Preparing Art Files

• All images should be 300 dpi.
• Provide 1/8" bleeds (extra background or image) around all insert cut lines (dimensions & templates below).
• Color formats: paper printing is CMYK; CD surface print is CMYK or Pantone spot color -- no RGB images anywhere!
• CMYK CD surface print is 160 line-screen, for images only; Pantone spot-color print is 90 lpi, best for solid colors; do not cut holes or rings into your CD art, see CD face dimensions below.
• In Illustrator and InDesign, convert fonts to outlines and save/export files as .EPS's using the correct color formats (above); from Photoshop, flatten all layers then save as .EPS; .TIF's from any application are acceptable as well.
• Do not flatten any guidelines into the art area -- cropmarks outside the art area are fine.
• If preparing your CD label art solely in Photoshop and you want to use multi-layered Pantone PMS colors instead of CMYK, export each layer as a separate black-only .TIF file with the PMS color name written on each layer (then each .TIF layer can be linked into Quark or InDesign later for color assembly).
• Native Quark and InDesign files are acceptable as long as you provide all necessary fonts, images & proofs (extra charges may be required to deal with font and platform issues if you are not providing flattened art files).
• Send printouts, if possible, for color reference; we will provide online PDF proofs for final content approval before printing. PDF's are an industry standard, but are subject to the color values of the monitor on which they are viewed. Bottom line is blue should still be blue, (ect.), on a PDF, but actual shades of a color, when offset printed, are based on the color values in the file itself, not the view quality of the PDF. Printed proofs, both uncalibrated or calibrated to the final color values of the print press, are available for an extra charge (and will likely add extra time to the printing process)
• Send actual photo prints for us to scan if you are unsure of your scanner's color calibration (extra charge).
• Be aware that color on either the inside of the front folder or the inside of the tray card (under the disc) is a somewhat more expensive option than all black & white insides.
• Front folder pages - 4.75" x 4.75" for a 2-panel (square) or 4.75" x 9.5" for a 4-panel (templates below)
• Tray card - 138mm wide body plus two 6mm spines (150mm total width), 117.5mm tall
• CD face - 116mm outer diameter, usually with a 23mm diameter hole in the middle, but please do not cut holes or rings in the center of your CD art, we will do that based on the specific molding machines being used.
• The Fine Print: Solo Media's standard graphics preflight (included with first-time setup charge) will address dimensional issues of your provided art -- any other print quality concerns must be brought up by the client during the proofing process. It is your responsibility to make sure the provided files are CMYK and of sufficient resolution - if you're unsure you or your graphics person has done this properly, it is your responsibility to ask - it likely will not be apparent in the proofing process whether images are RGB or CMYK (but it will in the printing process!). Proof approval, in written form from the client, is required before any printing begins, and constitutes accepting complete responsibility for the content of the proofs and its subsequent printing (including all the information on this art guidelines page, whether stated or not). The reproduction of the art is subject to industry standards for offset or screen printing (dot gain, press shift, ect), within a 'pleasing color' standard.