Disk Preparation Guidelines for: Adobe PageMaker
Alabama Web Press currently accepts documents created in Adobe (Aldus) PageMaker 5.0 and above for Macintosh and Windows. The following paragraphs present preparation guidelines which will prevent the most common causes of printing error. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in corrective charges and printing delays. Please call Alabama Web Press (256)734-5104 if you require further information on preparing your PageMaker documents.
Document Setup
When creating a single sheet document such as a postcard or sell sheet, please set your document dimensions under File: Document Setup... to the size of the final piece prior to folding. For example, a letter size document, even if it is being folded, should be set up as 8.5" x 11 " within PageMaker. Similarly, a 6" x 4" postcard should be set up on a 6" x 4" page. When creating a multisheet document such as a catalog or booklet, please set Document Setup... to the size of a single page. For example, a letter-size booklet has pages sized 8.5" X 11". Since Alabama Web Press uses high-end imposition software to create printer spreads from sequential pages, it usually is not necessary to set up spreads manually, i.e. do not create eight 11 " X 17" pages to represent the two-page spreads of a letter size 16 page catalog. Designs which contain pockets and flaps sometimes dictate the manual setup of spreads. Please call Alabama Web Press to further discuss the setup of your document if your design calls for pockets or flaps.
Color Builds
Unless you are paying for a Pantone or other spot color ink, all color fills, strokes and gradients created in PageMaker or imported into PageMaker from other applications must be converted to CMYK process. First, delete all unused colors under Element: Define Colors: Delete all unused. Then, for each color listed under Element: Define Colors... select Edit Color: Type: Process. If you are paying for a spot ink, be aware that blends and gradients between spot and process colors are not printable.
Fonts
Alabama Web Press accepts Macintosh TrueType and Adobe Postscript Type 1 fonts. Please supply all typefaces and styles (e.g. Times-Bold, Times-ltalic, Times-Bold-ltalic) listed under Utilities: PageMaker Plug- ins: Pub Info... as well as all typefaces and styles used in any linked graphics. When supplying a Macintosh PostScript font, be sure to include the font suitcase and the PostScript font portions of the typeface. When supplying a Macintosh TrueType font, only the font suitcase is necessary. Macintosh TrueType fonts can be identified by opening the font suitcase and locating files with a triple"A" icon. Only use those typefaces and styles installed on your system. Do not use PageMaker software emulated or redundant
styles in your type from the control pallet buttons: Type: Type Specs menu or Type: Type Styles menu. For example, PageMaker will allow you to boldface Helvetica Regular even if your system does not contain Helvetica Bold. In some typefaces the difference between a bolded roman and a true bold are slight, but in other faces the difference is quite drastic and can cause text reflow when printed to an imagesetter. Print problems also arise when using the Outline or Drop Shadow styles in PageMaker. Avoid mixing TrueType and PostScript fonts in the same document.
Linked Graphics
Please supply all graphics files listed under Files: Links... as well as any graphic which may have been placed or "nested" within them. Be aware that PageMaker allows you to embeds all placed graphics into the PageMaker file, thus making your PageMaker file unnecessarily larger and making these placed graphics uneditable for possible color, resolution and textual changes. Because of this inability to edit embedded graphics, Alabama Web Press asks that you instead link (by unchecking Store copy in publication under File: Links: Options) and provided as separate files all placed graphics. Unless you are paying for a spot ink, all color elements placed into PageMaker should be in the CMYK color model. Please supply all linked graphics in .TIF or .EPS format. Alabama Web Press only accepts .EPS graphics created in Adobe Photoshop 2.0 and above, Adobe Illustrator 1.1 and above, Corel Draw 3.0 and above(Windows only), or Macromedia (Aldus) Freehand 4.0 and above. Avoid the excessive nesting of .EPS graphics within other .EPS graphics. While it is possible to export a Freehand graphic to Illustrator and then export the Illustrator graphic to PageMaker, the PageMaker document may not print. Be aware that most .EPS files cannot be edited for changes.
Bleed
All elements meant to bleed must be extend 1/8" (.125") beyond the page boundary. All elements not meant to bleed must remain at least 3/16" (.1875") from the edges to avoid being trimmed.
Trapping
Use only default trapping.
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