File Prep and Setup

When creating your design file, it's very important that you follow the preferred setup specifications below.
Document Setup

• Create your document at the finished page size.

(i.e. do not create a 3.5” x 2” business card in an 8.5” x 11” document)

Images

•  All images need to be converted to CMYK color mode or use spot colors if printing with a PMS ink. Digital cameras take pictures in RGB mode, so they must be manually converted using a photo editing program such as Adobe Photoshop.

• For best reproduction, images should have a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch).

Fonts

•   All fonts need to be embedded in your PDF file.

Using PMS Colors

•   If you’re using PMS inks, specify the PMS colors as spot colors in your original document and don’t use any other colors. We must be able to separate each color that is going to print.
•   You cannot use Microsoft Word to create a document that is going to print offset using PMS inks

Create a  PDF

Follow the step-by-step instructions below for saving your document from the following programs to PDF or download our preferred PDF settings to your own computer.

You can download our preferred PDF settings for Color or PMS/Grayscale documents. By downloading these presets and following the instructions below you'll be able to select the WCI_Settings option from your Adobe Creative Suite programs.

Download Settings

To download: right click on the links below and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" and save them to your desktop.

PDF - Color (CMYK) Settings
PDF - PMS/Grayscale Settings

Installation Instructions

Download the files above and save them to your desktop.
They can be deleted after you install them in the programs.
Adobe InDesign, Photoshop or Illustrator

By installing the PDF Presets in one Adobe Creative Suite program, it will automatically load them in most others.

•   Go to the Edit or File menu and select Adobe PDF Presets.
•   Click on Load, locate the preset file saved on your desktop and click load.
•   Repeat this to load both settings file and click Done.
•   When you Save or Export your document as a PDF you'll see WCI_Settings in the Adobe PDF Preset dropdown menu.

Adobe Acrobat Distiller

•   Go to the Settings menu and select Add Adobe PDF Settings.
•   Locate the preset file saved on your desktop and click open.
•   Repeat this to load both settings file and click Done.
•   Now you'll see WCI_Settings in the Adobe PDF Settings - Default Settings dropdown menu.

Product Design Specs

For detailed print and design information on each product, including how to best set up your design files, click on the product below