File Specifications

File Formats
Preferred file formats are print-ready PDF, TIFF, EPS & JPEG (please see below: Print Ready Setting). Acceptable native file formats are PhotoShop & Illustrator.

PDF File Creation Guidelines

• Embed all fonts used in the file or convert text to outlines
• Avoid using color conversion when saving file
• Use ZIP compression for images within the file
• Downsample images only if absolutely necessary
• Embed input profiles in file and record rendering intent for optimal color conversion
• To preserve transparencies, save file either as PDF/X-4 or PDF 1.4 (or greater). It is advisable
• to preserve transparencies when using spot color replacement.
• To flatten transparencies, save file either as PDF/X-3 or PDF 1.3. It is recommended to use
• The same profile and rendering intent for all object types (Images, Graphics and Text).

Applications
We use Adobe Creative Suite products; from CS3 up to CS6. Microsoft Office applications are not suitable for large format printing.

Scale
Set document scale at 100%, 50%, 25% or 10% of the final graphic output size. For raster based artwork please ensure that the raster images are acceptable when viewed at 100% (please see below: Vector vs. Raster for more information).

Colour
Set document colour mode to CMYK. Use PMS colour if colour matching is required.

Resolution
For raster images our resolution requirement is a minimum 100dpi, ideally 120dpi (300dpi maximum) at final graphic output size or equivalent (please see below: Vector vs. Raster for more information).

Bleed
Bleed is only required for fabric-based display systems - set bleed 10mm all around for these artworks. For all other systems (WindFlags, PopUps) Artwork templates are available.

Print Ready Setting
Embed all fonts or convert all fonts to outlines; Embed all images; No printer marks are required; No security settings

Colour Matching
Unlike screen printing or offset printing, digital printing is a CMYK process. Some PMS colours may not match exactly with standard colour management workflow. ADI has an internal Colour Management System to ensure the best possible colour outcomes. Please contact us for your colour matching requirement.

File Transfer
For online orders files can be transfered via our website's drag-and-drop capability. Files under 10MB can be sent direct via email attachment. Please contact us for other file transfer methods if necessary (e.g.: DropBox, WeTransfer, etc.).

Raster vs. Vector

There are two different types of images used by graph design programs: raster images (also known as bitmap images) and vector-based images.

Photo Editors are Raster Based

A raster image is made of thousands of little dots, or pixels. Creating or editing an image with dots allows you to provide for rich detail in an image. Because every dot can be a different color, you can allow for any kind of color change (e.g.: gradients).
Raster images are wonderful for rendering rich, full-color images, like photographs. Raster-based programs do have some drawbacks, though:

• Raster images are file-heavy. All of the zeros and ones (binary: the language of computers) that are used to make up each pixel result in large files sizes. Your computer must keep track of the zeros and ones and must change each one when editing, this is memory-intensive and may cause slower editing.
• Rasters do not resize well (to a larger size). When you enlarge a raster image the pixels just get larger, making the image appear distorted and chunky/grainy.

Photo editors, like Adobe PhotoShop, use raster-based images to allow for precise editing and total freedom in image appearance.

Illustration Programs are Vector Based

Vector-based programs approach image creation in an entirely different manner. A vector-based program does not render images on a pixel-by-pixel basis. In a raster-based image creation program, a square would be made of thousands of pixel dots. In a vector-based program, the same square would be made of only four dots, one on each corner. These “vector points,” basically allow your computer to play connect-the-dots. Each vector point has information in it telling your computer how to connect each point with straight or curved lines, and with what color to fill in the closed shape.
Because the computer only has to keep four points in its memory it is much easier for the computer to handle editing vector-based images. If you resize a vector-based image, it loses little or no detail. The vector points spread out and the computer just redraws the image. You can easily color, or recolor, a vector-based image very easily using a drawing program. Vector images can also result in smoother lines because the lines are not hand drawn. 
Vector images do have some drawbacks, however:

• They are generally filled with a solid color or a gradient but can’t display the lush color depth of a raster.
• They also work better with straight lines or sweeping curves. 

Drawing programs, like Adobe Illustrator, primarily use a vector-based drawing mode to allow for scalability and clean lines.

^{Disclaimer
ADI's pre-press procedure will check specifications of the supplied file for print quality. We do not take responsibility for any design error(s). If a printing error is the result of incorrect artwork supplied, the client will be responsible for cost of reprint and related cost. While all care is taken to match colours, an exact matching is not always possible.}