How to prepare your files for TheInternetPrinter

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The above Related pages offer some specfic advice on some specific software programs.

 

What appears below is some general advice.

 

• Outline text.
• Supply your file in the PDF format.
• Do NOT provide printer's marks on your file.
• Ensure you have converted any colours from CMYK to RGB.
• Your images are high resolution images.
• Print out a hard copy of your job before you send it to us.

 

Outline text, rather that supply fonts

Fonts are a massive problem with printing. You may attach your fonts, or provide a PDF, and these action will make your file easier for us to work with. However, if there are any problems with your file, and if we do not have the font that you use, then we are unable to make your file press-ready.

So, the best way to avoid any problems with fonts is to outline the text.

To outline text in Adobe Illustrator, just:

• Choose "Select" on the top toolbar, and then choose "All" from the dropdown menu.
• Then choose "Type" from the top toolbar, and then choose "Create Outlines" — then save the document with a new name (e.g.: add the word "Outlined" to the name of the file).

To outline text in Adobe Photoshop, just:

• Choose "Select" on the top toolbar, and then choose "All Layers" from the dropdown menu.
• Then choose "Layer" from the top toolbar, and choose "Convert to Shape" from the sub-dropdown menu, and then select "Convert to Shape" —  then save the document with a new name (e.g.: add the word "Outlined" to the name of the file).

To outline text in Adobe InDesign, just:

• Choose "Edit" on the top toolbar, and then choose "Select All" from the dropdown menu.
• Then choose "Type" from the top toolbar, and then choose "Create Outlines" from the dropdown menu —  then save the document with a new name (e.g.: add the word "Outlined" to the name of the file).

 

Supply your file in the PDF format. 

We are able to accept many types of software, and we do welcome any file in almost any type of software. However, files can become unstable when transmitted to us electronically.

The most stable software to use for transmiitting files is the PDF format, so we suggest you convert your file to the PDF format.
However, if you are unsure on how to convert your file to PDF, then just send your file using the software with which you are most comfortable.

 

Do NOT provide printer's marks on your file

We do appreciate crop-marks being placed on your files — in fact we just love crop-marks on files.

However, our software automatically centres files on our presses when we print jobs. Therefore, we ask that your file should NOT contain any of the following:

• NO Registration marks;
• NO Colour bars;
• NO file name detailed on the file;
• NO date of creation on the file; and
• Nothing other than the job you want printed and the cropmarks.

We DO APPRECIATE crop marks being placed upon your file, as these marks assist us in determining where to trim your card.

 

Ensure you have converted any colours from RGB to CMYK

TheInternetPrinter, like most commercial printing companies, uses four colours to print all the colours in the rainbow. The four colours that we use to create all the colours of the rainbow are:

• Cyan — Cyan.
• Magenta — Magenta.
• Yellow — Yellow.
• K — Black — we have no idea why the letter "K" stands for black.

Other commercial printers use RGB (red, green and blue).

Please convert your file from RGB to CMYK. If you do not, then our software will do the conversion automatically, and the colours will shift.

 

Your images are high resolution images

Never get your images from the Internet, as images sourced from the Internet are normally about 72dpi (72 dots per inch).

These files may look good on your computer screen (which is set at 72dpi), but they will never look good when printed.

All printing is done at 300dpi, so your images should be at least 300dpi. If you use 72dpi images, then the picture will look grainy.

 

Print out a hard copy of your job before you send it to us

After you have done a final check of your file and are ready to send it to us, you should do the following:

• Print out one last copy of your job and read it as if you have never seen the page before.
• Read each letter of each word to check that each letter and each word is correct.
• Never read this last copy quickly. Read it in the manner described in the previous line (i.e.: "Read each letter of each word to check that each letter and each word is correct").
• Once you have done the above, print out another 'one last copy' and do it all again, as there is about a 50% chance that you will find an error in your second 'one last copy' .