If you are not using one of our print-ready production templates, please select one of our products to view acceptable dimensions, orientation,
folds, and panel sizes.
Job organization
Your job should consist of the following components:
A project folder (for everything)
The layout document(s)
An "Images" or "Links" folder containing all graphics used in the layout
A "Fonts" folder containing all fonts used in the layout (created in the final stages of your project)
A preview PDF file (created in the final stages of your project)
TIP: Keep all of your job files — the working layout file, your image source files, and your fonts — all organized, up-to-date, correctly
named and accessible from start to finish.
When to use a layout program vs. an illustration or photo-editing program for your layout:
Layout programs, such as QuarkXPress and InDesign, are better for projects with multiple pages and relatively more body text, especially if that
body text goes through the whole project.
Illustration and photo-editing programs, such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, are better for projects that have only 1 or 2 pages, and are
dominated by graphics and large type rather than body text.
Layout file
If you are working in an illustration program (such as Illustrator) or a photo editing program (such as Photoshop), we recommend that you
create your document at the full bleed size
create a separate file for each side of an item
If you are working in a layout program (such as QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign) we recommend that you
create your document at the trim size and include the specified amount of bleed for your product (.125")
use the same file for each side of an item, and label the pages "FRONT" and "BACK" in the document
File resolution:
Layout file resolution should be 300 dpi at 100% of the final output size.
Image file resolution should be 300 dpi at 100% of the image's final output size.
CMYK vs. RGB
Print uses the CMYK color system (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) — not RGB (Red, Green and Blue), which is meant for screen displays.
Create your document in CMYK mode.
Keep in mind that many of the bright values produced by your monitor cannot be reproduced in print.
How to make sure your document is CMYK in Adobe products:
InDesign:
Go to the Edit Menu and choose "Color Settings"
Make sure you are in Working Space: CMYK: "U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2." The RGB value will not affect your design.
To change color settings:
Go to the Edit Menu and choose "Convert to Profile"
Change the Destination Space to CMYK: "U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2" and click OK.
Photoshop:
Go to the Image Menu and choose “Color Mode”
A check mark will appear next to current color mode
Select CMYK Color
Illustrator:
Go to the File Menu and choose “Document Color Mode”
A check mark will appear next to current color mode
Select CMYK Color
Spot colors
Spot colors are printing inks of colors that are specially mixed according to a recipe. They are chosen from color matching systems and swatch books.
They are generally used as a complement to black or to achieve an exact color that CMYK process colors cannot provide.
Spot colors are optional. As a designer, some factors to consider in deciding whether or not to use spot colors are:
Cost/budget — spot colors added to 4-color job will significantly raise the cost. Carefully choose and define all colors in your files as
either CMYK or spot.
The practical limits of offset presses keep the possible number of color plates to 6 at most. When spot colors are used, a more typical run is a
2-color (black + spot) or a 5-color (CMYK + spot) job.
Inkd buyers will not necessarily print your design on offset presses as spot colors are intended for. This means that if a spot color you choose
is essential to a design you create, such as for a logo, you should note that in its description when you upload it. However, realistically,
buyers will sometimes opt for color digital printing anyway, which will automatically convert spot colors to CMYK.
Be sure that spot colors used in your graphics files are named exactly the same as in the layout file.