WHITMORE PRINTING

Electronic Art Form

We've included tips for electronic art submission for nearly every popular application and platform. Please click on the listing below that corresponds with your platform, program and job scope.

Always feel free to contact Whitmore Printing with questions regarding your file submission. Call us at 717/399-3405 or e-mail us.

Illustrator for Mac: (version CS3, CS2, CS, 10 and lower)
Illustrator for PC (version CS3, CS2, CS, 10 and lower)

InDesign for Mac: (version CS3, CS2, CS and 2.0)
InDesign for PC: (version CS3, CS2, CS and 2.0)
** Please note: We will open Pagemaker 6, 6.5 and 7 files in InDesign.

Photoshop for Mac: (version CS3, CS2, CS, and lower)
Photoshop for PC (version CS3, CS2, CS and lower)

CorelDRAW for Mac: (version 8.0)
CorelDRAW for PC: (versions X3 down to 7.0)

Quark for Mac: (7, 6.5 and lower)
Quark for PC: (7, 6.5 and lower)

Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, Publisher and Powerpoint (Mac & PC)

Illustrator for Mac & PC

Include all linked graphic files. If you send an Illustrator file that contains an EPS, TIFF, or any other placed images, send the image file along with the Illustrator file. The Illustrator file refers to the information in the graphic file to print the image properly at high resolution. Without the separate file, the graphic cannot be printed.

To avoid font inconsistencies, please Create Outlines on all text. This uses the information found in the text's printer font to recreate the individual letters. Once text has been converted to outlines, the information found in the screen and printer fonts becomes unnecessary. This allows the file to be font-independent and removes the need to include the fonts.

If you do not wish to Create Outlines on text, please include all printer and screen fonts used by the Illustrator file.

We have access to the entire Corel Font Library; as well as approximately 90%
of the Abobe Font Library. Any font not found in these libraries must be sent
with the Illustrator file in order to be printed. Link to our font section in
General Information for more on printer and screen fonts.

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InDesign for Mac & PC

Include all linked graphic files. Do not embed images. Once the image is embedded, it becomes uneditable. We would much rather have the separate file linked. If you send an InDesign file that contains an EPS, TIFF, or any other placed images, you should send the image file along with the InDesign file. The InDesign file refers to the information in the graphic file to print the image properly at high resolution. Without the separate file, the graphic may not print properly.

Double-check the links in your InDesign file using the Preflight utility. If the InDesign document and graphic files are not in the proper folder/directory, the links may be broken. Before sending your files, use the Package utility to collect the fonts and images. When packaging your files please be sure to check include fonts and images and update links.

Colors used in placed images must stay uniform with colors in the InDesign document, as well as other placed images. If PMS 300 is used in the graphic file and PMS 300C is used in the InDesign document, the two colors will not print on the same plate. Please do not assume that colors that match on screen are actually the same color. To test the colors in your document, export the InDesign file to a PDF. Open the PDF in Acrobat, at the top of Acrobat select Advanced, then Print Production, and finally Output Preview. This will allow you to see the color separations.

When selecting fonts to create your artwork, select the font from the font list rather than using the control bar to add effects. This will allow for better font organization and assure proper printing.

Please include all printer and screen fonts used by both the document and the placed images. All fonts included in your publication must be sent with the InDesign file in order to be printed. Link to our font section in General Information for more on printer and screen fonts.

The exception, of course, is the PC-world, where there are very few "good" font managers & you are forced to use the control bar for font variations (please check your Windows\fonts directory to ascertain that "italic", "bold", "bold italic" etc variations exist before using)!

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Photoshop for Mac & PC

Because Photoshop deals in bitmap images as opposed to vector graphics, we do not recommend using Photoshop to create electronic art. However, if the job meets the criteria below, it may be acceptable. For more information on bitmap images and vector graphics, link to General Information.

Results from Photoshop are best when used for single-color, solid logos. Screens can be emulated but cannot be manipulated once drawn.

Single color jobs set up in Photoshop must be in either Grayscale or Bitmap mode. Photoshop files that are not saved in either mode will be converted before going into production.

When setting up your image, please be aware of the resolution or dpi (dots per inch). We make plates at 2400 dpi. We recommend saving your file at 600 dpi and no lWess than 300 dpi at size used!. Saving at a lower resolution may produce "rough" or bitmapped edges.

Please double-check any text layed out in Photoshop. If the resolution is not high enough, the text will turn out "fuzzy" or bitmapped.

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CorelDRAW for Mac & PC

Include all linked graphic files. If you send a CorelDRAW file that contains an EPS, TIFF, or any other placed images, you should send the image file along with the CorelDRAW file. The CorelDRAW file refers to the information in the graphic file to print the image properly at high resolution. Without the separate file, the graphic cannot normally be printed. If you embed the file, please send the graphic anyway. It is sometimes necessary to edit placed images, and embedded graphics cannot be edited.

When setting up colors in CorelDRAW, please use the Pantone Spot Color Palette rather than CorelDRAW's Custom Color Palette. The Custom Color Palette exports as process color, and must be converted to spot color before the electronic artwork can be processed.

To avoid font inconsistencies, please Convert Text to Curves. This uses the information found in the text's printer font to recreate the individual letters. Once text has been converted to curves, the information found in the screen and printer fonts becomes unnecessary. This allows the file to be font-independent and removes the need to include the fonts.

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Quark for Mac & PC

Colors used in placed images must stay uniform with colors in the Quark document, as well as other placed images. If a PMS 300 is used in the graphic file and Quark Blue is used in the Quark document, the two colors will not print on the same plate. Please do not assume that colors that match on screen are actually the same color. To test the colors in your document, set Separations to On in the Print Dialogue Window. Color discrepancies must be corrected prior to sending the job.

Include all linked graphic files. If you send a Quark file that contains a logo, graphic, or any other placed images, send the image file along with the Quark file. The Quark file refers to the information in the graphic file to print the image properly at high resolution. These files can be conveniently collected using the Collect for Output command under the File menu. Unfortunately, the Collect for Output command does not collect the fonts used by the job (exception - Quark 5 both Mac & PC can collect fonts).

Use the Picture Usage utility to find the most current status of the document's links. Modified links must be updated and missing links must be located.

Double-check the links in your Quark file using the Picture Usage utility. If the Quark document and graphic files are not in the same folder/directory, the links may be broken. Before sending your files, use the Picture Usage utility to update modified images and locate missing images. If you make changes to the graphic files after saving the Quark file, we ask that you go back into the Quark document and resave the link.

Correct

Incorrect

Please include all printer and screen fonts used by both the document and the placed images.

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Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, Publisher and Powerpoint (Mac & PC)

Although Microsoft Office files can be reproduced in the commercial printing environment they are generally problematic and yield poor results if not prepared properly.

We strongly recommend using a commercial grade layout program such as Adobe InDesign or QuarkXpress.

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