An Explanation of your Artwork Options
At CMYK Colour Online we offer 3 artwork options.
To determine which one is right for you, please click the tabs below to expand the explanation for each option.
If you are not experienced in designing artwork for commercial printing, we strongly recommend choosing our Check & Make Press Ready artwork option where it is available.
Selecting this option is a declaration that your artwork has been correctly prepared for commercial printing as per our artwork guidelines.
We do not recommend selecting this option unless you are experienced in designing for print and have used our guideline templates and read all of our instructions prior to creating your artwork.
By supplying press ready artwork, you are receiving special discounted pricing.
For artwork to be Press Ready, it should always be:
- Supplied at the correct size
- Supplied with correct internal and external bleed
- Supplied in the correct colour mode
- Supplied with all fonts embedded or outlined (converted to curves)
- Supplied with all borders or strips at least 5mm in width and or 5mm in from the trim edge.
- Where possible supplied as PDF files
(we also accept many other file types, click here for the full list)
Full artwork specifications and guideline templates can be found in our help center. At a minimum, please use our guideline templates and read through our Artwork Checklist. We also strongly recommend reading through our Artwork Requirements page.
We implore all customers to use these resources as they may help to save valuable time and avoid unnecessary costs and printing delays.
If your artwork does not meet our artwork specifications:
- Please understand that a 5mm white border may be added around the outside of your artwork
- Or, you may be requested to re-supply your artwork with the inherent issues or problems fixed. Please note, re-submission of artwork may incur additional re-submission fees. If you are not 100% sure that your artwork is press ready, to avoid extra costs and delays, we recommend you choose our Check & Make Press Ready service. We will then amend your artwork to be press ready for you where possible.
Please note, for the best possible results, we always recommend that all artwork is prepared by qualified graphic designers experienced in the pre-press and print industries.
Further the the above, we always do our very best to inform all our clients of any printing problems that may occur. A soft PDF proof is always supplied for our customers to check before any printing is commenced. In saying this, we cannot be held responsible for artwork not correctly prepared for printing. Should you choose to supply your own artwork, the ultimate responsibility lies with you, our valued client.
For more information, please refer to our terms and conditions (click here to view).
This option involves the process of checking your artwork and then making it acceptable for commercial printing. Please note, this is not the same as making small changes to your artwork (typesetting & design) or creating your design from scratch (graphic design).
This service includes:
- Resizing incorrectly sized artwork.
- If your artwork has no bleed, or incorrect bleed, where possible we will amend the bleed (internal and external) to be correct.
- If your artwork is supplied in the wrong colour space, we will convert it to the correct colour space (e.g. CMYK).
- If there are missing fonts in your artwork, we will substitute any missing fonts with standard windows fonts.
- If you have supplied artwork with borders or strips less than 5mm in width and or less than 5mm in from the trim edge, we will amended them be at least 5mm in width and or 5mm in from the trim edge.
- We will create a soft PDF proof for your approval. This will be supplied within 2 working days from receipt of final payment of your order.
Special Effects & Embellishments
- If your artwork contains embellishments or special effects as vector (editable) objects, we will amend these to be press ready for you.
- If your artwork contains embellishments or special effects as rasterized (or un-editable) objects, or if your artwork is not setup at all for embellishments or special effects, we will not amend or re-create these for you as part of this service. Please contact us and ask for a custom quote on our team creating these for you from scratch.
Custom Cutting / Die Cutting
- For rectangular, square, round or oval shapes:
- If your artwork contains pre-existing cut-lines, will check and amend the cut-lines to be press ready for you.
- If your artwork does not contain cut-lines, we will create the cut-lines from scratch you.
- For custom shapes (e.g. anything that is not rectangular, square, round or oval):
- If your artwork contains vector (editable) cut-lines, we will check and amend the cut-lines to be press ready for you.
- If your artwork contains rasterized (or un-editable) cut-lines, or it does not contain any cut-lines at all, we will not amend or re-create these for you. Please contact us and ask our team to quote on creating these from scratch for you.
Please note it is the customers responsibility to spell check all supplied text and all soft PDF proofs. We will not spell check your artwork, and we cannot be held responsible for spelling mistakes.
Please also note, postscript, overprint or transparency problems inherent in your supplied artwork may not always be visible in the created soft PDF proof. We will not be held responsible for printing problem/s caused by overprint, transparency or creep issues in your supplied artwork or elements of your supplied artwork. Rectifying such issues is not a part of this service. Considering this, we do not recommend supplying artwork which contains elements which have unflattened transparencies, are set to overprint (with the exception of very fine black text) or have not been set-up to allow for creep.
Completion of the Service:
The Check & Make Press Ready service service is deemed to have been completed when the soft PDF proof has been created and sent to the customer. If artwork changes are requested, or new artwork is supplied after the Check & Make Press Ready service has been completed, further artwork charges may apply.
Priority Dispatch:
If you select the Priority Dispatch service when ordering through our website, please understand that service only applies to the printing and dispatch of your order. The priority dispatch service does not apply to the Check & Make Press Ready component.
This service does NOT include:
- Making Typesetting/Text Changes within your artwork
- Aligning Text or Images
- Replacing Images, Logos or Elements within your artwork
If you require these changes please contact us for a quote.
When ordering, please supply us with:
- Your artwork. Preferably your finished file (e.g. PDF) and your working files with images embedded and fonts supplied or outlined. If you’re ordering a magazine or booklet please supply a packaged Indesign file if possible.
- Your Instructions. These instructions should include:
- The program/version that your artwork was created in.
- What needs fixing in your artwork. E.g. The size, bleed, RGB images, fonts, etc…
- Or if you just require us to check over your supplied artwork.
During the online ordering process you will be asked to upload the items above. Before uploading, you may need to combine the items together in a .zip file.
The Affordable Design Service (graphic design) is the creation of your artwork from scratch to the finished form, ready for printing.
This service includes:
- The creation of 2 or 3 initial concepts/themes for you to choose from.
- The creation of a finished design based on the concept/theme you choose (taking into account the information you have supplied).
- We will ensure that your design is correctly prepared for commercial printing with the correct amount of internal and external bleed.
- We will create a soft PDF proof for your review & approval. This will be supplied within 2 working days from your selection of the initial concept/theme.
- You can make 2 revisions to your artwork at no additional charge (a single revision can have several changes). If you require more than the 2 revisions, additional charges may apply.
Please note it is the customers responsibility to spell check all supplied text and all soft PDF proofs. We will not spell check your artwork, and we cannot be held responsible for spelling mistakes.
Please also note, postscript, overprint or transparency problems inherent in your supplied artwork elements may not always be visible in the created soft PDF proof. We will not be held responsible for printing problem/s caused by overprint or transparency issues in your supplied artwork elements . Rectifying such issues is not a part of this service. Considering this, we do not recommend supplying artwork elements which have unflattened transparencies or are set to overprint (with the exception of very fine black text).
Priority Dispatch
If you select the Priority Dispatch service when ordering through our website, please understand that service only applies to the printing and dispatch of your order. The priority dispatch service does not apply to the Affordable Design Service component.
When ordering, please supply us with:
- All Text that you require in the design. This text will need to be supplied in a word or text document.
- All Images to be used in your design. Some popular photo sites are: Istockphoto, Shutterstock and Getty Images. For best results images should be supplied at 300dpi at the required size.
- All logos/complex graphics. For best results logos should be supplied as vector file formats (e.g. ai, eps, pdf)
- An example of your existing design, or a design/theme that you like.
- A list of colours you like/require.
- A list of Windows fonts/font styles you like/require.
- The purpose of the printed material.
- A mock-up/sketch of what you require together with design/layout instructions.
During the online ordering process you will be asked to upload the items above. Before uploading, you may need to combine the items together in a .zip file.