Resource Center

Client Resources
Are you an existing or potential client? You can find all the information you need right here. We've provided guidelines for preparing files for prepress and the programs, formats and platforms we support. Whether you want to upload an artwork file, database for a mailing or need some industry information, the links below will help you get your project together.

Artwork File Specifications
Specifications for artwork files submitted to Command for printing:

1. Supported DTP applications are: Quark XPress (Mac/PC), Pagemaker (Mac/PC), and InDesign (Mac/PC). We do accept PDF’s however there are limitations to our ability to modify these files.

2. All scanned artwork/pictures should either be TIFF or EPS format. (We do not accept JPEG, BMP, GIF, etc. Files of these formats supplied will be converted to TIFF or EPS by Command and time taken charged to the customer).

3. All scanned artwork/pictures should be provided in the correct format, i.e. either Grayscale or CMYK (the latter only if final job is 4-color process). Duotones are acceptable for spot color jobs. Grayscale/CMYK images should be scanned at 300 ppi, line art should be scanned at a minimum of 1200ppi.

4. Illustrator 9 and Freehand 9 are supported. If any artwork is created in these applications, all fonts should be "outlined" or converted to paths. Spot or process colors should be correctly set according to final job specifications. These files should then be saved in the EPS format.

5. All colors should be set according to job specifications in the document as well. Spot colors should not be set to process and vice versa. Consistency of colors is important. Pantone 032CV is regarded by Quark/Pagemaker/InDesign as a separate color to Pantone 032CVU (one is coated and the other is uncoated) so if both are used as well as black, a two-color job has now, in effect, become a three-color piece.

6. All pictures/artwork (scanned or otherwise) should be linked (placed) in the Quark/PageMaker/InDesign document. It is generally not a good idea to embed images or paste them from one application to another.

7. Word Metafiles, PowerPoint files, Excel worksheets or any foreign files from applications that are not aimed at the commercial print market are not supported, and their use (either placed or pasted) in Quark/PageMaker/InDesign is highly discouraged. Word files are fine as a means of importing text that will be laid out, but they are not suitable as a direct means to print. There are workarounds for most file formats; however, the time taken to prepare these files for the press is chargeable, and results may vary from what was supplied originally. Illustrator and Freehand both have tools to create graphs and charts if required.

8. All fonts and linked files associated with the print job are to be supplied with the document. Command has to maintain the integrity of the document to be printed. Font substitution and/or artwork conversion because of missing fonts or incorrectly formatted images may compromise the final printed piece. In the event of missing fonts or images, we will request that they be supplied to us as soon as possible. This will delay proofing and can have a domino effect on later stages of production, so it is desirable to have all fonts and images from the start.

9. When in doubt, call Command, and we will do our best answer your questions. It is better to find and resolve issues beforehand, and it's in everyone's interest to make sure your document flows though the Prepress Department as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Database File Specifications
Specifications for database files submitted to Command:

1. All of your fields need to be consistent throughout the database. For example, the name field should only contain the "NAME". If you plan to include a person's title or identification codes, you will need to have a separate field called "TITLE" or "CODES". In the following example, each line must have a separate field and all capital letters are preferred (not required):

   CODE 12345
   MR. JOHN DOE
   PRESIDENT
   THE ABC CORPORATION
   123 MAIN STREET
   ANYTOWN
   USA
   12345-4545

2. Please provide a field structure and indicate which fields you want printed on your label, especially if extra or uncommon areas are needed. (Example: Customer Codes, Expiration dates, ID numbers, etc.)

3. Please send your database to us in one of the following formats:
   • ASCII Delimited (preferably tab delimited)
   • EXCEL
   • ASCII FIXED (preferably with headers)
   • DBASE
   • MICROSOFT ACCESS

4. Please send your database to us via one of the following media types:
   • 3.5" Diskette
   • ZIP Disk
   • CD-ROM
   • E-mail
   • FTP

   We are more than willing to help you during the preparation process to ensure that your final product will be usable by our data processing team.

Links
These links will give you the information and guidelines you need to make your next project a success.

United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is the first place to look when beginning your direct mail campaign. This is a great resource for definitions, rates, and what you can do with direct mail.

Click here to visit the site. (www.usps.com)

Graphic Arts Information Network
The Graphic Arts Information Network gathers together all the news in the graphic arts industry on one comprehensive website. If it's about graphic arts or print media, you can find it here.

Click here to visit the site. (http://www.gain.net/)