• The print file must be a composite PDF compliant with the PDF/X-1a:2001 or PDF/X-4:2010 standards, preferably having passed a preflight check without errors using Adobe Acrobat Pro or PitStop software.

• Image resolution should be 300 ppi for coated paper and 260 ppi for uncoated paper.

• All fonts must be embedded or converted to outlines.

• The total ink coverage should not exceed 330% for coated paper, 300% for lightly coated paper, and 280% for uncoated paper.

• The color mode of the print file must match the order: either CMYK, spot colors, or CMYK plus spot colors.

• Please do not include ICC profiles in the file.

• Bleed should be 3–5 mm.

• The clean format of the print should be centered on the page, with the page size being the clean format plus equal bleed on all sides.

• Do not add crop marks, registration marks, color bars, etc., to the print file (marks for folding may be added but must be outside the clean format, within the bleed area).

• Envelope files must have at least one clean area (gripper margin) of 10 mm on the top or sides.

• All pages of a single print must be in one file and in the correct order.

• Pages must be separate (not spreads).

• The file name must allow identification of the product name and format.

• Texts, page numbers, and other design elements that should not be lost during post-processing (die-cutting, trimming, folding, binding, etc.) must be at least 3 mm away from the edges of the clean format.

• For prints with complex or ambiguous post-processing, please send a mock-up or video along with the file to avoid misunderstandings.

In print preparation, files are checked for compliance with technical printing requirements. Materials not meeting the client’s specified conditions will not proceed directly to print. To ensure print quality, the print shop has the right to make corrections to the client’s files. Corrections to files not meeting technical requirements and the resulting costs are the client’s responsibility. Files not conforming to print standards are not covered by the print quality guarantee.

Smaller files can be sent via email directly to the sales manager; for larger files, we recommend using WeTransfer (www.wetransfer.com).

We print using offset technology with CMYK and spot (Pantone) colors. The image on paper is achieved through four colors, with the amount determined in percentages.

• C – cyan (blue)
• M – magenta (red)
• Y – yellow
• K – key / black

All four colors cannot be used at 100% simultaneously, as the paper cannot absorb such a large amount of ink. The maximum ink coverage for coated paper is up to 330%, and for uncoated paper, 280%.

Spot colors are mixed before printing according to the Pantone catalog. They are used to achieve specific tones that are difficult to reproduce with CMYK colors. Many bright and special colors from the Pantone selection cannot be achieved with CMYK four-color technique. Silver and gold are also spot colors. Spot colors are used either independently or as an additional color to CMYK.

It is important to note that the same color mix can yield different results when printed on different papers. When selecting colors, compare the same color mix in Pantone Coated and Uncoated swatches. If the design is made with the result on coated paper in mind but later ordered on uncoated paper, the result will be significantly different.

Barcodes and QR codes are preferably made in 100% K. For colored codes, ensure that the spot color is 100%, or in the case of CMYK, one of the colors is 100%. In raster, the code may become unreadable to barcode readers. When creating codes on the web, check the colors when converting from RGB to CMYK.

If the print file contains RGB colors, automatic conversion of these colors to the CMYK color space may result in certain color tones differing significantly from the originals. The same applies to the automatic conversion of spot colors to CMYK.

To protect the print surface or achieve a more vibrant result, prints can be coated with varnish. Both matte and glossy varnishes are available. It is recommended to use varnishing for spot silver and gold. To add effects, spot varnish can be used. In the print file, indicate spot varnish on a separate page or together with the print using a separate 100% color (spot). Consult us regarding the compatibility of paper and varnish.

Overprint objects will appear on top of underlying objects in the print. Overprint is applied to black texts, lines, and small objects. It is not recommended to use overprint on larger black areas. The image or colored area underneath may show through. In such cases, use rich black or black without overprint. Rich black ensures a solid black area; using only black results in a grayish black.

• Regular black (automatic overprint added in print preparation): 100% K
• Rich black: 60C-40M-40Y-100K
• Black without overprint: 1C-1M-1Y-100K

Critical errors: applying overprint to white objects on a colored background or on different colored objects results in the white object disappearing and the colored object changing color (an unintended third color tone). In the case of spot color, a tone not present in the catalog may result. If overprint is used on colored objects in the file or other different effects are desired, please inform print preparation.

To calculate resolution, use the formula dpi (ppi) = 2 x lpi. For example, if printing on coated paper with a 150 lpi screen, the resolution should be 300 dpi (ppi).

The optical resolution (dpi/ppi) of high-quality images must be equal to twice the screen frequency (lpi), but definitely not below 200 dpi (ppi). The recommended resolution ensures image sharpness and standard-compliant quality in print.

Vector graphics consist of points, straight lines, curves, etc., and their quality does not change when scaled up or down.

Raster graphics consist of small pixels that form the image. The image file cannot be enlarged without losing quality.

The design of the print, i.e., the clean format, is exactly centered on the page; bleed must be added equally to each side, 3–5 mm. An A4 print file with 3 mm bleed is 216×303 mm, and a 90×50 mm business card print file is 96×56 mm.

Design elements that extend to the cut lines must go beyond the cut line edge: 3 mm for advertising prints, perfect-bound brochures/books, and 5 mm for saddle-stitched brochures/books.

Bleed is necessary to prevent white areas from appearing due to shifts in folding, binding, cutting, etc. Bleed must be considered when preparing the print design file, placing details, and framing photos; otherwise, important elements may be lost during cutting or post-processing. Bleed is necessary for all background areas, images, or any objects that extend to the edge of the print. Additionally, ensure that important elements are not closer than 3–5 mm to the edge of the print. Even the smallest tolerances in post-processing can reveal variations if parallel lines are near the edge of the page.

In saddle stitch binding, page creep must be considered – the innermost pages are a few millimeters narrower. The exact amount depends on the paper thickness and the number of pages. In design, consider objects near the format edge- page numbers, frames, and other details, whose size will vary on inner and outer pages after trimming.

If there are no images and texts spanning across pages, the printhouse can compensate for the creep by shifting the inner pages inward.

In perfect binding, consider the spine of the print and design it separately if necessary. Spine thickness depends on paper thickness, not grammage. To calculate the spine thickness of the print, use the simple formula: paper thickness x number of sheets + 1 mm. If the exact spine thickness is known, the front cover, back cover, and spine can be combined into one file.

Note that the binding edge of the content pages is not fully visible/readable. In the design of the cover and the first and last content pages, 5 mm of the image is lost at the binding edge; on the remaining content pages, 2–3 mm. This must be especially considered when designing images and texts that span across pages.

In design, consider that the binding edge of the print will be punched. The distance of the holes from the page edge is ~7 mm; therefore, texts and other important design elements should be at least 9 mm away from the binding edge.

The die-cutting line must be a vector stroke, not an object (fill), and definitely not created as an image. Use a continuous line. Line designations:

• Magenta – cutting
• Green – creasing
• Yellow – perforation.

The die-cutting file consists of three pages: one page shows only the die-cut line, the second page shows the die-cut line together with the print, and the third page shows only the print. All pages must have the same format and the designs must be aligned. Make sure to check the presence of bleed.