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What type of printing process is used?
All products are printed by Heidelberg or Mitsubishi printing machines in full color. The full color process is an industry standard whose results can be seen at any news or magazine stand. The end result is high quality printing which can make your images happen.
What types of files are accepted?
The best file format to submit your artwork in is Adobe Acrobat - pdf
Please ensure you have followed these steps prior to sending the artwork :
1). Convert all text to outlines / paths (the exact terminology depends on your software). Please include the fonts when you submit the artwork if you haven't managed to convert the text.
2). Ensure all images and relevant artwork are at 300dpi before designing the layout (we may ask you to submit higher resolution versions in some instances)
3). Include bleed on all layouts, it may slow down the setup of your order if we have to request new artwork from you. As a general rule, A6 and below require 1.5mm bleed on each edge, A5 and above requires 3mm on each edge.
4). Ensure that all artwork is clearly labelled (eg; JoeBloggs_Front.pdf, JoeBloggs_Back.pdf)We also accept the following files (ensure you follow steps 1-4 above when submitting any artwork) :
*If would like to submit in a format not listed here, please contact us to make sure we can accept it.Vector based artwork (preferred format type) :
Adobe Illustrator - .ai
Adobe Indesign - .indd
Corel Draw! - .cdr
Encapsulated Postcript - .eps(most vector art packages can export to this format)
Macromedia Freehand - .fh*(Problems are likely with this format, please send as a different format if possible)
Microsoft Publisher - .pub
Microsoft Word - .doc
Microsoft Powerpoint - .ppt
Quark Express - .qxd(Problems are likely with this format, please export as .eps file to minimise problems)Bitmap based artwork (only use this format type if you cannot supply vector artwork) :
Adobe Photoshop Image - .psd(include fonts used and don't flatten text layers)
Bitmap Image - .bmp
Fireworks PNG - .png(fonts must be included)
PNG Image - .png
JPEG Image - .jpg, - .jpeg
TIFF Image Document - .tif
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Artwork guidelines.
- The resolution of your artworks should at least be 300dpi (300 pixels per INCH or 118 pixels per CM) to create high quality printing matters. If your image contains texts, we suggest you use higher resolution artwork up to 600dpi.
- Bleed: 3mm for business cards and plastic cards, 5mm for rest products like flyers and brochures.
- Before creating PDF files, please create outlines for all the fonts, or attach the TrueType TTF fonts you used in the artwork, as we do not print directly from the PDF files)
- Texts in image files (JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG) will not be printed as sharp as other formats with text layers like CorelDraw, Illustrator, Photoshop, PDF, Freehand, Indesign... We suggest you send us your source files with texts layers to us to get better printing result. If you do not have the source files, please use higher resolution artwork up to 600dpi.
- If you have used special fonts (or Mac fonts), please send the TrueType TTF font files to us as well, to avoid any font problems, please transfer the texts into vector paths (create outlines).
- Important Note for embossing : 1) For larger size characters, these can be numbers only, with the maximum on one line of 19 characters with no spaces. 2) For smaller size characters you can have alpha-numeric characters from a semi-limited set, the maximum on one line is 26 characters with no spaces. 3) Please be aware that to have 3 or more lines of embossing, or to use the full line of characters with no spaces, may result in the finished card bending and being slightly scratched.
Vector vs Bitmap formats.
Vector artwork uses a series of 'points' to describe a shape, similar to a graph in mathematics. This ensures that any vector shape at any resolution should always print sharp. Bitmap artwork is made up of blocks (pixels) that describe a shape. This means that when you zoom in, you begin to see blocks of colors and the artwork becomes unviewable. Bitmap artwork is best suited for screen use, such as websites. While it can be used for print work, it isn't ideal and should be used with caution.
What resolution does my artwork need to be for uploading?
Your artwork should be created at 300 dpi (dots per inch) or higher. If your artwork is at a lower resolution than this, the print quality will be affected. Please note, your photo or design must meet the required file size, image dimensions, resolution, and file format before uploading it to our Web site.
How do I upload an entire design?
There are four different ways to use your artwork at ZX-Printing. You can Upload your your artwork less than 4M online. Upload your big artwork via FTP or our online java-based FTP component.
How to compress my artworks?
If you are using Windows XP, just follow the following steps:
Select your artworks or folder and then right click. Highlight "Send To." Click on "Compressed (zipped) Folder." A compressed folder will be created containing the same name as the file you compressed. It will be represented by a zipper icon. If you are using other operation systems, please download WinZip from http://www.winzip.com you can download a trial version for free.
How much bleed should I leave in my artwork?
3mm bleed on each border for business cards and plastic cards, and 5mm for the rests.
When does the turnaround time start?
From the day of the clearance of the payment and the confirmation of the proof of the artwork.
*Please note, it does not start from when you first contact us, we need a short amount of time to prepare your order before printing and we require your confirmation and payment before we commence.
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