Avoid using word processing applications (Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect) or low-end desktop publishing applications (Microsoft Publisher) to build your documents, DOME accepts these types of files at an additional charge. Using professional page layout, image editing, and drawing software from Adobe or Quark is well worth the expense. DOME supports the most current version of these industry-standard page layout programs: QuarkXPress, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat.

Page layout document size should equal the final trim size. Do not include the bleed in the document size. Facing pages mode should not be used for wire-o or spiral bound books that require bleed on all 4 edges. Build books in facing pages mode in readers spread, avoid building in printers spreads. We will impose the pages for the press for you. Please supply your file 1-up, single pages. Build spreads as 2 single pages side-by-side. Utilize Master Pages for any common items on pages, and for any graphics that need to be in the same position on more than two pages. Do not “float” your document on an oversized page.

1/8″ required for all edges that trim. Saddle stitch covers for books of 48 or more pages should have 1/4″ minimum face bleeds. Corner marks and exterior register marks should be no closer than 1/8″ to final trim.

Use fonts from a reputable font manufacturer, such as Adobe. Use PostScript or PostScript-based Open-Type fonts, and avoid using TrueType fonts whenever possible. Avoid “stylizing” fonts. Rather, always use fonts that have the style attributes built-in. For example, rather than applying a “bold” attribute to “Helvetica Plain,” use “B Helvetica Bold.” Never stylize a Multiple Master font. Otherwise, the results will be unpredictable. Type created in a pixel-based program, such as Photoshop, will not reproduce as sharply as type created in a vector-based program.

Tiff (Tagged-Image File Format) Tiff formats are able to be colored in CMYK, RGB and Grayscale colors. They also compress very well. EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) format is widely accepted by the graphic arts industry for saving images that will be placed into programs such as Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress. It is used on both the Mac and PCs. It was originally created as an output format for printing images. The EPS format is usually used for vector files but can also be used for raster files. One reason to use EPS in an image editing program would be to save duotones, as they can only be saved as EPS. If you are using bitmap mode, the EPS format allows you to save the white areas of your image as transparent areas. The EPS format is also used if you are saving an image with a clipping path. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is used to display continuous tone photographs in web pages. The JPEG file format uses a “lossy” compression technique that results in lost data and lower quality image reproduction. When used for print, the graphic will look jagged and bitmapped. For photos, make the resolution twice that of the line screen used on your job. For example; a photo used on a 150 line screen job should have a resolution of 300 ppi (pixel per inch). Line art (bitmap), should be scanned at final image size – 1200 ppi and saved as a tiff file. Don’t select clipping paths in the page layout file. Clipping paths should be created in Photoshop or another similar image-editing program and saved as an EPS. The flatness setting in Photoshop should be set at 3, as this will ensure a smoother path. Clipping paths should not be “picked” within the page layout program because image previews in page layout programs are not precise enough to apply a clipping path or silhouette with detail.

Colors should be defined as CMYK builds unless they actually are going to print as spot colors, then they should be defined as the actual spot colors that are to print. When using color, it is very important to plan on what the colors will be and how they will print: spot or process. (Only about 50% of Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors can be closely simulated in four-color process printing and Fluorescent and Metallic colors CANNOT be achieved using four-color process printing.) All 4/color images should be saved in the CMYK mode, not RBG. Images for all-black jobs should be either a grayscale or bitmap. Use a “Rich Black” whenever designing an area of solid black that is 1″ x 1″ or larger. We recommend a screen mix of 100% Black, 60% Cyan, 40% Magenta, and 40% Yellow as a standard. This is to ensure a quality trap to any 4-color, and a solid black on the press sheet. Because bitmap images are resolution specific, any scaling in a page layout program, can cause a significant degradation in quality. If a 300 dpi image is enlarged to 200%, the resulting image is 150 dpi. If a bitmap image is rotated in a page layout program, the program tries to re-map the pixels, most often causing rough edges. Consider the ink density of colors used, don’t use the color “registration” or set a color to print 100% of all four process colors. The maximum total ink density (dmax) for our press is 320%. This applies to pixel-based images (Photoshop images or scans) as well as vector-based line art and type. Press issues such as saturation, smearing, ink offset and drying time are all negatively affected with a high dmax. Look under the “links” menu item in your page-layout program to verify that graphic files are updated and linked before sending us your file.

Hairline rules should never be used. A hairline is defined at the output device as the smallest row of dots that can be created. This size varies greatly between the output of a laser printer and an imagesetter. When a laser proof is made the hairline will appear one width but when imaged to a high-resolution device such as a platesetter, the line will appear much smaller. To complicate matters, sometimes these lines do not even appear on final output. We ask that all rules that are intended to be hairline or very small be set at a minimum .25pt. Using a defined rule width ensures that all devices will image the same thickness rule.

When using Pantone or custom spot colors in document, ensure that all color names are consistent in your page layout file and all linked images as well. NOTE: Colors with different names, no matter how slight the difference, will produce separate plates resulting in extra costs. Documents should include only the colors that you want printed. If you are using spot colors, print out your document in separations as well as a composite before sending your job to DOME or use Separations Preview if supported by your application. (This will show you which elements of your document will print on which color plate, and can alert you to potential printing concerns.) If your photo is a duotone, please be sure any PMS color used is named exactly the same in your Photoshop file as it is in your page layout program. CMYK – if your job is to be 4 color process, be sure to convert all colors to process before submitting your files. Be sure to convert RGB, CIE-Lab and indexed color files to CMYK for process separation before bringing your document to us

Most default trapping gives you less than acceptable results. Unless you are experienced in setting trapping for colored items, please do not set individual element or global trapping. DOME will handle all the trapping for your files. Our workflow includes a high-end, in-RIP trapping solution to apply all necessary traps to your files. If you have specific trapping needs, please let us know when you submit your job.

Cleaned up files prevent errors in output and will save you time and money in the long run. Prior to submitting your files to DOME, take time to insure that unnecessary items are remove from your files. This includes: Items left on the pasteboard. Pages not required for output. Unused colors. Unused styles. Unused layers.

Please provide us with the page layout document plus all support files (photos, graphics, and fonts) used in the document. If you use your page layout application, see the following for each application: QuarkXPress – File -> Collect for Output Adobe InDesign – File -> Package

An advance review can often prevent delays or error in final output. If you have a complicated layout or want to check color scans, send your files before they are completed. We’lll review them and offer suggestions. Please call us in advance for any complicated use of color.

Compress Your File: To protect your files from corruption, please compress files using sit, sea, sitx, or zip on Mac and zip on Windows. Email: Please keep email files to under 5 MB whenever possible. Large files should be sent via InSite or FTP. DOME prefers that files be submitted electronically via InSite or FTP.