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Resources for Uploads

 Upload Help
 Upload Tips
Print Page
 Acceptable File
Formats
 Resolution
 Software Templates
 PDF Settings
 Document Size
 CMYK vs. RGB
 Bleed
 Fold Marks
 Trim Marks
 Converting Fonts to
 Full Bleed vs. Trim Outlines
Size
 Vector vs. Raster
 Safe Area / Safe
Margins  Images
 Aspect Ratio

Acceptable File Formats Back To Top

We support a variety of file formats for uploaded designs.
Adobe Acrobat 9 Document (*.pdf) (recommended)
Adobe Illustrator CS3 Artwork (*.ai) (recommended)
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Image (*.psd) (recommended)
Bitmap Image (*.bmp)
GIF Image (*.gif)
JPEG Image (*.jpg,*.jpeg)
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Document (*.ppt)
Microsoft Publisher 2010 Document (*.pub)
Microsoft Word 2010 Document (*.doc)
PCX Image (*.pcx)
PICT Image (*.pic,*.pict,*.pct)
PNG Image (*.png)
PostScript Document (*.ps)
TIF Image (*.tif,*.tiff)
Windows Enhanced Metafile (*.emf)
Windows Metafile (*.wmf)
Software Templates Back To Top
Using a downloadable template for your application will ensure that your document
dimensions, resolution and colour settings will match ours.

Adobe Photoshop (recommended) Download Template

Adobe Illustrator (recommended) Download Template

If you are creating a PDF document in Acrobat Distiller, please use our Distiller settings.

Adobe Acrobat Distiller (recommended) Download Settings

Document Size Back To Top

Please select a product below to view document dimensions
 52 cm x 91 cm Banners  Mailing Labels - Small
 76 cm x 122 cm Banners  Mugs
 76 cm x 183 cm Banners  Mugs - Wraparound
 76 cm x 244 cm Banners  Name Tags
 A3 Flyers  Note Cards - Flat
 A7 Flyers  Note Cards - Folded
 Announcement - Folded – 182 x 117 mm Postcards - Oversized
 Announcements – 139 x 107 mm  Postcards - Standard
 Announcements - 182 x 117 mm  Posters - 286 x 439 mm
 Announcements – 210 x 95 mm  Posters - 426 x 601 mm
 Brochures  Posters - 601 x 847 mm
 Business Cards  Premium Laptop Bags
 Caps  Product Labels - Large Circle
 Christmas Cards - Flat  Product Labels - Large Oval
 Christmas Postcards 210 x 95 mm  Product Labels - Large
 Classic Cotton Tote Bags - Deluxe Rectangle
 Classic Cotton Tote Bags - Small  Product Labels - Small Circle
 Classic Cotton Tote Bags - Two-Tone  Product Labels - Small Oval
Deluxe  Product Labels - Small
 Compliment Cards Rectangle
 Envelope Seal  Rack Cards
 Flyers - A4  Return Address Labels
 Flyers - A5  Stickers - Large Circle
 Flyers - A6  Stickers - Large Oval
 Flyers - DL (99 x 210 mm)  Stickers - Large Rectangle
 Folded Christmas Cards 182 x 117 mm  Stickers - Small Circle
 Gift Certificates  Stickers - Small Oval
 Invitations - 5" x 7"  Stickers - Small Rectangle
 Invitations - Flat – 139 x 107 mm  Strolley Laptop Bags
 Invitations - Flat – 210 x 95 mm  Tri Fold Menus
 Invitations - Flat - 216mm x 139mm  T-Shirts - Basic Short Sleeve
 Invitations - Folded – 139 x 107 mm  T-Shirts - Long Sleeve
 Invitations – Folded 182 x 117 mm  T-Shirts - Women's
 Leather Laptop Bags  Vertical A5 Flyers
 Letterhead - A4  Visiting Card Stickers
 Waterproof Stickers - Oval
Full Bleed Size  Waterproof Stickers -
Rectangle
213 x 300 mm
2517 x 3544 pixels

Document Trim Size

210 x 297 mm
2480 x 3508 pixels

 Mailing Labels - Large

Bleed Back To Top

The very edges of the document are called the bleed area. To prevent an unwanted white border from showing at the
edge of your document, be sure to extend any background colours or design elements all the way to the edge.
Trim Marks Back To Top
Trim lines are the finished size of the document. The document is cut close to the trim line, but because of the
mechanical tolerances involved in printing, the actual cut can happen anywhere between the bleeds and the safe
margin. This is why it is important to keep your text and important images within the safe margin.
Full Bleed vs. Trim Size Back To Top
When to create your document at the full bleed size
If you are working in an illustration program (such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw) or a photo editing program
(Such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint), we recommend that you create your document at the full bleed
size. This will prevent any white edges from showing at the borders after the final product is trimmed.
When to create your document at the trim size
If you are working in a layout program (such as QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign) we recommend that you create
your document at the trim size and include the specified amount of bleed for your product (.137”). When you export
your document as a PDF for upload, make sure to include the bleed in your output settings so that the final upload
PDF document is at the full bleed size for your product.
Safe Area / Safe Margins Back To Top
The safe margins are borders that are definitely inside the place where the cut will take place. Please remember to
keep all important information, like names, addresses, phone numbers or logos within the safe margin (at least .137”
from the edge) to ensure that they aren’t cut off when your document is trimmed.
Aspect Ratio Back To Top
The aspect ratio of your image can be determined by dividing the image’s width by its height. If your image’s aspect
ratio is not equal to the aspect ratio of our documents, your image may appear stretched or distorted when it is scaled
to fit.
Resolution Back To Top
What is resolution?
Resolution refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi), or the amount of detail the image has. Most documents
prepared for upload should be 300 dpi at 100% of the final print size. Higher resolution means a more detailed
image, and also larger file and longer upload time.
PDF Settings Back To Top
When saving a document in Portable Document Format (PDF) using Adobe Acrobat Distiller, please download our
Adobe Acrobat Distiller settings (recommended).
CMYK vs. RGB Back To Top
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) are the colors used in the printing process, whereas RGB (Red, Green
and Blue) are the colours used by screen displays such as your monitor. Please note that JPEG files are almost
always in RGB.
Your document should be created in CMYK mode so that the colors that you see on the screen most closely match
the final printed product. If you create your document in RGB, the colors in your printed product may vary slightly.
Many of the bright values produced by your monitor cannot be reproduced in print.
Fold Marks Back To Top
Fold marks indicate where the fold will take place on such products as brochures, folders and envelopes. If you don’t
want your copy or design to be printed over the fold, make sure they stay within each panel’s safe margin.
Converting Fonts to Outlines Back To Top
Text can be converted to curves (paths) in some graphics programs. This will fix upload errors that result when fonts
are not embedded in your file. Following these easy steps will help ensure that your text prints clearly.
How to convert fonts to outlines in Adobe Illustrator
1. Select all text.
2. Click Type Menu> Type> Create Outlines
3. Text now has a blue outline.
4. Save a copy and re-upload.

Vector vs. Raster Back To Top

What are Vector Images?
Vector images use mathematical equations to define each component of an image. This allows vector images to
retain their high-quality at any size. When possible, use vector graphics created in a desktop publishing program.
What are Raster Images?
A raster image is composed of a collection of tiny dots called pixels. When these pixels are small, and placed close
together, they fool the eye into forming a single image. Raster images work well when subtle gradations of color are
necessary. Because they contain a fixed number of pixels, a major disadvantage of raster images is that their quality
suffers when they are enlarged or otherwise transformed. They are also large in file size.
Images Back To Top
Digital Imaging
You may create printed products on our web site using digitized images from a variety of sources. Your designs,
photos and images can come from a digital camera, scanner, or the Web.
Any image you plan to use must be saved at approximately 300-dpi at 100% output size for the very best printing
results. It’s helpful to know that shrinking an image on a product will increase its resolution. For example, an image
captured at 600 x 900 pixels has 150-dpi at 4” x 6”. Howver, it can be printed at 300-dpi by reducing its dimensions
on the product to 2” x 3”.
Images from a Digital Camera
If you wish to use images from a digital camera, before you snap pictures make sure the camera is set at a high
enough resolution to result in 300 DPI at the intended photo print size. Most cameras have various settings for
resolutions. The highest resolution for your camera depends on how many megapixels it has.
You cannot increase the resolution of a photo after it is taken, except by reducing its printed dimensions (after you
upload the image). Be careful when cropping a photo after it is taken. Cropping will reduce the number of pixels in the
final image.
Images from a Scanner
Like a digital camera, a scanner must be preset to the proper resolution before image capture. Many scanners default
to 150-dpi (or spi). Set your scanner’s resolution so that it results in 300-dpi at the image’s final print size. If your
resulting scanned image is smaller than the recommended size or has less dpi than you need, you should either
rescan your original at a higher resolution, or use the image for a smaller printed area.
Images from the Web
Images found on the web are typically at a resolution of 72-dpi. This resolution is much too low for quality printing. In
addition, most images on the web are protected by copyright laws. For these reasons, we do not recommend using
images from the web.

Tips for Great Uploads

NOTE: to find out more about upload terminology and general information, please click the Upload Help tab on this
page.

Use Our Photoshop and Illustrator Templates Back To Top

For optimal results, please use our pre-sized product templates which show
trim, safe margin and bleed lines for Adobe Products.

Please note: It is especially important to save your file with the “Guides” layer turned “OFF”; otherwise, the guides
will print.
 To turn off the guides, click on the eyeball in the layers-“guides” menu.

Layer on Layer off

If you are designing your own document and are not able to use one of our templates, please follow the instructions
below.

Be Aware of Trim and Bleed Back To Top

Please remember to keep all important information, like names, addresses,

phone numbers or logos at least .137” from the edge, within the safe margin
(represented by the blue line) to ensure that they aren’t cut off when your
document is trimmed.

Also, to prevent an unwanted white border from showing at the edge of your
document, be sure to extend any background colors or design elements all the
way to the edge. Please do not use crop marks as they are not compatible with
our upload process.

Design in CMYK Back To Top

Since computer monitors use a different colour definition (RGB) than that used by professional printers (CMYK), you
should convert your document to use the CMYK color definition to achieve the most accurate color results. If your
software allows, use “CMYK: Web Coated (SWOP) V2” to see the most accurate representation of the final printed
colors.

Use Vector Art Back To Top

When possible, use vector graphics created in a desktop publishing program. Vector images are different from photos
because they use mathematical equations to define each component of the image. Vector graphics retain high image
quality at any size.
 Vector Image Raster Image

Convert Text to Curves in Illustration Software Back To Top

Text can be converted to curves (paths) in some graphics programs. This will fix upload errors that result when fonts
cannot be embedded in your file. In Illustrator, you can simply select the font and then use the Create Outlines
command (Shift+Control+O). Following this easy step will help ensure that your text prints clearly.