Hard Copy 

Hard Copy (Laser Proofs) must be supplied with your job. They should be printed out at 100% if possible, if not they should be marked as to the percentage they are printed. If no hard copy is provided California Offset Printers will run them for you for a nominal fee.

Fonts & Text Components

Fonts have two components, 1) the SCREEN font and 2) the PRINTER font. Each part is necessary to image your file. Be sure to send both your printer and screen fonts to us with your job, including any fonts used in illustration programs such as Illustrator and Freehand. Use only Type 1 or Adobe fonts. Do not use TrueType fonts. We do not support TrueType fonts. You should substitute them with Postscript Type 1 fonts. We cannot guarantee the output of TrueType fonts.
Do not Stylize Fonts! Many software programs allow you the option of highlighting a word and applying italics, bold, outline or shadow to the type characters. You must use the actual font that you want to print. 
  
Graphic Components

Be sure to send all graphic components that are in your job. This includes "Nested files" that are within eps files. Do not "Stylize" graphics in QuarkXPress or any layout program (such as negative, contrast, posterize, ghosting, etc). These should be done in the native application. As should any colorizing especially when using Adobe PageMaker.

Are line-art, grayscale and 4/C files scanned at the appropriate resolution and dot value?

Line art should have a resolution of no less than 800dpi. Grayscale and 4/Color should have a minimum resolution of 266dpi or double the line screen used. Try to scan your images so they can be placed in the document at 100%. 4/Color scans should have a minimum ink density of
4% cyan, 2% magenta, 2% yellow, and a maximum ink density of no more than 290. Halftones should have a dot of no less than 4% highlight and no more than 90% shadows. They should not be placed any larger than 125%, or smaller than 30%. If your images are to be scanned by California Offset Printers - indicate Page, Cropping and Scaling on each scan. 
  
Proper file format 

Save scans as Tiffs whenever possible, and use Photoshop to save your scans. Photoshop writes cleaner Tiff files than programs that come with desktop scanners. Do not save as RGB. Save your images in CMYK, or convert them before sending the job to us. Save EPS files as a single file not as a DCS file. Do not use LZW compression on TIFF files. Do not include the Transfer Function or Halftone Screen, Do Not use JPEG Compression. When using silhouettes with clipping paths, make sure to save as EPS files with the path saved with a flatness of no less than 3.
When using Illustrator eps files do not include the printer default screen in the document setup. 
  
SPOT and CMYK colors

If your job is printing in CMYK, be sure to convert any Spot Colors. This is especially important in illustration programs such as Illustrator and Freehand. You should not have any spot colors in any of your files UNLESS they are actually printing a spot color ink. Use only Pantone, Trumatch, or Custom 4/C CMYK colors only. Never use RGB, HSL or any other non standard color models. Delete any unused colors. 
  
 
Naming Files 

Name your files logically. Limit your file names to as few characters as possible. Leading and trailing spaces should not be used. Never name two files or images the same, even if they are on different pages.  
 
Bleed

Any element that extends to the final trim edge needs bleed extended to at least .125" (1/8"). Do not include the bleed when setting up your document size. Bleed should be opened up past the edge of the document. All live matter must be at least 3/8" from trim.

Trapping

COP implements automatic trapping. If you do not wish for California Offset Printers to trap your files please notify your Account Representative and or you Customer Service Representative.

Do not depend on an applications default setting to trap properly. Print out color separated lasers to check your traps, composite lasers do not show trap correctly. California Offset Printers can not be responsible for documents trapped improperly.
 
 
Document Layout

Always make your document to final trim size.
Please see: Publication Sizes & Decimal Equivalents
Documents should be broken down by form whenever possible.
Do not send single page documents, it is very time consuming to
process them. Try to keep documents to 8 pages or more.
Please See:Imposition Guidelines
Always lay out your document as single pages in readers order,
never printers order. 
 
Sending in your files

Option 1 - FTP - get login now

Option 2 - Passport - get login now

Option 3 - Disk

All disks must be labeled clearly and be accompanied by a directory print-out.
If any files such as scans that we create are to be sent back to you a disk should be sent in for them to be loaded on.

We accept the following types of media:

Iomega Zip
Iomega Jaz 1&2 Gig
Syquest 44-200 meg
CD-ROM