Preparing your file to print
There has been a request for clear info about how to prepare your file for print. Here is a basic set of instructions.
1. If you are working with scanned images, scan them at the highest resolution. The images should be at at least 300dpi at the final size they will be printed. That is, if the original image is 10cm high, but you are intending to print it at 20cm high, then you should scan it at 600dpi minimum.
2. If your print is more than one colour, perform the colour separations on the image. Follow the tutorial linked here.
3. Prepare your print in Illustrator or Quark or similar programme, if you need to add text or vector graphics or combine images etc. Set the document up as CMYK not RGB. Set the size of the document – the maximum printable area of the press is 1000X700mm – but if you can, make it smaller. This size is slightly larger than A1. Remember to consider what paper you will be printing on. Is the available paper at a corresponding size to your print image?
4. Export the file to a PDF – if your PDF is in CMYK, that’s fine. The platemaker will divide the CMYK image into four plates (or fewer plates if there are less than 4 colours).
5. If you are having troubles, email info@bigfagpress.org making sure you leave plenty of time for troubleshooting before your deadline.
[NB: Mickie has made some addenda below in the comments!]
Here are some vital bits of info that should be in the main text above:
Size of the plate is 800 x 1030 mm.
Edge of artwork needs to be set at minimum of 80mm from edge of plate (that is one long edge of artwork needs to be 80mm from edge of plate that gets punch-holes).
There is mention of paper sizes above. Here are the details:
The biggest paper we have is rare. Its size is 720 x 1020 mm. We are reserving this size for large single artwork.
The most common paper size we have is 650 x 910 mm (and some 650 x 920 mm).
Small size we have is 455 x 650
Other special sizes:
-Lots of daggy gold lustre paper at 700 x 1000 mm.
-Lots of sticky back (full and labels) at 700 x 1000 mm.
Now this might be confusing: As mentioned above, the artwork needs to be 80mm from edge of plate, but where that corresponds to on paper is that the artwork will be 30mm from leading edge of paper. This is useful to know if trying to maximise print area for any given paper size.