EFX DESIGN & MARKETING, INC.
ARTWORK ACCEPTABILITY STANDARDS

Send all artwork to: art@efxdesign.com

ART READINESS: An electronic artwork file is considered “ready” when the artwork created and delivered to EFX may be used for pre-press and production printing without the need for modifications that would incur extra processing charges or cause delays.

Mechanical Artwork

The traditional standard for acceptable mechanical artwork (photographs, illustrations, text) is “camera-ready black and white” material. Typically, anything of a lesser quality may be subject to extra processing charges.

Mechanical Art usually requires art time for clean up and/or color separations.

Vector Artwork Files (Preferred)

Vector artwork files must be written in the Postscript™ language. Files can contain no Postscript™ errors, stray points or colors assigned to elements in a manner inconsistent with EFX requirements. Colors should be selected from the Pantone® pallet.

EFX prefers vectored artwork files to be supplied in .eps format.

Note: File formats such as .bmp, .jpg, .gif, and .tif are pixel-based and do not achieve the quality of vector artwork.

Any type set on paths must be converted to Postscript™ outlines (curves). If additional or future typesetting is anticipated or type left unconverted, the font lines must be supplied for use on EFX's currently-specified computer platform for Artwork
(operating system: Mac).

Any line thickness must exceed EFX's minimum (Min. line thickness = 1.00 point or 1.25 for reversals) when the artwork is scaled to the actual imprint size.

Files with any placed, parsed or linked elements require certain additional criteria as is appropriate for “metafiles.” Metafiles are files which contain graphics data in a device-independent format. All files that were used to create a particular metafile must be supplied to EFX, in addition to the metafile itself (otherwise, errors will occur in the graphics application).

The vector artwork files(s) should be accompanied by a printed proof (or its electronic equivalent). This communicates to EFX the desired result of the use of the artwork file(s). Please include any notes that would help clarify your intended use, desired modifications, or placement of the art.

Acceptable File Formats

EFX accepts HI RESOLUTION (300 dpi or better at full imprint size) artwork files having the following file extensions: .eps, .psd, .gif, .tif, .jpg, .bmp, .fh, .ai, and .cdr.

EFX prefers vectored artwork files to be supplied in .eps format.

Graphics programs such as Adobe Photoshop (.psd), Adobe Illustrator (.ai), Corel Draw 9 (.cdr), Macromedia Freehand 8 (.fh), etc. support file creation in one or more of these file formats.

Bitmap Artwork Files

Bitmap (.bmp) files should render images at 100 percent of actual imprint size.

Illustrations or ad layouts containing any Line art elements or areas of solid color should have a bitmap resolution (pixels-per-inch) of no less than the specified minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Logos and Line art are best rendered in vector format.

Continuous-tone images (such as photos) which contain half-tones, tints, grayscales, or are intended for process color separation should have a bitmap resolution (pixels-per-inch) which is a multiple of no less than 150-200 percent of the line screen frequency (LPI--Lines Per Inch) specified by the printing process. Please provide at a minimum of 300 dpi resolution.

Unless EFX specifically requests CMYK files, the color space of images submitted for process color separation should remain in the native RGB color space to permit EFX to apply their own separation setup preference.

Page layout Documents (Not Recommended)

Page layout documents must be prepared to render the artwork and/or other elements to be printed at a scale of 100 percent of the actual imprint size.

In addition to submitting the page layout document (s), submission of all vector and/or bitmap files referenced by the page layout document is required.

The font files and document preferences necessary to properly render any text in the page layout file must also be supplied for use on EFX's currently-specified computer platform for Artwork (operating system: Mac).

The page layout file(s) should be accompanied by a printed proof (or its electronic equivalent). This communicates to EFX the desired result of the use of the artwork file(s). Please include any notes that would help clarify your intended use, desired modifications, or placement of the art.

Page layout documents are NOT recommended (Usually requires extra art time).

Acrobat (PDF) Files

PDF files created from vector files must be suitable for reverse conversion to vector files or for use in the PDF formats such that the file meets the quality standard for vector files (see above).

PDF files created from bitmap files must be suitable for reverse conversion to bitmap files or for use in the PDF formats such that the file meets the quality standard for bitmap files (see above).

PDF files created from metafiles or page layout documents should be submitted together with the source document, all fonts and imported graphic components unless EFX specifically waives these requirements.

Page layout documents are NOT recommended.

PDF files are acceptable as proofs (for submission of the order to EFX) subject to the limitations of the Adobe PDF file format and any other limitations that may be established by EFX.

Printouts are always recommended.

Other Than Above

Unless digital files satisfy the readiness standards for vector files, bitmap files, metafiles, page layout files or PDF files – those digital files DO NOT meet the readiness standards for e-artwork.

Final Notes

Files that are completely unusable: Word, Publisher, and PowerPoint files.

Files that require re-working: LOW RESOLUTION .jpg, .gif, .tif, .eps, .bmp, etc.

EPS files do not automatically guarantee quality. They may contain low resolution (unacceptable) links, as well as acceptable vector or bitmap images. Please confirm that .eps files to be submitted to EFX meet the graphics resolution standards outline above.

Always convert your text to outlines –– this will ensure that the proper font will
be used. Not everyone has the same fonts in their systems and a computer system will replace your fonts with a font it has in its system (if your font is not available).

It is recommended that you fax us a printout of your art for preview purposes.

Please email us your files (recommended for most circumstances).

For files that are extraordinarily large you may need to send us the files on CD.

If you have any questions, please contact us at: