Streamline the Digital Printing Process.

Apricot Design applications of choice

• CorelDRAW
• Adobe InDesign
• PDF documents are supported
• Adobe Illustrator is supported
• Adobe Photoshop is supported

Apricot Recommended File Formats:

1. Corel Draw Image (*.cdr)
2. Adobe Acrobat Document (*.pdf)
3. Adobe InDesign (*.indd)
4. Adobe Illustrator (*.ai)
5. Adobe Photoshop (*.psd)

Important Settings:

• Set your document resolution to 300 dpi
• Ensure that your Document is in CMYK mode (colour settings) and not in RGB

Select the Proper Document Size

For proper printing, oversize your document by adding 2 mm to each edge; this becomes the bleed area.

Bleed Area: To allow for borderless printing, it is necessary to design your graphics larger than the trim size. This oversized area of the document is called the bleed area. This is done to prevent an unwanted white border from showing at the edge of your document. Therefore be sure to extend any background colours or design elements all the way to this outside edge (to the outside edge of the bleed area).

Do not put important elements or text too close to the trim line. Keep a safe margin of at least 2 mm inside of the trim line.

Safe Margin: Please keep all important information, like names, addresses, phone numbers or logos within the safe margin (at least 2 mm from the trim line) to ensure that they aren't cut off when your document is trimmed.

Standard Printing Trim Sizes & Recommended Design Sizes:

Switch width and height for landscape

	Document Trim Size	Design Size (with bleed area)
A1 Portrait	width: 7016 pixels 594 mm height: 9933 pixels 841 mm	width: 7063 pixels 598 mm height: 9981 pixels 845 mm
A2 Portrait	width: 4961 pixels 420 mm height: 7016 pixels 594 mm	width: 5008 pixels 424 mm height: 7063 pixels 598 mm
A3 Portrait	width: 3508 pixels 297 mm height: 4961 pixels 420 mm	width: 3556 pixels 301 mm height: 5008 pixels 424 mm
A4 Portrait	width: 2480 pixels 210 mm height: 3508 pixels 297 mm	width: 2528 pixels 214 mm width: 3556 pixels 301 mm
A5 Portrait	width: 1748 pixels 148 mm height: 2480 pixels 210 mm	width: 1796 pixels 152 mm height: 2528 pixels 214 mm
A6 Portrait	width: 1240 pixels 105 mm height: 1748 pixels 148 mm	width: 1288 pixels 109 mm height: 1796 pixels 152 mm
DL, 1/3 A4 Rack Card	width: 1169 pixels 99 mm height: 1240 pixels 210 mm	width: 1217 pixels 103 mm height: 2528 pixels 214 mm
Business Card	width: 650 pixels 55 mm height: 1063 pixels 90 mm	width: 721 pixels 59 mm height: 1134 pixels 94 mm
Bookmark	width: 709 pixels 60 mm height: 756 pixels 64 mm	width: 2480 pixels 210 mm height: 2528 pixels 214 mm

Fonts

Missing or incorrect fonts cause many printing problems. It is important that you supply fonts with your files. True Type Fonts are easier to work with than Postscript fonts. The reason is that Postscript fonts come in two parts - the screen font and the printer font and we need both.

One way around the missing font issue is to convert your text into paths (curves) within your graphics program. It is a good idea to convert headlines and large text to curves, paths or outlines (which means that you don't need to supply the fonts). Set your 'flatness' settings to 1 and device resolution to 2540dpi.

We advise against setting text in a bitmap application like Photoshop - the text will not nearly be as clear as if it were text from a vector based design application (e.g. Illustrator or InDesign).

Back To Top

Apricot Supports the Following Graphic Design File Formats.

• CorelDRAW (*.cdr) (recommended)
• Adobe Acrobat Document (*.pdf) (recommended)
• Adobe InDesign (*.indd) (recommended)
• Adobe Illustrator (*.ai) (recommended)
• Adobe Photoshop (*.psd)

We support the following image file formats for uploading.

• Bitmap Image (*.bmp)
• GIF Image (*.gif)
• JPEG Image (*.jpg,*.jpeg)
• Microsoft Publisher 2003 Document (*.pub)
• Microsoft Office 2003 Document (*.doc)
• PCX Image Document (*.pcx)
• PICT Image (*.pic)
• PNG Image (*.png)
• PostScript File (*.ps)
• Scalable Vector Graphics (*.svg,*.svgz)
• TARGA Image (*.tga,*.vda)
• Windows Enhanced Metafile (*.emf)
• Windows Metafile (*.wmf)

Back To Top

Bleed

The very edges of the document are called the bleed area. If you want a colour or image to go right to the edge of your document, you will need to place it beyond the trim marks and all the way to the bleed area. This is done in order to prevent an unwanted white border from showing at the edge of your document.

CMYK vs. RGB

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) are the colours used in the printing process; it is a system based on reflective light coming off the printed page. The RGB (Red, Green and Blue) are the colours used by screen displays such as your monitor. This system is based on the generation of light. The difference becomes clear in a dark room; you will not be able to read the page, but reading from a monitor will fine.

Being a printed document, it should be created in CMYK mode so that the colours that you see on the screen most closely match the final printed product. If you create your document in RGB, the colours in your printed product may vary. Especially the bright colour values produced by your monitor cannot be reproduced in print.

Also note that JPEG files are almost always in RGB and therefore not optimal for printing.

Converting Fonts to Outlines

Text can be converted to curves (paths) in many graphics programs. This will solve many upload errors that will result when fonts are not embedded in your file. Following these steps will help ensure that your text prints clearly.

  Convert fonts to outlines in Adobe Illustrator

1. Select all text.
2. Click Type Menu> Type> Create Outlines
3. Text now has a blue outline.
4. Save a copy and re-upload.

Fold Marks

Fold marks indicate where the fold will take place on such products as brochures, folders and envelopes. If you don't want your copy or design to be printed over the fold, make sure they stay within each panel's safe margin.

Full Bleed vs. Trim Size

It is best to create your document at the full bleed size. When working in an illustration or photo editing program, we recommend that you create your document at the full bleed size. This will prevent any white edges from showing at the borders after the final product is trimmed.

If you create your document at the trim size, then when working in a layout or photo program, we recommend that you create your document at the trim size and include the specified amount of bleed for your product. When you export your document as a PDF for upload, make sure to include the bleed in your output settings so that the final upload PDF document is at the full bleed size for your product.

PDF Settings

When saving a document in Portable Document Format (PDF) using Adobe Acrobat Distiller, please download our Adobe Acrobat Distiller settings (recommended).

Resolution Issues

Resolution refers to the number of dots per inch (dpi), or the amount of detail the image or document has. Most documents prepared for upload should be 300 dpi at 100% of the final print size. Higher resolution means a more detailed image and also larger file and longer uploads time.

Safe Area / Safe Margins

The safe margins are borders that are definitely inside the place where the cut will take place. Please remember to keep all important information, like names, addresses, phone numbers or logos within the safe margin (at least 2 mm from the trim edge) to ensure that they are not cut off when your document is trimmed.

Trim Marks

Trim lines are the finished size of the document. The document is cut close to the trim line, but because of the mechanical tolerances involved in printing, the actual cut can happen anywhere between the bleed area and the safe margin. This is why it is important to keep your text and important images well within the safe margin.

Back To Top

Do you need a high-impact marketing tool to boost your business? Consider using a brochure for your marketing campaign. A well-made brochure is the single best way to heighten your company image and make new sales. It offers you an efficient way to promote your business.

In terms of functionality, a brochure acts as a bridge that connects you with your customers. It serves as your medium of letting the customers know what you have to offer and why they should do business with you.

Brochures offer tremendous benefits in marketing your business, products, and services. Brochures can highlight key benefits, raise interest levels, call for action, and direct the next step in your sales cycle. They are portable, inexpensive, and effective. The right combination of text, graphics, and pictures can help make the sales.

Marketing through the Internet is also an important business tool and brochures and your website should be used together. It is not a matter of either/or, but a matter of doing both. The brochure is a tool to arouse interest and the web is a tool to fully inform. Therefore the brochure should be short and to the point, while your website should cover the entire spectrum of possible questions and issues.

When customers want something, they typically seek information and they want that information right now; instantly. This is what brochures are all about - to quickly provide information to customers.

In making a brochure, it is best to concentrate on your customer's point of view and how your product/service provides the needed benefits, solutions, comforts, advantages to your customer. If possible, use photos and graphics to communicate your message. Provide both a rational and an emotional reason to take action.

The brochure design will highlight your marketing message. Design it to elicit a response from your prospects. Determine first the purpose of your brochure. Is your brochure intended for marketing or for providing information?

If your intention is to catch the attention of your prospects, then your brochure design should be something distinct and enticing. You should come up with a design that is striking enough that it would easily secure the interest of your customers. Give emphasis to what you have in store for your customers. Since you are in a competitive environment, you should make your business stand out from the rest. Your main objective here is to win the hearts of your customers so you have to let your customers know what benefits they can get when they do business with you.

If your purpose is to provide information, your brochure design should be something that is warm and sociable. Your main target here is to maintain a good business relationship with your customers. Since you want to convey information, it would be great to include the right information that is organized in a suitable way; minimizing confusion.

Devise a marketing plan

Before designing a brochure, you need to have a good marketing strategy that will bring out the best in your business. Your marketing strategy will serve as the foundation of your entire marketing campaign. It is important to keep yourself in focus when planning your brochure.

Know your audience

Our audience is the topmost factor that you have to consider when making a brochure. It is through the audience that you will base the kind of message that you will put in your brochure. Your audience of course is the customers who will support your business. The way you market your business will largely depend on the type of customers you have.

Why do business with you?

Determine what sets you apart from your competition. One way of doing this is by asking your customers. The key task is now how to communicate this message in your brochure.

Formulate your marketing message

Make your message clear and motivating. Express it in the most creative and appealing way. It helps if your caption tells a story for this would certainly draw the attention of your prospects.

Add some zest to your brochure

Use colours to jazz up your brochures. You can experiment to make it more personal. However, you should only use two to three colours in your brochures. This is to avoid making the brochure appear too flashy and loud. You can also add some eye-catching illustrations or pictures to make it more interesting.

Choose the right printing company

Select the suitable printing company that will handle your brochure print job. In choosing a brochure printing company, assess the printing options that are offered. See if these options match your requirements. Ask for some brochure printing samples to check the quality of their jobs. Consider Apricot Printing, we can likely meet your requirements in terms of cost, time, and quality.

Back To Top