No Printing Marks

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No Printing Marks

Please remove all printer trim marks and guideline when submitting your files to print. Our pre-flight system can only detect bleed size and will not be able to detect any trim marks or guideline present in the files. As such, it will be printed and will not qualify for reprint.

 

Bleed Size and Safe Zone

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Bleed Size and Safe Zone requirement

In every product description, the bleed size and safe zone requirement are listed as follows:

Bleed Size means:

To make it simple, a bleed is the extra margin on print materials that is meant to be trimmed off when the product is trimmed to its final size. It literally means that the color and graphics on a product will “bleed off the page” so that when your image reaches the edge, it won’t leave any unwanted white edges.

If you actual product size is 89mm x 54mm, the bleed size (1.5mm from each side) shall be:

  • 89mm + (1.5mm x 2) = 92mm
  • 54mm + (1.5mm x 2) = 57mm

 

*Take note that bleed size may differ from each product. 

Safe zone means:

The safe zone is the area where all the most important, critical elements (such as text, images, logos, etc) are placed. Making sure they are within the safe zone is the only way to avoid these elements from being trimmed off once the product is trimmed to the final size.

If you actual product size is 89mm x 54mm, the safe zone (4mm away from each side) shall be:

  • 89mm – (2mm x 2) = 85mm
  • 54mm – (2mm x 2) = 50mm

*Take note that safe zone may differ from each product. 

NOTE:

  • When saving your file for print, remove all guidelines.
  • Our preflight system is unable to check your safe zone contents. As such, it will be printed as per your print file and will not qualify for reprint if your contents outside the safe zone are cut off.

 

Creating Standard Size artwork

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Creating Standard Size artwork

If you are preparing the artwork using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or InDesign, make sure you have already setup PDF preset.
Not yet? See how to.

You may start by downloading our standard size template (you have to login to download)

Our standard size for business card are

  • 89mm x 54mm 
  • 86mm x 52mm

We require 1.5mm bleed size on each side. Safe zone will be 2mm away from actual size on each side.

 

Example:

Standard card size: 89mm x 54mm
Bleed size: 92mm x 57mm
Safe zone: within 85mm x 50mm

Take note:

  • Files must be saved in pdf with our required settings (see how to)
  • For each printing side, save it as an individual PDF file
    • Single side print – 1 file (filename-front.pdf)
    • Double side print – 2 files (filename-front.pdf) (filename-back.pdf)
  • For double side print, zip the two files together and submit the zip file
  • Remember to
    • Outline all fonts
    • Convert to CMYK
    • Remove all guidelines

Setting PDF preset

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This PDF preset is only applicable for Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign only.

Once you have completed the setup, it will be saved as a pdf preset and you can use it over and over again.

Step 1 of 5: After you have completed the artwork, File > Save as
(1) select Adobe PDF
(2) Click save

Save as PDF

Step 2 of 5:
(1) (2) select Press Quality
(3) Compatibility: Select Acrobat 5 (PDF 1.4)
(4) Check all options


Step 3 of 5:
(1) Colour Bitmap Images: Ensure configuration as shown
(2) Grayscale / Monochrome Bitmap Images: Ensure configuration as shown
(3) Check “Compress Text and Line Art”

Step 4 of 5: Ensure configuration as shown

Step 5 of 5:
(1) Click icon as shown to save the preset
(2) Enter name “EP Final” and click “ok”

Thats all! You are done.

Creating Spot Colour artwork

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Example of 2 Spot Colour Printing

In this example, we are selecting 2C printing. This means printing with spot colour.
During ordering process, you will be required to indicate the actual colour of your artwork

Step 1: Create the artwork as follows

Use K100 to indicate Colour 1
Use M100 to indicate Colour 2

* If you need tinting, use percentage of colour

 

STEP 2: Save the file as pdf with our preset. (1 file for each printing side)

Creating Die-cut artwork

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Example of Die-cut

Step 1: Create 3 Artboards as shown

STEP 2: Save the file as pdf with our preset. (1 file for each printing side)

NOTES:

  • If your shape is not symmetrical, remember to flip your diecut outline when creating “back” artwork 
  • Cutting tolerance is +/- 1mm
  • Not more than 5 cutting edges within 10mm

Creating Hot Stamping artwork

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Example of Hot Stamping effect

Step 1: Create 3 Artboards as shown

STEP 2: Save the file as pdf with our preset.

Notes:

  • minimum 7mm away from the final cut size
  • Hot-stamp tolerance is +/- 1mm
  • Area/Image to be hot stamped must be within the Safe Zone.
  • Font size cannot less than 7.0 pt.
    • Note: When using minimum pts, do not bold font as they will appear coarse and over bleed.
  • For Reverse Effect where hot stamped area excludes font, avoid using Serif fonts. Use bold San Serif font (minimum 10 pt with Line Thickness: 1 pt)
  • Line thickness cannot less than 0.5 pt.
  • Dot thickness cannot less than 1.5 pts.
  • Gap between Normal hot-stamping for Line and Dot cannot less than 1.0 pt.
  • Fill area/image to be hot stamped with either, Image to be hot stamped must be in Vector format, solid colour and without any tint or gradient fill.
  • Ensure registration of image to be hot stamped is accurately aligned.

Creating Spot UV effect

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Example of Spot UV varnish

Step 1: Create 2 artboards

Step 2: Save as our PDF preset ( 1 pdf file for each printing side)

NOTES: 

  • Spot UV varnish can be apply to the edge BUT it is not recommendable because it may “peel”
  • Images The image to be Spot UV varnished can be a vector graphic, text, shape, solid colour or picture (need to trace out the Spot UV part for picture).
  • Vital elements (text, images, logo, etc) must be kept within the Safe Zone.
  • Fill the area/image to be Spot UV varnished with PROCESS BLACK (K=100).
  • No tint or gradient effect allowed.
  • Registration of image to be Spot UV varnished must be accurately aligned with the offset printing artwork.
  • Spot UV NOT applied to outlines or outlines of a table (Outlines may cause unattractive mis-registration more noticeable).
  • Spot UV NOT applied at gluing area
  • Font size is not less than 4pts (Based on Arial font type size)
  • Small logos which contain wording, the font is not less than 4pts (eg: ©).
  • Not using a font type with a sharp end edge (eg: Serif font).
  • Line thickness is not less than 0.5pts.