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Artwork Preparation

Artwork Preparation for Printed Products

Ordering & Help

Artwork Preparation

Here at Creative Solutions we aim to make the process as easy and simple as possible to get your print from the design stage through to our printers. Use this page as a guide to preparing artwork, whether you have your own artwork ready or need our design team to produce it for you.

This page consists of three main areas:

How to supply us with your own artwork
Best Practices and things to consider
Use our Graphic Design service

If you have any questions about your artwork and what you need to do, speak to our friendly team on 01297 630130 who will gladly assist you, or drop us an email at sales@creativesolutions.co.uk

Getting Your Artwork Ready For Print

We've tried to make ordering your product online as easy as possible. Just buy your product as normal online, and send us your artwork when you have it ready. Don't worry if it's not ready straight away, we'll keep your order safely stowed away until your happy your artwork is good to go.

We'll never go to print without you giving the green light. Our graphic design team will let you know if there's a quality problem with your artwork.

You can download our PDF Guide to Setting Up Your Artwork with all the information from this page.

If you require any clarification on any topic, please contact our Studio on 01297 630130 - we're here to help and ensure your printing meets our high standards and your expectations.

You dream it, we'll create it.

Ordering

Order your product online and checkout.

Artwork

Send us any artwork files and logos.

Proof

We will create a digital artwork proof for you to check.

Print

Once signed-off, your order and artwork are sent to the production team.

Delivery

Always securely packaged with trackable courier services.

Best Practice & Things To Consider

Everything you need to know about the design process and your artwork.

Artwork Layout & Template Files

Artwork should be setup 20%, 25%, 50% or actual size. Please indicate scale within file name and on any proof.

We can email scaled templates (PDF, EPS, Ai, InDesign) files. Please call sales on 01297 630130 or email sales@creativesolutions.co.uk with your request.

Fonts, Lettering & Typography

When collecting files for output, please ensure that all fonts used are converted to outlines.

Experience has shown that whilst fonts may use the same name, slight variations do exist. Therefore we advise you not to rely on fonts from another source but to send fonts all converted to outlines.

Fonts used in Illustrator, InDesign and CorelDraw can converted to boxes/curves before saving to output and therefore no font files are required. To do this, select all and then convert in one action (usually from the 'Type' or 'Style' menus).

Photo Scans & Images

Images should be provided at a minimum of 300dpi @ 25% (size-for-size taking in to account magnification) and saved in CMYK format. TIFF file formats are preferred but we also accept images in any other formats included JPG and EPS. Care should be taken when providing images in other formats as compression can reduce final print quality.

Template Bleed Area

We usually recommend all critical information is within a 50mm bleed around the outside.

Sending Your Artwork To Us

By far the easiest receive your files is via our website using our FTP (File Transfer Protocol) facility:

FTP Upload- Use the file upload upload tab at the top of the page in the menu bar. Fast and easy to use. Maximum file size is 2GB.

We can also accept files saved on:

USB Stick (returned immediately after saving to our network)
Email- send to sales@creativesolutions.co.uk

Colours, Pantones and RAL Swatches

We recommend using Pantone or RAL colour swatches rather than relying on screen colours. If you use screen colours as a guide, ensure that your monitor is closely calibrated.

Whilst every effort is made to match specific Pantone & RAL colours, it is not always possible to match specific colours when using CMYK printers. If colour is critical then please supply a reference.

Logos

All logos used should be EPS vector files (these can be magnified to any size without degradation of quality). If you do not have an EPS version, we can create a replica copy from a JPG or TIF file supplied (subject to sight of file- approximate studio charge £60 plus VAT). The EPS file can be forwarded to your for subsequent print requirements.

Mac & PC File Applications

We can accept files saved in:

Adobe Illustrator all versions
Adobe InDesign all versions
Adobe Photoshop all versions
Corel Draw
Microsoft Powerpoint versions 2200 and XP (requires transferring to graphics software- studio time charged)
Microsoft Publisher versions 97,98,2000 and XP (requires transferring to graphics software- studio time charged)
Microsoft Word 2010 and XP (requires transferring to graphics software- studio time charged)

The Graphic Design Process

We like to make the design process as simple and as smooth as possible for you. We'll need a couple of thins to guide the creative process to produce something truly tailored to you.

What We Need From You

Contact Information for fluid communication throughout the process
An artwork brief or your ideas
Any artwork, imagery, logos
Corporate brand guidelines where necessary

Over To Us

We will communicate with you throughout the design process to home-in on your vision
You'll be able to see Digital Artwork Proofs created by our designers. Make as many amends as needed until you're 100% satisfied.

Need Help?

We have worked with a full range of clients and businesses, so have lots of examples and product knowledge to let you know what would work well with your vision. Download our Artwork Guide PDF to have this information to hand.

In-House Graphic Design Service

Getting noticed and creating a professional display has never been easier. Our graphic design team, known as the creativestudio, are on hand to help with any design requirements no matter how small or large. Our experienced team can help turn the ideas in your head in to a reality, the only limit is your imagination and they can certainly help with that.

Our design capabilities are vast, from laying up a banner stand to a complete company rebrand. Logo design, web design, banner design, sign design, pop up stand design- our team know what works and how to best create your unique product.

Artwork Charges

Studio time is charged at a very competitive £60/hour ex VAT, but unlike other companies we'll only ever charge for actual time taken at regular 15 minute intervals. Every job will be priced on an individual basis, and we'll always do our utmost to make sure it's the most cost effective it can be for you. We have access to a huge library of images and backgrounds and an experienced team of designers. PDF proof files are emailed to you for approval or amendment.

Colour Reproduction & Quality

Whilst every care is taken before and during the printing process, Creative Solutions will not be liable for any colour discrepancies or poor quality image resolution on finished products, where artwork is supplied by a third party. Screen calibration and computer interpretation of colours and shading may mean that what is seen on screen may not be exactly replicated on the finished product. Customers are asked to provide hard copies of the required artwork, if they feel this may be the case. It is the customers responsibility to ensure that suitable photos are used in artwork designs. Creative Solutions cannot be responsible for poor quality prints due to unsuitable image/photo selection.