drop-down for COLOR TYPE will say “Process Color. ” Change this to SPOT COLOR and hit "OK." Make sure that everything that needs to be printed white appears on the WHITE_INK swatches window.

After the White Swatch is applied, make a new LAYER in the Layers panel and make sure you are working on this new layer. Select all the white parts in the artwork, right click, ARRANGE and send to current layer. When all the graphics are finished, the White Layer needs to be on top of all the other layers. REMINDER:  All white parts to be printed MUST BE on a separate layer.

The last step in dealing with White is to open up the ATTRIBUTES  tool box found in the WINDOW tab on the top tool bar. While on the white layer, click the OVERPRINT FILL button in the ATTRIBUTES window. Make sure this button is checked - otherwise the White will not be printed.

• PHOTOSHOP White: If white is to be printed, a new CHANNEL must be established.

Photoshop uses Channels to divide color images into components. A new Channel is created on the CHANNELS tab, within the LAYERS Window by clicking in the lower right corner. The new Channel will be known as Alpha. When you set this up, make sure you select SPOT COLOR under the Color Indicator. Then change the Channel name to "WHITE_INK" and this new Channel will serve as the new White ink unit. Other channels should be visible for Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), and Black (K).

PRINTING COLORS  

• ILLUSTRATOR Spot Colors: If Spot Colors are used, we suggest you make them with CMYK. 

To find a SPOT COLOR, go to the upper right hand corner of the SWATCH window, pull down to OPEN SWATCH LIBRARY, then COLOR BOOKS. Choose a PANTONE solid to process color. Our digital presses work in CMYK colors and will get better color matches when they go to convert a Spot Color to CMYK.

•  PHOTOSHOP Spot Colors: Like with Illustrator, if Spot Colors are used, we recommend that you pick an actual Spot Color from the Color Library.

Follow the same steps outlined under ILLUSTRATOR Spot Colors.

FONTS

• ILLUSTRATOR Fonts:

All fonts must be OUTLINED in your artwork to preserve your text when the file is opened on a computer that may not have access to your particular font. When outlining text, make sure that the desired text is selected, go to the TYPE drop-down on the top tool bar, then click CREATE OUTLINES. Your text will be outlined and preserved. 

• PHOTOSHOP Fonts: 

As with ILLUSTRATOR fonts, all PHOTOSHOP fonts must be OUTLINED to preserve your text should your file be opned on a computer that does not have your font. To outline fonts, select the LAYER tab in the top tool bar, go down to TYPE, then over to CONVERT TO SHAPE. The TYPE will no longer be Text, but rather a Shape.

ARTBOARD

• ILLUSTRATOR Art Board: Art board must be the size of the desired label.

If your label has a blank background and the label size is 3.00 in x 5.00 in, make the Art Board that size. If your label involves any kind of bleed - anywhere on the label - make sure that there is a 0.10” bleed on all sides of label. To adjust your Art Board after artwork is created, you need to select the Art Board tool in the tool bar to the left of your screen. The icon is a square with lines pointed out on the outside four corners of the label. Once you click that, you can adjust the Art Board with the regular black arrow, and make it the size needed.

• PHOTOSHOP Art Board: Art board must be the size of the desired label.

This works much like ILLUSTRATOR Art Board. If your label has a blank background and label size is 3.00 in x 5.00in, make Art Board for label that size. If your label involves any bleed, make sure that there is a 0.10” bleed on all sides of label. To adjust  the size of your Art Board, go to the top tool bar and select IMAGE, CANVAS SIZE adjust it to the desired size.

SAVING YOUR FILE.

BEFORE Saving Your File - Double Check Your Work:

• Did you check your SPELLING? *
• Did you create your artwork in Illustrator or Photoshop?
• Is the file set up in CMYK colors with a 360 dpi resolution?
• Are Spot colors PANTONE solid to process?
• Is White defined as spot color and indicated with the name WHITE_INK?
• Is the Art Board the correct size? Bleed?

* SPELL CHECK:  In both ILLUSTRATOR and PHOTOSHOP, the SPELL CHECK is found in the EDIT tab on the top tool bar, under CHECK SPELLING. For a more accurate spell check, we suggest using WORD or having someone proofread your work.

• ILLUSTRATOR Saving Your File:

When saving go to File, Save As; Adobe PDF. For a file name, use the product name as stated on your order. Click SAVE, choose PRESS QUALITY for the Adobe PDF Preset. Click SAVE again and then file is ready to send

•  PHOTOSHOP Saving Your File:

When saving go to File, Save As; Tiff. The file name should be the product name shown on your order. Click SAVE and then file is ready to email

 Files Accepted:
TIFF, PDF, EPS, and high resolution JPEG images. Remember, high resolution image should be no less then 360dpi.

Vector and Raster Artwork:

EIM can pick up large files at your FTP site or file sending service, or accept smaller files that total 9 MB or less via email. If you prefer, you may also send a single large file via our web to print service. Before uploading, we recommend placing multiple files into a single ZIP archive to save time and keep files organized.