How to setup your files for printing - SameDayPrinting.com

1. Setup your Files for Printing - SameDayPrinting.com
To get your order on the printer, we must receive files that are "print-ready." Print-ready means
that your files meet our digital setup specifications, which are industry standard and used by
nearly every other commercial printer. If you don’t fully understand what’s required to make a
file print-ready, we highly recommend you work with a professional graphic designer. You can
use one of your own or we can help - just ask! If you place an order and send us files that aren’t
print-ready, the job will be delayed until we have the proper file(s). Here is what we need:
MARGINS
Files must be built to the product size being ordered plus an additional 0.25". This means your
files should be 0.25" larger than the product size that you are ordering. For example, a 2" x 3.5"
business card requires a graphic file to be sized at 2.25" x 3.75".
Leave your text and other important graphics, such as logos, an absolute minimum of 1/8" from
the edge of your design. It is highly recommended that you leave 1/4" for a nice clean look after
your job is cut. The machine will cut off usually anywhere from 1/16" to 1/8" off of each
side. (see below)
Do not put crop marks, lines that tells us where to cut, on your file. We have our own templates
and we will cut as close as 1/16" as possible.
Wrong way to setup

2. Correct way to set up
When setting up your design, do not format the design on a larger document size. For example,
don't start off with a document size of 8.5" x 11" and then center your design in the middle. The
correct set up process is to format the size as the same dimensions of the product chosen.
DO NOT create your design file to include the front and back of your design within the same
file. They should be set up as two different files.
DO NOT name your design file as just "front" or "back." Choose a file name that describes your
product. For example, if your flyer is for a gallery opening, you could name your flyer design
files "gallery_opening_front" and "gallery_opening_back."
RESOLUTION
The resolution or quality of your image(s) must be a minimum of 300d.p.i. If the resolution is
lower we will NOT process the order because the print quality will be affected. (see below)
Wrong way to setup

3. Correct way to set up

4. BORDERS
We do not print with a white border around your design UNLESS you design it this way. You
should extend the background of your design all the way to edge of your design so that no white
shows. However, leave text and other important graphics a minimum of 1/8" from the edge of
your design.
Do not put a thin frame around your design. Because of the way the jobs are cut it is very difficult
to cut thin frames very precisely and the finished product can come out looking unevenly cut. If
you do choose to add a frame, the thicker you make it, the better. It should be at least 1/2"
thick. (see below)
Wrong way to set up
Correct way to setup

5. COLOR MODE
Files should be built using the CMYK color mode. All files we receive in RGB will automatically
be converted to CMYK. When you convert RGB files to CMYK, a slight – but inevitable – color
shift will occur on the final product. In particular blues have a tendency to turn purplish.
Wrong way to setup

6. Correct way to setup

7. If you are designing in Adobe Illustrator you should flatten to one layer and all fonts should be
converted to outlines. We do not, however, accept .AI or EPS files. We do accept PDF files so
your design will need to be converted to a PDF. We cannot be responsible, however, for fonts not
converted to outlines or images that are not properly embedded.
Acceptable file formats are JPEG, TIFF, and PDF.
 Business Card Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/business-card-
printing.html
 Flyer Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/flyers.html
 Postcard Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/postcards.html
 Poster Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/posters.html
 Banner Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/banners.html
 Brochure Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/brochure-printing.html
 Sticker Printing http://www.samedayprinting.com/sticker-printing.html
 Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) Printing
http://www.samedayprinting.com/direct-mail-printing-eddm.html