Requirements for files

1. Files has to be submitted for print as closed PDF files with fonts embedded.

2. Content and cover files should be submitted separately.

3. The size of the submitted documents must correspond exactly to the intended size of the book, with the trim box set and crop marks set accordingly.

4. Cover should be submitted according to cover layout: total width x height. The calculation is quite simple and described below, so we do not send cover layout for each book, but feel free to request it to your project manager in case you would prefer to receive it.

Total width calculation:
No flaps: cover width in mm + spine in mm* + cover width in mm
With flaps: Flaps size, mm + 3mm folding line + cover width in mm + spine in mm* + cover width in mm + 3mm folding line + Flaps size, mm
*You can find the width of the spine at the end of each offer.

5. In case the cover will be printed 4+4, please leave the area for glue white and unprinted. This area is in the middle of the cover - spine width + 3mm to both sides. Although we use the best glues in the market, applying the glue on unprinted paper increases durability of the book and in addition, this area will not be visible on finished product, so there is no good reason to apply the color under the glue.

6. Both cover and content file should have at least 3mm of bleed area around the file. In simple terms this means that all backgrounds has to continue at least 3mm after the cutting line.

7. Important objects in the file should not end closer to 3mm to the cutting line. Although our machines are very precise, some small deviation is possible and if any object ends closer then 3mm to the cutting line then we cannot guarantee that the distance from the end of the sheet till the object will be exactly as intended. From production perspective this requirement is the same as the need for bleeds.

8. Cover effects like spot-uv varnish or embossing should be submitted either as a second page of the cover file or a separate file. The size of the file should match the cover layout of the book. Areas that has spot-uv varnish or embossing should be indicated as 100% of color. If only one type of effect is used, we suggest choosing 100% black. If more elements are used, you can submit them in one file by using 100% spot colors and changing the names of colors to “spot-uv varnish” and “embossing” or submitting them in separate files with respective names of the files.

9. For content: each page should be displayed as a separate sheet (no spead). Also empty pages should be included in the file, so the number of pages in the file match number of pages in the offer.

10. Image resolution of 300 ppi is minimum for high quality print. Technically we have no problem printing also lower quality pictures and once printed they will not look worse as in the PDF file, but if possible – we strongly suggest using high quality pictures.

11. The limit for color densities is 300%. Please remember that more color does not mean better result and too high color densities are associated with slower drying time and possible smearing. In order to limit the color densities you can either use ICC profile or adjust the colors manually. If you want to achieve rich black color, we suggest using 100% black and 30% of remaining colors (30% C, 30% M, 30% Y and 100% K).

12. Only CMYK or grayscale colors can be used in printing. In case the submitted file includes RGB objects, our pre-press sytems will convert RGB to CMYK, but this will be forced conversion with no possibility to adjust brightness/contrast settings of the colors. For this reason the best practice is to submit the files already in CMYK..

General information

We suggest converting pictures to CMYK by using ICC profiles that allow you to see how the picture will look on chosen paper type and adjust the colors if needed. The profile simulates the effect on paper, so when files are sent through our pre-press settings all ICC profiles are removed and just real color % are applied on the sheet.

There are two main ICC profiles that account for coated and uncoated paper and our machines are calibrated according to the following profiles:
  a) For coated paper we suggest Fogra 51 (download the profile here);
  b) For uncoated paper we suggest Fogra 52 (download the profile here).

At the same time these general ICC profiles does not account for extra roughness of the paper or yellowish color, therefore some paper producers have created their specific ICC Profiles. If the paper of your project does have their own ICC profile, we suggest using the specific profile, since roughness and color of paper can play important role on how the print result looks like and allows you to predict the outcome and adjust colors accordingly.

You can download ICC profiles for papers produced by Arctic Paper here (most useful for Munken papers)

When exporting the file for print, ICC Profile should be turned off (not included in the file)

Since we will print real colors on real paper with no simulations. In case the profile is left in the file, our proofing systems will remove the profile when preparing the proof. An indication that this has happened is when colors on the screen look differenct in the print file and PDF Proof, but the real color percentages has not changed. In case you have such situation – feel free to inform your project manager and they will check if the colors look different because of this reason (which is not a problem) or because of some real problem with the files (for instance file submitted in RGB and automatically converted to CMYK).

After the files are submitted

After the files are submitted to the printing company, our pre press department checks if the files correspond to all the printing requirements. Comments (if any) and PDF Proofs are prepared and sent for final approval.

PDF Proofs are rastered files and in order to make file transfer quicker proofs are exported in resolution of 150 dpi. Higher resolution proofs are available on request, if needed - please contact your project manager.

During the proofing process, the file goes through our prepress system and becomes rastered (divided in small raster points). During this process all objects are converted to one flat layer and appears as a dot of respective percentage of CMYK colors. In the proofs it is important to check if all objects that has to be on printed file are there in the proof and no unnecessary objects appear. In the proof different problems with overprints/layers/invisible objects can come out. If something is in the proof, it will be in the print (and vice verca), so this is important aspect to check in the proof. Colors and resolution is not meant to be checked in the proof, those should be checked in original version of the file.

Please take into account that special treatments such as lamination of the cover and UV varnish changes the way how colors look in the final product, since they also have a slight color (lamination for instance makes to cover look a little bit darker).