Commercial Printing File

Preparation Guide

Prepare your artwork, package your files, and export a print-ready PDF for Prestige Color.

You've put time into your design. File setup helps carry that work through to the finished piece. Missing bleed, low-resolution images, or incorrect export settings can mean extra revisions before production. Use Prestige Color's commercial printing file preparation guide to check your artwork and prepare the files your project needs.



Follow the guide from the beginning, or use the contents below to find a specific setting. For binding, varnish, foil, or pocket folders, review the additional setup instructions before finalizing your layout.

In This Guide

1. Overview and Application Guidelines
2. Document Setup
3. Color Settings
4. Images and Resolution
5. Adobe InDesign Packaging
6. PDF Export
7. Binding Options
8. Varnish and Embellishments
9. Perfect Bound Setups
10. Pocket Folders and Dielines
11. Print-Ready File Checklist

Overview and Application Guidelines

Whether you're creating a book, brochure, or newsletter, start with a page layout application suited to commercial printing. Prestige Color recommends Adobe InDesign for page layout.

• Use InDesign to assemble your pages, text, and placed artwork.
• Avoid using Microsoft Word to prepare commercial printing layouts. Its files are not suited to Prestige Color's commercial printing workflow.
• Do not build multipage documents in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Use those applications to create artwork or edit images, then place the files in your page layout.

The packaging instructions apply when you supply an editable InDesign project. The PDF export instructions apply when you supply a print-ready PDF. If you're unsure which files your project needs, contact Prestige Color before preparing your final handoff.

Document Setup

Document Size and Bleed

Build your document at its final trim size, then add bleed in InDesign's document settings. Bleed is artwork that extends beyond the trimmed edge of your finished piece.

For example, an 8.5-by-11-inch finished page has an overall area of 8.75 by 11.25 inches when the bleed is included. The document page itself remains 8.5 by 11 inches.

• Extend any background color, image, or design element that touches the trim edge to the bleed edge.
• Do not make the document page oversized to account for bleed.
• Do not draw crop marks manually. Follow the marks guidance in PDF Export.

Why this matters: Without bleed, trimming can leave a small white edge around artwork intended to reach the edge of the page.

Content and Alignment

Keep text, logos, page numbers, contact information, and other important elements at least 0.25 inch inside the trim edge. For compact layouts such as business cards, make sure contact details stay comfortably inside this safe area.

For flyer and brochure printing, check alignment around folds and trim edges. Use X and Y coordinates to position elements precisely, especially in multipanel designs.

Review Binding Options, Perfect Bound Setups, and Pocket Folders and Dielines for additional layout requirements.

Fonts

For the final PDF, make sure fonts are embedded or converted to outlines. When supplying an editable project, include the fonts used to create it, including fonts used in EPS graphics, where licensing permits.

Use the actual font weight or style. For example, select Helvetica Bold rather than applying a simulated bold style to Helvetica.

Color Settings

Process color combines cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, or CMYK, for full-color printing. Spot colors, such as PMS colors, use premixed inks when an exact color match is required.

Your file should retain only the spot colors your project actually needs. If you're planning a project with spot colors or special finishes, review our offset printing services and confirm the specifications with Prestige Color.

Process Color CMYK

If your project does not require spot colors, convert all spot colors to process colors before sending your files.

1. Open the Swatches panel.
2. Select the spot color.
3. Open Swatch Options.
4. Change the color type from Spot to Process and use CMYK values.



In Adobe Illustrator, also check the document color mode. Go to File > Document Color Mode > CMYK Color.

Spot Colors

Use consistent names for each intended spot color throughout the project. Different names for the same intended ink can create separate color separations and plates.

Confirm which spot colors belong in your project before converting or deleting them. Finishing artwork, including dielines, varnish, embossing, and foil, has separate spot-color instructions later in this guide.

Additional Color Requirements

• Maximum ink coverage: 340%
• Rich black for large black areas: 40% cyan, 40% magenta, 30% yellow, and 100% black
• RGB color builds: Do not use them for production artwork.
• Registration black: Do not use 100% cyan, 100% magenta, 100% yellow, and 100% black for black design elements.
• Unused swatches: Delete unused colors to avoid confusion about intended output.

For large black areas, create a new process swatch named Rich Black using the formula above. The additional cyan, magenta, and yellow support a deeper black. This formula is Prestige Color's specified build for those areas.

Advanced Color Settings

Prestige Color provides preset Photoshop color settings to support RGB-to-CMYK conversion. Request the Prestige CSF settings file by emailing prepress@prestigecolor.com.

To load the supplied settings:

1. Open Adobe Photoshop.
2. Choose Edit > Color Settings.
3. Select Load.
4. Locate and load Prestige.CSF.
5. Select OK.

Advanced Color Conversion

After loading Prestige's color settings, convert your RGB images using the specified CMYK profile.

1. Open the image in Photoshop.
2. Choose Edit > Convert to Profile.
3. Select the CMYK profile specified by Prestige Color.
4. Select OK.

Images and Resolution

Image Resolution and Quality

Use images with a resolution of at least 300 DPI at their final printed size. Start with the highest-quality source image available. Low-resolution images may appear blurry or pixelated in print.



Use vector artwork for text, drawings, and logos whenever possible. Sharp source artwork matters for both digital printing and offset printing.

Image Placement and Scaling

• Keep placed photographs between 75% and 125% of their original size.
• Make necessary image-size adjustments in Photoshop before placing images in the document.
• Check resolution again at the final size. Enlarging an image does not restore missing detail.
• Keep artwork and photographs linked in your editable layout rather than embedding them.
• When saving EPS artwork from Illustrator, leave Include Linked Files unchecked. Include the linked assets with the project handoff.

Raster and Vector Graphics

• Raster: A grid of pixels. Enlarging it can reveal pixels or soften detail. Best for photographs and artwork with complex shading or gradients. Common formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF.
• Vector: Artwork defined by paths, points, and curves that can scale without losing sharpness. Best for logos, line art, icons, and typography. Common formats: SVG, AI, EPS, PDF.

These are common format examples, not a list of required submission formats. A PDF or EPS file can also contain raster images, so check the artwork itself.

Adobe InDesign Packaging

Packaging gathers the InDesign document and supporting files for an editable project handoff. Sending only the INDD file does not supply all of the linked images and fonts the project may need.



1. Check the document. Resolve missing images and missing fonts before packaging.
2. Open Package. Choose File > Package, review the information, and select Package.
3. Collect supporting files. Select Copy Fonts where available and permitted, Copy Linked Graphics, and Update Graphic Links in Package.
4. Include the required content. Select Include Fonts and Links from Hidden and Non-Printing Content, Include IDML, and Include PDF (Print).
5. Check the PDF preset. Use Prestige's supplied export preset when available, or follow the PDF Export instructions below. Confirm the current preset with prepress.
6. Complete the package. Save the package, zip the entire package folder, and provide it to Prestige Color through your agreed submission method.

PDF Export

A print-ready PDF needs the correct page output, image settings, bleed, and color settings. Use these steps when exporting your document from InDesign.

Step 1: Open Export

Choose File > Export. Select Adobe PDF (Print) as the format, choose where to save the PDF, name the file, and select Save.

Step 2: Choose Your PDF Preset

Select the export preset provided for your Prestige Color project, if available. Review the settings below before exporting.

Ask Prestige: Contact prepress for the current preset and any project-specific instructions.

Step 3: Export All Pages as Pages

In the General settings:

• Include All pages.
• Select Pages, not Spreads.

Your layout may use facing pages while you design it. The exported PDF should still contain individual pages, following Prestige's export instructions. Perfect-bound cover files have their own layout requirements under Perfect Bound Setups.

Step 4: Set Compression

For color and grayscale images:

• Select Do Not Downsample.
• Set compression to Automatic (JPEG).
• Set image quality to Maximum.

For monochrome images, select Bicubic Downsampling to 1200 pixels per inch for images above 1800 pixels per inch, with CCITT Group 4 compression.

Select Compress Text and Line Art and Crop Image Data to Frames.

Step 5: Set Bleed and Marks

In Marks and Bleeds, select Use Document Bleed Settings if you already set the required bleed in your document. Otherwise, enter 0.125 inch for the top, bottom, inside, and outside bleed values.

Prestige prefers PDFs without printer's marks. If crop marks must be included, set their offset to 0.125 inch, so they stay outside the final print area.

Step 6: Check Color Output and Export

Supply production artwork in CMYK, while preserving intentional spot colors required for your project. Select Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers) in the Output settings. Use the destination profile confirmed for your Prestige Color project.



Do not add password protection or PDF security settings unless Prestige has confirmed it can work with them. Export the PDF, then open it and review the pages before submitting it.

Binding Options

Your binding method affects document setup, page count, and the space needed near the binding edge. Review the relevant requirements before you build your layout. Explore Prestige's book printing and binding options if you are still choosing a format.

Preparing files for catalog or magazine printing? Confirm the binding method before laying out your pages so you can plan the correct page count and inner margins.

Still planning your book? Our How to Print a Book guide walks you through the broader printing process.

Saddle Stitching

Saddle stitching nests folded sheets inside one another and staples them through the center fold.

• Select Facing Pages when creating your InDesign document.
• Build saddle-stitched books in four-page increments.
• For books with larger page counts, keep page numbers and other important elements away from the outside trim edge.

As sheets nest together, the inner pages push outward. This movement, often called creep, can bring content closer to the edge that will be trimmed. Pay particular attention to this allowance for books of approximately 32 to 156 pages.

Coil Binding

Coil binding uses a continuous coil threaded through punched holes.



• Do not select Facing Pages when creating your InDesign document.
• Build coil-bound books in two-page increments.
• Leave an interior margin of at least 1/2 inch with no critical information in the hole-punch area.

Why this matters: Setting the document up as single pages allows bleed around all sides. The extra inner margin protects text and artwork from the punched holes.

Perfect Binding

Perfect binding joins the pages and cover at the spine with a strong, flexible thermal adhesive.

• Do not select Facing Pages when creating your InDesign document.
• Build perfect-bound books in two-page increments.
• Keep critical information away from the inner margins.
• Avoid images or design elements that must align precisely across two pages. The hinge score and grind-off affect how those elements meet at the binding.

Follow the detailed Perfect Bound Setups instructions for cover dimensions, glue areas, and interior pages.

Varnish and Embellishments

Varnish, embossing, and foil require separate artwork instructions. If you're planning these finishes, discuss them with Prestige before finalizing your production files. You can also review our offset printing and finishing capabilities.

Spot Gloss and Dull Varnish Setup

Spot gloss and dull varnish create contrast between selected areas of a printed piece.

1. Supply varnish artwork as a separate, exactly aligned duplicate document or as layers in your page layout application.
2. Create a spot color named Gloss and set it to 100% cyan.
3. Create a spot color named Dull and set it to 100% magenta.
4. Set the varnishes to knock out.



The cyan and magenta identify the varnish areas in your file. They represent the specified finishes, not the final printed colors of those areas.

Embellishment Setup

Embossed and foil-stamped areas require a die. Prepare those areas using the same basic artwork approach as a dieline:

• Create the embellishment as vector artwork. Do not create it in Photoshop.
• Use a spot color named emboss or foil, as applicable.
• Set the embellishment artwork to overprint.

Perfect Bound Setups

Cover Dimensions and Spine

Build the front cover, spine, and back cover together in one cover document page. The overall trim width must include both covers and the spine. For example, an 8.5-by-11-inch book with a 1/2-inch spine needs a cover document measuring 17.5 by 11 inches, before bleed. Arrange the outside back cover, spine, and outside front cover across that page.

Confirm the spine width with Prestige before finalizing the cover file. The example above illustrates the calculation; it does not establish the spine width for your book.

Glue Areas and Inside Covers

Leave the inside-cover spine area free of ink and varnish, plus 3/16 inch on each side of the spine, to accommodate gluing and the 1/4-inch hinge score.

For a 1/2-inch spine, that creates a total nonprinting strip of 7/8 inch on the inside-cover layout.



Leave a 3/16-inch knockout on the adjacent first text page for gluing to the inside front cover. Confirm the required glue areas across your cover and text files with Prestige before submission.

Interior Pages and Crossovers

• Set up interior pages as single pages, not spreads.
• Include 1/8-inch bleed on all sides.
• Do not use run-across images or elements that depend on precise alignment across the binding.
• Allow for Prestige's specified 1/4-inch hinge score and 1/4-inch grind-off.
• Keep critical information out of the inner area that may be lost in the gutter.

Pocket Folders and Dielines

Pocket Folder Setup

Build a pocket folder as a single document page that includes the front cover, back cover, pockets, and 3/4-inch glue tabs.

For example, a 9-by-12-inch pocket folder with 4-inch pockets and 3/4-inch glue tabs uses a 19.5-by-16-inch document. Use the exact outer dimensions of your project's die, including its glue tabs.

• Place glue tabs on the body of the folder, not on the pockets.
• Include all folds, trims, capacities, and glue tabs in the dieline.
• Check the complete unfolded layout before preparing final files.

Dieline Setup

A dieline identifies a piece's shape and production features, including cuts and folds.



1. Create the dieline as vector artwork. Do not create it in Photoshop.
2. Create a spot color named dieline.
3. Set the dieline to overprint.
4. Build the dieline directly in the main document, or create it in Illustrator and place it in the main document.

Print-Ready File Checklist

Before submitting your files to Prestige Color, check the following:



• Size and bleed: The document uses the correct trim size and 0.125-inch bleed on every side. Edge-to-edge artwork reaches the bleed edge.
• Safe margins: Important content stays at least 0.25 inch inside the trim edge, with additional space for binding where required.
• Fonts: PDF fonts are embedded or outlined. Any editable package includes permitted font files, with restricted or missing fonts discussed with Prestige.
• Color: Production artwork uses CMYK, intentional spot colors are correctly named, and unused colors are removed. Ink coverage and rich-black settings follow Prestige's specifications.
• Images: Images meet the 300-DPI requirement at final size. Linked assets are available and included with an editable project package.
• PDF output: The PDF includes all pages as individual pages, the correct bleed and compression settings, and the agreed color profile. Unapproved security settings are off.
• Binding and finishing: Page increments, spine dimensions, glue areas, dielines, and finishing artwork match your project requirements.
• Final review: Open the exported PDF and check its content and page order. Zip the complete folder when supplying an InDesign package.

Need Help With Your Files?

If you have a question about commercial printing file preparation, contact Prestige Color before sending your final files. Tell us what you're printing and which setting or setup you need help with, so we can discuss the requirements for your project.