General

• Avoid lengthy file names as well as file names with special characters (e.g., @#%^&*<>{}[])

Page Layout

• Build the file to the final trim size of the project
• Avoid using manually built marks to indicate outside-edge trims
• Avoid using QuarkXPress’s “facing pages” function and create two master pages instead – one for left pages and the other for right pages
• Ensure elements that must bleed have enough room to do so, even through the spine (one-eighth inch is preferred)
• Fill TIFFs that you’ve placed with any colour except “none”
• Ensure the file contains only the special colours you want to print
• Remove all elements from the file that are not part of the job itself
• Avoid using QuarkXPress’s clipping path function – clipping paths are to be done in Adobe® Photoshop
• Do not assign styles to fonts within the application – use the actual stylized font
• Do not build dielines in page layout programs – use a vector application

Vector Elements

• When building vector elements make sure that colour naming matches that of the page-layout file
• Specify colours as “special” or “process” depending on final output
• Remove any stray points or elements from the pages
• Ensure fonts are not assigned to stray points unless the font is included with the job
• Avoid embedding images in vector applications
• Be sure to include any linked or embedded images when you submit the job
• Avoid transparency in Adobe® Illustrator®
• Be sure that your Adobe® Illustrator® file is set to CMYK and not the RGB colour model

Raster Elements

• Ensure images are correct separations for the job (i.e., CMYK, Duotone, DCS 2, and not the RGB colour model)
• Avoid any type of compression
• Avoid vector elements or type within Adobe® Photoshop
• Do not colour-manage or embed profiles
• Preferred file types are TIFF, EPS, DCS, and DCS 2