PDF - version: 1.3 (acrobat 4.0) *

The most recommended format due to the high quality and compact file size.

Color space : CMYK

Bleed (bleedbox):2 mm; 3 mm for catalogues

Margins: the recommended minimum of 5 mm

An example of preparation of a business card for print :

Saving standard: print quality (prepress quality)

Bitmaps optimalization (downsampling):
color and grayscale: 350 DPI,
monochrome: 1200 DPI

Color profile embedding: none, or Fogra39 compatible

*) The newest PDF versions are acceptable for printing, however not recommended, since there may be interpretation errors for which Designer printing shop will not be responsible. For additional verification, a screen proof is available to obtain from Designer to check the project before printing.

How to prepare a PDF?

In the COREL DRAW program.

JPG or TIF

The most reliable file format with lower quality of text and graphics and considerably larger file size than the same file saved as a PDF.

Color space : CMYK

Image format: the expected final page format, increased by 2 mm on each side, thus, e.g. If we are expecting an A4 format - 210x297 mm, the final image format must be 214x301 mm.

Margins: the recommended minimum of 5 mm

An example of preparation of a business card for print :

Recommended resolution:

for off-set printing: *
300 - 350 DPI with anti-aliasing
450 - 600 DPI without anti-aliasing

for solvent printing: *
50 - 100 DPI with anti-aliasing

*) compare with the print technology selected while placing an order.

Before uploading to the server, files must be packed with a RAR or ZIP archiver, otherwise, distortions may occur.

CDR - version X3 or older

The least recommended saving file because of the possibility of occurrence of unexpected distortions to the image displayed on the User's screen.

Color space : CMYK

Page format (trimbox): the expected final page format, e. g. A4

Bleed (bleedbox): the background must be expanded by 2 mm on each side, so that it outreaches the page format; for the multi-page catalogues, the background must be expanded by 3 mm.

Margins: the recommended minimum of 5 mm

An example of preparation of a business card for print :

Fonts used: all converted to curves

Before uploading to the server, files must be packed with a RAR or ZIP archiver, otherwise, distortions may occur.

Guidelines for black objects and texts:

Black text and lines in one component color: the black texts and lines should not be composed of all 4 component colors (C, M, Y, K); it is recommended that they only contain the black component, excluding the three remaining colors (this is a common issue when the design was prepared in the RGB color space and later converted to the CMYK color space).

Black overprint: black texts and objects should be overprinted, a black object or text must remain on continuous background of another component color C, M, Y.

Black, solid backgrounds of considerable size: for best effect of the depth, black solid backgrounds of considerable size should contain the following component proportions: C65%, M65%, Y65%, K100%.

Small white lettering on the black background (inverted print) – for very best results in clarity, if the black background consists of the 4 CMYK components, there should be a contour of about 0.2mm of thickness around the small white letters, which consists of only the black component without the remaining C, M, Y.

Color management:

In the COREL applications, the color management for the printing machine must be set as Fogra39 or ISO_Coated_v2.
In the ADOBE applications, we must select color management for the CMYK color space as Fogra39 or ISO_Coated_v2.

If you do not have any appropriate color profiles installed in your computer, download them here.

Display monitor: for all color works it is worth calibrating the display monitor with a special instrument called a colorimeter (e.g. produced by X-rite or ColorVision), or, at least, performing basic tests with the useful tools available here: PC or MAC