Here are some guidelines to help us produce your labels on time and on budget.
For a simple label, we need your artwork at least five days before printing. More complex labels, or a label that needs a lot of typesetting, may require up to seven working days before we can produce a proof.
If your artwork is not complete, or we need to make alterations that haven’t been quoted for, extra costs may apply.
We prefer to work with Mac formatted files. We can also use files created on a PC but they can occasionally be corrupted when being converted to Mac format. (If you create files on a PC you must convert them to paths before sending them to us.)
Our preferred package is Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and InDesign). We also support Macromedia Freehand.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to simplify the process, you can supply a high resolution PDF from almost any program.
Fonts are not required if the text is converted to paths or outlines before creating the PDF (but please note we are then not able to edit the text). We will still need any non-vector links to be supplied.
We do not support, but can open files from QuarkXpress (please save in 4.0 format) and Corel Draw (please save as an EPS file). Word, Excel and Powerpoint are unsupported.
For best results, any images supplied for spot colour printing should be vector art, but we will often accept TIF or JPG files depending on complexity. Photographic images should be CMYK TIF or JPG files.
Please name all colours accurately and ensure they are in the colour system in which the label will be printed. For example a label which is to be printed in spot colour must have the colours specified as spot colours. The same applies to full colour or CMYK. If you have any special colour matching requirements please provide this information and/or a printed sample with your files.
You must include fonts and links if you choose to send a live artwork file (but you only need to send them once). We only use your fonts for your work (to do anything else would breach copyright). If you convert the text to paths, we cannot make setting changes to that text.
If you don’t include all the linked files and fonts, it can cause delays in processing your artwork.
Please email your artwork to prepress@leadinglabel.co.nz
We have broadband and can accept large files. Alternatively, supply files on CD or DVD.
We will not print a label until you have signed and dated a proof.
We can send you a PDF of the proof and, if you have Acrobat 7 or later, you can modify it or sign-off the job electronically. If you are using an older version of Acrobat, you will need to print the proof and sign it, then fax or post it back to us.
Please note, unless you are using a calibrated monitor, the colours on screen will not be accurate. No bubble jet or laser printer will match exactly what will be produced on a printing press. If you are using a normal PC with a standard bubble jet printer, the colours you get can only be described as ‘indicative’. Process colours tend to be more accurate than spot colours, so you should check spot colours using a PMS book (please note, PMS books fade over time).
A machine proof involves proofing the labels as they are printed on the press. A machine proof is really only suited to making final adjustments to colour balances and to refine tones. It is not practical to make copy, design or colour changes at that stage, as we will have to charge extra for any down time.
If you need any more information, you are welcome to call us on 03 365 1260 or email our prepress department.
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