HOME > TIPS AND FAQ > FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the best file format for print jobs?

The preferred application for page layout for any type of digital output is Quark Xpress.

What file formats do you accept?

TGI accepts files in all of the following formats:

Can I submit Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel files for print jobs?

Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Publisher are not recommended for any type of print production. These programs were not designed for a commercial print production workflow. The output from these types of files is unpredictable. When submitting Microsoft files, a legible accurate hard copy is a must! The unpredictable nature of these files may require additional time to produce and pre-press charges to reformat.

What resolution should my files be?

Following is the required resolution for raster art for TGI’s output devices:

• Digital Offset: 400dpi @ final output size
• HP Indigo: 300dpi @ final output size
• Wide Format: 100-150dpi @ final output size

How do I submit a job?

First and foremost, it is important to communicate all the specifications and instructions so that we may accurately produce your job. For your convenience, we have devised a form you can fill out on-line or in hard copy that will ensure your job enters seamlessly and accurately into our production flow. The instruction sheet prompts you to convey all of the needed information in order for us to get your job done correctly and meet your deadline. You can submit your job on line or click here to get a hard copy of this form.

Once your document is saved, do not put the art files into new folders. This will break the links created in the layout document; essentially the document cannot “see” these art files once they have moved into different folders. When these links are broken the Prepress technicians need to re-create all the links before they can print the document. This causes a delay and opens the door for errors.

Please compile the page layout, all supporting files and all fonts into one folder. It is best to utilize a helper application such as Markzware’s Flightcheck Designer edition to do this correctly. One of the most common problems when preparing jobs for print are missing or incorrect support files. So often, a designer will manually pick out screen and printer fonts they used in the layout and miss one or more, pick the wrong ones, or even mistake one foundry for another. We highly recommend using a pre-flight check software for file collection. Any incorrect, or missing fonts or files will result in a delay of your job being completed.

If sending files electronically please compile all the files into one folder and compress before sending using Stuffit on the Mac or WinZip on the PC. When emailing or sending files via FTP, it is very important to create a low resolution PDF with all fonts embedded for our QC department to use as hardcopy.

Why doesn’t my Illustrator Transparency feature print?

Illustrator’s transparency features are useful for electronic media, but are unpredictable in print. We recommend you stay away from this feature for printed materials. See the Illustrator Tips for instructions to print preview transparency.

Why does my copy look fuzzy in Photoshop?

Using Photoshop for layouts that contain text is not recommended. If the file is not saved as an eps to include vector data, then the text will print with fuzzy edges. If you are an advanced Photoshop user in versions 7 and/or CS and know how to save your text as vector data, then you can avoid this problem. If you are not familiar with this, then it is best to use a different application to lay out your text.

Why do I have color variation between file formats?

Approximately two years ago Pantone changed their PMS to CMYK conversion standards. It took a while for the various software packages to catch up. If you are using older versions of Quark, Illustrator, or Photoshop the conversions may not be up to date or may vary depending on the different file formats you are using and versions of each software package. This can cause inconsistencies in color. Quark 5 and 6, Illustrator 10 and CS, Macromedia Freehand 10 and MX, Photoshop 7 and CS all use updated conversions for PMS colors.

Clearing up some common misconceptions and about setting up Wide Format jobs: (For more tips on setting up jobs for Wide Format Output, please refer to Technical Tips)

1) Raster art should not be 300dpi at final output size. It only has to be between 100 and 150dpi for all Wide Format jobs. Any larger files will waste your time, your disk space and not give you any improvement in quality.

2) “RGB Workflow” ONLY pertains to raster art, or Photoshop files-NOT Illustrator files, any other vector files, or Pantone colors. Do not convert Pantones to RGB, nor should you use Pantone’s RGB in CMYK conversion tables. We work in CMYK for all vector files and Pantone colors. Any other color space for this type of file will result in very unpredictable color. Your Wide Format layout should contain:

• RGB EPS or CMYK TIFFs, spot colors specified as Pantone Solid or their CMYK equivalents.

What size is over sized for U.S. Mail?

There are two sizes for business mail, card size (postcards) and letter size. The card size has a minimum of 3.5" x 5" and a maximum of 4.25" x 6" and costs less to mail than the letter size. The letter size has a maximum size of 11 1/2" x 6 1/8" and costs $0.39 per piece first class.

The post office charges a surcharge for square pieces of mail. To determine if your piece is within the allowable standard calculate the aspect ratio. Divide the length by height, if the number is less than 1.3 or greater than 2.5, there will be a surcharge.

Can TGI post my mail job?

TGI will manage your whole project including preparing either first class or pre-sorted standard mail. TGI’s Indicia account can be used to mail from Philadelphia PA. Postage must be paid when the job is placed.

When using an indicia permit, TGI’s or your own, the mailing must be a minimum of 50 pounds or 200 identical pieces of mail. The mailing must be delivered to the post office that issued the indicia permit. TGI’s Indicia mailings all leave from 30^th Street Post Office in Philadelphia, PA.

For more information go right to the source at: http://www.usps.com/directmail/

Today's Graphics Inc is Philadelphia's leading printer specializing in digital printing, short-run offset printing, and wide format printing. Today's Graphics Inc is Philadelphia's leading printer specializing in digital printing, short-run offset printing, and wide format printing. Today's Graphics Inc is Philadelphia's leading printer specializing in digital printing, short-run offset printing, and wide format printing. Today's Graphics Inc is Philadelphia's leading printer specializing in digital printing, short-run offset printing, and wide format printing.