EPS is our preferred file type. We will also accept Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and PDF files. Please note that just because your artwork is saved in a vector file type, that does not mean that the artwork itself is vector. If this is the case, you will be notified.

We will not accept JPEG, PNG, GIF, HEIF, BMP, TIFF, XCF, RAW, PSD, CDR, PPT (Microsoft PowerPoint), DOCX (Microsoft Word), and PUB (Microsoft Publisher).

Bleed is extra color/image beyond the edge of the artwork that is required during the trimming process of a print job. Artwork is printed on a larger sheet then trimmed down to the final size. Bleed ensures that there is no paper color on the edges of the final product. If your artwork does not contain elements extending to the edge of the print, then your print files do not require bleed. Any elements of the artwork that go to the edge (i.e. backgrounds or photos) must extend through the bleed margin.

0.25” of bleed is required on all 4 sides for prints that are less than 48” in width and height. For example, if your artwork is 24” wide and 36” tall, then it requires 0.25” of bleed. As a result, the final document’s width & height should have an additional 0.5”. 

0.5” of bleed is required on all 4 sides for prints that are equal to or greater than 48” in width and/or height. For example, if your artwork is 48” wide and 12” tall, then it requires 0.5” of bleed. As a result, the final document’s width & height should have an additional 1”.

Space at the edge of the artwork that is free of all critical elements.

All critical elements (i.e. logos & text) must stay within a minimum distance of the edge of the artwork to avoid potential for cropping when trimming to the final size. Below is a list of recommended safe margin values. If you have additional questions or concerns about safe margins, please feel free to ask us during the ordering or proofing process.

Equal to or less than 5” in width or height: 0.25” safe margin recommended.

Between 5” and 10” in width or height: 0.5” safe margin recommended.

Between 10” and 18” in width or height: 0.75” safe margin recommended.

Equal to or greater than 18” in width or height: 1-2” safe margin recommended.

Resolution refers to the amount of DPI (Dots Per Inch) in an image. The higher the DPI, the clearer the image. A low DPI can result in pixelation/blurriness.

Photos should be 300 DPI with the image dimensions at 100% of the final use size or pixelation/blurriness is possible. We will print files under 300 DPI, so long as the client understands that pixelation is possible and out of our control.

Color profiles define how colors are made. In printing, CMYK is the profile used; a combination of specific values of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. For web &/or screens, RGB is the profile; a combination of specific values of Red, Green & Blue. The color spectrum for CMYK is much smaller than RGB. For example, bright neon colors are possible using RGB, but are not achievable with CMYK.

Please ensure that CMYK is the color profile used in your print files. This includes photos & colors. Elements printed using RGB may result in incorrect colors, transparencies, & effects. 

Outlining fonts ensures that text will print correctly. Transparencies (i.e. partial opacity or a result of an effect being used) can print differently than they display on screen. Flattening transparencies will ensure that they print properly. Adversely, it may show where they will print incorrectly, giving the designer the opportunity to make any necessary changes or fixes to ensure they will print correctly.

All text must be outlined and any transparencies must be flattened. Failure to do so may result in missing and/or incorrect text/transparencies.

Please DO NOT include crop marks, bleed marks or color registration bars.

Applications like Adobe utilize what are called “Linked Files” to increase the application’s performance/speed. For example, when you place an image in a design, the application will not automatically embed the photo’s data into the design file. Instead, it will identify the location of the saved photo file and will “link” the image placeholder in the design file to the file in it’s saved location. As a result, if a file is altered or moved, the link to it is broken and the file must be re-linked. If you send your design file to someone who does not have access to the location where these linked files are saved, that person will receive a notification that the file cannot be found and the asset will be missing from the design. 

When exporting, some files will automatically embed the linked file to avoid this problem, but some will not. To be sure, please embed all linked files into your design file before exporting your print files. This will ensure that your file prints correctly, and all assets will be remain intact should T4P need to make adjustments to your print file. If you are working with Adobe, we recommend utilizing the “Package File” feature.

If your order requires custom contour cutting and you would like to provide the cut lines, please see the required specifications below. If you would prefer that we make the cut lines for you, we will do so, without proofing, at no extra cost. You may request a digital proof for an additional $10 proofing fee.

All cut lines must be on their own layer above all artwork. Please use a 1pt stroke with a 100% magenta swatch. As with all printing and cutting, there are limitations. You will be made aware of any potential issues with your cut lines before we go to production, at which point you will be able to make the changes yourself or we can facilitate those for you.