United Graphics, Inc. believes that the technology available to us today greatly benefits the production process. The use of electronic files results in outstanding print quality and excellent definition in halftones and line art. To assure quick turnaround and high quality printing, we offer the following step-by-step guidelines to assist you in preparing your disk files for printing.
Our primary production platform is the Macintosh; however, we also accept jobs from the Windows platform. We support current versions of the following applications on both Mac and PC:
Software:
Adobe PageMaker QuarkXPress Adobe InDesign Adobe Illustrator Macromedia FreeHand Adobe Photoshop Adobe Acrobat
If the software you are using to create your pages is not listed above, you can supply your files as PDF. Adobe has some helpful pages on creating PDF files from various software programs; you can search for yours in their Customer Support Database at www.adobe.com.
Or you can dowload our PDF instructions for the following applications:
Creating Postscript from PC PageMaker 6 or 7
Creating Postscript from Mac PageMaker 6 or 7
Creating Postscript from Mac or PC Quark 4 or 5
Creating PDF from Mac or PC InDesign
PC Distiller Joboptions
Mac Distiller Joboptions
PC USERS:. Other Windows applications (Word, Publisher, CorelDraw, etc.) can be converted to PDF with "PDF995", a free program available for download at www.pdf995.com.
We accept electronic jobs on the following media:
3.5" Iomega Zip 100/250MB (Preferred) 5.25" CD-ROM (Preferred 5.25" DVD 3.5" Floppy Disk 3.5" Syquest EZ 135MB ONLY 5.25" Jaz 1GB ONLY
An important factor in processing your job electronically is the Preflight Review. This serves as an introduction to and quick reference for your job in Electronic Prepress. Please complete this form before sending your job to United Graphics, Inc. to ensure that your job is ready to be printed. The Preflight Review is also used to inform you of any additional charges that may be incurred. The Preflight Review is available here or through your Customer Service Representative.
Does your book include photos? For helpful information about adjusting halftones, take a look at the following:
Adjusting Halftones
Perfect bound covers should be complete (front cover, spine and back cover combined and on the correct page size, with 1/8" bleed, if applicable, off the page on all sides) when supplied electronically to avoid additional charges. For more details about covers, download a PDF of How to Create a Cover Layout. Please call your Customer Service Representative to get the correct spine width for your book to avoid additional charges or delays. How do we determine the spine width? Check it out here.
Please make sure your file is created with the correct colors. This is easily done by printing out color separations on your laser printer. Be sure to include all colors so you can check that your graphics, etc. are color-splitting correctly.
Sometimes the color proof you receive from us does not match your provided color hard copy or your monitor. This is to be expected. Find out why What You See Isn't Always What You Get.
United Graphics, Inc. requires up-to-date hard copy sent with each disk job. Find out why here.
Make sure ALL fonts are sent with the job. Missing fonts will incur charges and cause delays.
In the event we have questions about your electronic files, you may receive the following form, Preflight Questions About Your File. Please respond quickly when you receive this form, or your prearranged ship date may become invalid.
Top causes of additional charges and schedule delays:
Missing Fonts
Missing Image Files
Spine Size Wrong
Inconsistent Margins
Inconsistent Page Number Placement
Hard Copy Doesn’t Match Digital File
Adjustments Needed to Halftones
Bleed Items Don't Extend 1/8"
Type or Graphics Are Too Close to Trim or Punch
Images Are RGB instead of CMYK or Grayscale
Images Are Not TIF or EPS Format
File Size Doesn't Match Quote
Page Size Doesn't Match Quote
Low Resolution Graphics
Barcode Made of CMYK or K is not 100%
Everything we request from our customers helps to keep additional charges down and jobs running on schedule.
Please complete a Preflight Review form before sending your job to United Graphics, Inc. to ensure that your job is ready to be printed. The Preflight Review is also used to inform you of any additional charges that may be incurred. The Preflight Review is available here or through your Customer Service Representative.
Remember, if you have ANY questions about preparing your electronic files for printing, please call your Customer Service Representative at 217.235.7161.