Quality print data will accelerate the processing of your order.
General Information
APPLIED PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES
The Ferratt Company uses offset print for sheets and digital print for both sheets and rolls.
Data format
MAXIMUM PRINT AREA:
We accept your print data as electronic data, if possible in print quality PDF format. We prefer print PDF data meeting the x1-a standard. You may find the detailed print PDF parameters in the “Required print PDF parameters” section.
Sheets |
Offset print |
2,000 × 1,500 mm |
Sheets |
Digital print |
3,000 × 2,500 mm |
Rolls |
Digital print with a width of |
5,000 mm |
Upon agreement, we also accept open data from Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop source applications. InDesign and Illustrator files must be supplied together with binding data, possibly fonts. If you supply a Photoshop format, please keep the document layers. You may even keep the trim line saved in the “Cesty” panel.
We accept non-standard formats (e.g., eps, jpg, tif) only upon agreement with our workers.
DATA DELIVERY
You may email print data files of up to 10 MB. Larger data files may be saved on our FTP server or yours, or you may send it through one of the internet data storage sites (uschovna.cz, wetransfer.com, etc.).
General Data Parameters
Your data should feature the ratio of 1:1. If your printed item dimensions exceed the graphic program working area, e.g., in the case of multi-meter banners, prepare your data in reduced ratios like 1:2, 1:5, or 1:10 (please specify the ratio in your PDF file name).
COLOUR ENVIRONMENT
The data must always be prepared in the CMYK or GRAY colour environment. If you supply your data in another colour environment (e.g., RGB), we cannot guarantee colour changes during the conversion of your data to CMYK.
DATA FILE NAMING
The file name should include the post-trim final format dimensions. In the case of multi-component products, the file names should include the component number or name per your supplied technical drawings. Please make sure your file names contain no diacritics.
MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENTS
In the case of multi-page documents, the sequence of your individual pages must match their document sequence. Please follow this rule, and do not release your documents even as dual pages.
Colour Scheme
The number of colours usually derives from our production cost calculation. Any components of one packaging, rack, or advertising material may be calculated for various numbers of colours. If possible, follow the calculation-based colour scheme, or inform us of any changes, please.
Your print motif should only feature direct colours, providing they will actually be applied. Otherwise, conversion to CMYK is necessary. Please define your direct colours with numbers and Pantone or HKS identification for coated paper – Solid Coated (e.g., Pantone 485 C).
PRINT AND TECHNICAL COLOURS
Your document should only feature print and technical colours.
Print colours are only those which we will use for printing (CMYK, or possibly direct colours from the Pantone or HKS samplers). Please make sure your document only features those colours which are planned for printing (e.g., do not forget to convert your Pantone colours to CMYK, if they are not planned for printing). Please pay attention to the Pantone colour names – the same colours with various suffixes (C, CV, CVC) are generated as independent colours.
Technical colours identify non-print lines and objects, e.g., cutouts, bend, perforation, partial pressure, blind embossing, etc. They should be prepared as direct colour with overprint in a special layer.
MAXIMUM COLOUR COVERAGE (INK LIMIT)
The maximum print colour coverage is 340%. In the case of small areas of up to 10 cm,
2 it is up to 360%.
WHITE COLOUR
In the case of white print on transparent material, the white colour should be prepared like any other visible direct colour (not white) with overprint, possibly as vector graphics. The white colour layer should be the top layer or possibly a special document side. If possible, name your direct colour Spot 01 (this name is preset in our RIP).
BLACK COLOUR
Larger CMYK printed black areas should feature composite black (saturated black). C40/M40/Y40/K100 should be used for digital print and C75/M64/Y64/K90 for offset print.
Smaller texts (smaller than 8 points), EAN codes, QR codes and recycling marks should only be based on the 100% black C0/M0/Y0/K100 for overprinting.
Layout
DOCUMENT SIZE
The source document page size should match the final format after trimming. In the case of multi-component products, every component should be processed through a special document.
The required bleed must be set around the page.
INTEGRATING GRAPHICAL MOTIFS INTO CUTOUT/TRIM LINES
Integrate graphical items exclusively into the lines of the technical drawings supplied by the design department. The technical drawing correctness is verified through the approved test dummy copy.
DISTANCES FROM TRIM EDGES/BENDS
The distances of graphic items and texts from bends and trim/cutout lines should be at least as great as the bleed. Otherwise, your text or object may move behind a line. Lining and die cutting/trimming may generate inaccuracies of +/- 3 mm.
SHAPE TRIM/CUTOUT
In the case of some items, it is possible to change their trim/cutout contour and adjust it to your applied graphic motifs (e.g., top cards). If these options are not directly marked in your technical drawings, please consult your cutout contour changes with us. We need to receive your new contour in its vector format. The best options include ai, eps, or pdf.
IMAGES
All images must be created in the CMYK or GRAY colour environments.
Bitmap resolution should be 300 DPI. In the case of products viewed from distances exceeding 1 metre (banners, posters, sales racks, POS materials, etc.), 150 DPI resolution is sufficient. Large-area banners may feature lower resolutions; however, not below 60 DPI.
In the case of large-area banners of which the data is supplied in reduced ratios, please select the highest possible resolution – upon magnification of the data, your resolution will proportionally decrease according to the magnification. For example, in the case of data supplied in a 1:10 ratio with 600 DPI resolution, the resulting resolution is 60 DPI.
TEXTS
Text with fewer than 10 points should not feature any colour composed of more than two inks. Smaller texts (smaller than 8 points), EAN codes, QR codes and recycling marks should only be based on the 100% black C0/M0/Y0/K100 for overprinting.
Print PDF texts should be converted to curves.
It is not advisable to place white text with fewer than 10 points in dark areas comprised of multiple CMYK plates. The same rule applies to lines thinner than 0.25 mm.
CODES AND MARKS (BARCODES, QR CODES, RECYCLING, AND OTHER MARKS)
EAN codes, QR codes, and recycling marks should only be based on 100% black C0/M0/Y0/K100 for overprinting. It is not advisable to place white codes or marks on dark areas comprised of multiple CMYK plates.
Pre-Print Preparation
BLEEDS
We require trim overlaps vs. final format – bleeds – of 3 mm. In the case of formats of more than A3, we require 5 mm.
OVERPRINTS (TRAPPING)
In the case of direct colours, please make sure the individual areas print over each other. Overprinting is always set for lighter colours (or those which do not define the final shape, i.e., not the drawing colour). Overprint values: Small fonts and small graphic motifs (up to 10 mm) of 0.1 mm, other graphic motifs 0.2 mm.
CUTOUT/TRIM LINES
Cutout, trim, and bend lines should be prepared as vector lines with strokes (objects not filled in). The lines are to be defined in direct colours with stroke overprint.
All the lines are to be full, non-dashed, and their individual types are to feature different colours. If possible, please use the following colour names: CUT or CUTTER for cutting lines, BIG for bending lines (the names are preset in our workflow).
A document with cutout, trim, and bend lines may be prepared in two ways:
a) Cutout, trim, and bend lines included in the print motif (in direct colour with overprint).
b) A document with cutout or trim lines in a three-page PDF, where the first page features an independent cutout line, the second page features an independent print quality motif without any trim lines, and the third page features the motif with its trim line placed on the motif.
VECTOR OBJECT BACKGROUND
If your visual includes a background comprising hundreds of vector objects or a number of objects with complex effects, please convert your background to a high-resolution bitmap. Then, place your text and other objects, which are to stay as vectors, on the raster background. If the background remains vectors, its conversion to PDF/x-1a will generate data of which the processing is extremely slow during every production step (release, RIPs, etc.) and, consequently, the order processing costs increase.
PROOFS
If you supply your data together with proofs to specify your colour scheme, please follow these rules:
Your proof should feature actual sized motifs (1:1 ratio); therefore, use your actual size data cutout. Never reduce your document to the proof format.
Your proof should contain that part of the document which is the most critical for colour scheme fine-tuning (e.g., your logo, underlying colour, skin, etc.).