Adobe Photoshop — How to set up Adobe Photoshop files for a commercial printing company.

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Photoshop software is really made for editing photographs. If you wish to use Photoshop to create a file for printing brochures or business cards or whatever, then the system needs to be forced.

This page will show you how to force Photoshop to make a press-ready printing file.

  

The images on this page have come from an Apple-Mac computer. If you use a PC, the pages will still be similar to what is shown below.

 

The process of setting up a Photoshop file that is compatible with a printer's needs is simple:

 

Step 1 — Create a new file. Choose File, and then choose New.

 

Step 2 — Fill in the Dialogue box. When you do this, you must consider the following:

  • Name the file — please give the file a proper name that means something. Printers use the file's name to identify the job, so assist the printer by giving the file a name that identifies the job. In the below example, we have told the printer the client's name (i.e.: TheInternetPrinter"), and we have told the printer what type of job it is (i.e.: a business card).
  • Set up the file size correctly — this is where Photoshop needs to be forced, so read this bullet point and understand it before you go any further.
    • Photoshop does NOT allow for bleeds, so you must make the file 6mm larger than the size of the finished job that you want.
    • The finished sizes and the adjusted Photoshop file sizes of several products are shown below:
      • Business cards and appointment cards — normally 90mm x 55mm, but increase to 96mm x 61mm to allow for the bleeds;
      • A3 — normally 420 x 297mm, but increase to 426 x 303mm;
      • A4 — normally 297 x 210mm, but increase to 303 x 216mm;
      • A5 — normally 210 x 148mm, but increase to 216 x 154mm;
      • A6 — normally 148 x 105mm, but increase to 154 x 111mm;
      • A7 — normally 105 x 74mm, but increase to 111 x 80mm;
      • DL — normally 210 x 99mm, but increase to 216 x 105mm.
  • Select the correct file resolution. All printing is done at at least 300 pixels per inch. Never select a resolution that is less than 300dpi.
  • Choose the correct Color Mode. TheInternetPrinter is a CMYK commercial printer, so select CMYK. Check which Color Mode your commercial printer uses.

When everything is properly filled in, click "OK".

 

You will then be presented with an image like the one shown below.

 

Step 3 — Set up the finished size of your job.

  • Given the Photoshop file is 6mm larger than the finished size of your job, you need to put in some line that will show you the actual size of your file.
  • To add the horizontal lines, place your mouse in the top ruler, then drag the mouse down to where the line should be.
    • The top line should be 3mm down from the top of the file; and
    • The bottom line should be 3mm up from the bottom of the file.
  • To add the vertical lines, place your mouse in the left ruler, then drag the mouse across to where the line should be.
    • The left line should be 3mm from the left side of the file; and
    • The right line should be 3mm from the roght of the file.

So, you should now have a file that has the finished job size represented by four aqua lines 3mm from each edge — the area outside the above aqua lines are the bleed area.

 

Step 4 — Add the safety margin lines. Safety margin lines are added in a similar way to the finished size lines. However, they are placed at different distances, depending on the type of product you are going to order.

  • If you are creating a business card or appointment card file, then the the safety margin line should be 8mm in from the edge of the file (this is also 5mm from the finished size lines).
  • If you are creating any other type of file, then the the safety margin line should be 10mm in from the edge of the file (this is also 7mm from the finished size lines)

 

Your file is now ready for you to create your artwork and when you create your artwork you must ensure that:

  • ALL background colours and images go right to the edge of the file (this allows for the bleeds); and
  • ALL important text and images are kept inside the safety margin box.

If you look at the below image, you will see that:

  • ALL the background colours have been placed right to the edge of the file (i.e.: the bleed lines); and
  • ALL important text and images have been kept inside the safety margin box.

 

 

How to prepare other files for printing