Art Guidelines

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.

Downloadable Templates

For additional graphics questions and resources Contact
Us