In order to ensure that you have a design that will look beautiful when printed, we have laid out the content that we need from you:

You can communicate your design request over the phone or in person.

You can also mail us a packet of information. If you decide to do this, please include a detailed description of what you would like. Also, we need to know how many CDs will be packaged in each jewel case, whether or not you want to print on the reverse side of the tray card, what color you want the plastic tray to be, and how many pages you want for the inserts and how they will be folded.

If you want to have photographs or artwork in your design, you must include physical copies to be scanned. Originals are preferred, as they yield the highest image quality.

We appreciate as much information as you can provide. Diagrams help very much. Sample design files (in TIFF, JPEG, BMP, Illustrator, PageMaker, QuarkXPress, Publisher, or Word formats) are a major plus, as well.

If your design is supplied on disk, then it is essential that it meet the following requirements. Incompatibilities may result in extra fees for formatting your project to fit standard specs.

Project:

• Must be provided on a standard 100MB ZIP disk (disks will be returned to you once printing has been completed)
• Can be provided on either Mac or PC platforms (PC is preferred, as any changes that need to be made thru us will be in pc format.)
• Must be in either Adobe Illustrator (8-10), QuarkXPress, or Adobe Pagemaker 6.5 formats (Illustrator 8-10 is preferred)
• Must use a template that is formatted to standard specifications (standard panel width/height, etc.), includes cut lines and crop marks, and designed to separate into the four CMYK channels. Contact us if you need a template.
• Must include copies of all fonts used in the project (fonts must be True Type or Adobe)
• On the Cd, the center hole must be knocked out. No image should bleed off the edge of the Cd.
• Must include printed proofs of each design file (color proofs only, unless the design element is in black and white)

Images:

• Images must be included on the disk (in their own folder), even if they are embedded.
• Images must be in a standard readable format (please use TIFF format)
• Image resolution should be at least 175 lpi (about 300 dpi will work), for Cd jackets and Trays, and 100 lpi for the Cd itself. Otherwise print quality will suffer greatly. Note: Images must be scanned at the appropriate resolution, increasing resolution after scanning will create at best a 'fuzzy' image.

Please do not store any files on the disk that do not pertain to your project. Also, please make it obvious what kind of designs you are using and what kind of color separation each is to have.

Example:

4-Page Insert:
____Full color outside, Black and White inside
CD Label:
____2 color label (green and white), print to center
Tray Card:
____Full color, no backprint

If you have specific colors in mind, please send us a printout of the color so that we may compare it with a pantone swatch for color accuracy.

If You Supply the Films

You have the option of providing film negatives to make the prints from. However, you must ensure that all requirements are met for:

Jewel Case Inserts / Tray Card:

• To be supplied emulsion side down
• 175 linescreen, right reading
• Submit color match proof w/ films
• Illustrate crop & registration marks on all films
• Spot colors must be converted to Process colors.

CD Label:

• To assure a quality print, a maximum of 100 LPI is used.
• Anything under 15% Dot range will not print.
• Undercolor removal system is recommended on 4-color process jobs
• If you choose to print in the ID band, be sure printing fully covers the ID band. Avoid placing text in ID band
• Any multicolor dot pattern must have a progressive color proof
• A white background is recommended for multicolor dot patterns to strengthen the appearance of colors. This must be specified on your PO; otherwise, a white background will not be used.
• CD film must be prepared right reading emulsion side up, film positive
• Camera ready art must conform to all print specifications
• Color choice is required with CD label art. All standard color choices appear in the current Pantone Color Selector
• Black can not be overprinted
• Registration and center marks are needed on each film positive
• Standard Type is to be no smaller than 4 points. Reverse Knockout is to be no smaller than points. Depending on the font, some fonts will need to be larger in order to print correctly.
• Do not place solids and halftones on the same film: we use a higher mesh for dots and a lower mesh for solids to control ink laydown and resolution

Additionally, the design on the films must be formatted to standard specifications (standard panel width/height, etc.).

Please call to verify that we have everything we need to begin processing your design. (888) 881-LAIR.

 

 

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