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The following is a
list of clients' frequently asked questions and their answers. If your
question isn't listed here, or if you need further information, please
don't hesitate to email us at: info@cjfield.co.uk
TECHNICAL
Q. In which format should I supply text?
A. As a Microsoft Word or WordPerfect document, spell-checked, proof-read and corrected prior to submission, please. If your document contains any imported graphics or charts, e.g. logos or graphs, please supply these separately (see below).
Q. My job includes spreadsheets. How should I supply them?
A. If they're created in Microsoft Excel then we should be able to handle them, regardless of the platform on which they were created. However, if you use a spreadsheet program other than Excel, please export them to Excel format using the 'export' or 'save as' command.
Q. I want to include graphs/charts in my job. What do you need?
A. If you want us simply to insert graphs/charts already created by your office into our artwork, please convert them to a high-resolution (1200 dpi) PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Distiller (Job Options: Press Optimized) and send us the PDF along with an annotated hard copy indicating where you want the graphics placed.
If, however, you require us to do an 'arty' version of your graphs/charts, please send us a printout or PDF of rough versions created by yourself, along with all the requisite data so that we can re-plot them.
If you use professional graphics software, such as Adobe Illustrator®, to generate your graphs or charts, please convert all text to outlines (i.e. graphics), convert all colours to Pantone or CMYK (please discuss this with us beforehand), and submit your artwork as editable EPS files labelled with a file name that tallies with an insertion note within your text file.
As with all graphics and photos it's essential that you tell us clearly what goes where.
Q. How should I supply logos for inclusion in artwork?
A. Please ask the graphic designer or owner of the logo to supply us with one or both of the following, along with written consent for its inclusion in your job:
- A high-resolution TIFF created at 600 dpi and slightly bigger than the size at which it'll appear in our artwork. If the logo is line art which will appear in colour, please ask them for both Pantone® and CMYK colour references.
- An editable, generic EPS file created in either Freehand® or Illustrator®, containing any necessary colour references, and with any type converted to outlines.
Q. I want to supply an image which I've scanned/created on my computer.
A. Please scan/draw the image at least 110% of the size at which it is to be reproduced, preferably bigger, at a resolution of at least 300 dpi (greyscale or colour), or at least 600 dpi (line art). If you want the image to extend right to the edges of the artwork, for instance on a book or CD cover, please make sure to include about 5mm extra on all sides beyond the crop area.
If you're supplying a colour image, please convert it to CMYK, also known as process colour. Do not supply as RGB - this is a screen format only and is unsuitable for print.
If you want to include extra spot/Pantone® plates in your image please save in Photoshop® as a Photoshop DCS2 file.
If you're working in Macromedia Freehand® or Adobe Illustrator®, please convert colours to the appropriate format (CMYK or Pantone® spot colours), convert any type to outline graphics, and save your file as an editable EPS.
Q. I want to include photos or drawings in my job. What should I supply?
A. In the case of photos please supply 8x10in glossy prints or positive transparencies (the larger the format, the better).
If you use a digital camera please be aware that the size at which we can reproduce your photo depends on the resolution at which you took it. Many low-end consumer cameras, particularly older models, do not produce images of sufficiently high resolution for print. To be suitable for print at A4, your image would need to be 2551 x 3579 pixels; at A5, 2551 x 1831 pixels; and at A6, 1311 x 1831 pixels. If your photo is to be cropped the source file will need to be even bigger.
If in doubt, open your image file in Photoshop®, go to Image menu > Image Size, uncheck 'Resample image' and change the resolution to 300 pixels per inch. If the image dimensions (in centimetres) look too small then we probably won't be able to use that photo. Please don't be tempted to try to 'fix' this in your image editing software: artificially increasing the resolution of an image (i.e. trying to make the software compensate for the fact that there are not enough pixels in that image) will make the problem worse, producing a pixellated, jaggly picture.
Drawings or paintings should be done on flexible paper or card not bigger than A4. They will be wrapped around a drum during scanning so please don't supply anything that may crack if it's flexed. Please note that ink and flat paint, e.g. water-colours, scan much better than pencil or textured paint.
Fine Art or larger work should always be photographed by a specialist Fine Art photographer who will supply a large-format transparency with color-bars which we can then have scanned.
Please always make sure you have the copyright owner's permission to reproduce the photo or artwork.
Q. Which disk formats do you accept?
A. We accept Zip 100Mb cartridges or CD-ROM (Mac or ISO 9660 format). Please virus-check both the disk and files using up-to-date virus definitions.
A. Certainly, but please don't email it if it's larger than 20Mb, and virus-check it first using up-to-date virus definitions. Please include a descriptive subject line in your message as we filter attachments at the server end.
Q. Which ISDN protocols do you use?
A. Sorry, because of ASDL we no longer use ISDN.
Q. What's CMYK / process colour?
A. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (the latter meaning Black), which are the four ink colours used in process printing. When combined, tiny dots of ink trick the eye into seeing a multitude of different colours, as in pointillist paintings. Look through a magnifying glass at a picture in a magazine and you'll see how it works.
Q. What's a Pantone® / spot colour?
A. Pantone Inc. produces several industry-standard colour systems for print. As designers we specify colours according to their reference systems and printers use their formulae to mix proprietary inks.
We use the terms 'Pantone', 'spot', 'special' and 'PMS' (Pantone Matching System) interchangeably to mean solid ink colours, in other words pre-mixed inks, as opposed to the CMYK system described earlier. Spot colours are commonly used in jobs like stationery, posters, packaging or reports to give more impact than would be afforded by black and white alone.
We might also use spot colours in addition to CMYK where a large area of flat colour or a particular corporate colour can't be achieved using process inks.
PAYMENT
Q. What are your credit terms?
A. Strictly 14 days from date of invoice. Any queries should be made in writing within 7 days of date of invoice.
Q. In which currency should I pay?
A. Sterling, please. Electronic payment transfers may also be made by special arrangement.
Q. Does your company accept payment by credit card?
A. Sorry, no.
Q. Who pays the printer - you or us?
A. You do, although we'll be happy to liaise with your printer on your behalf on technical matters. If you do not know of a suitable printer we will be pleased to recommend one and to assist you in requesting quotations for your job.
Q. Who pays for third-party suppliers, e.g. photographers or bureaux who do scanning and/or produce films or proofs in connection with my job?
A. Photographers and/or image libraries should always be paid direct. On larger jobs we prefer that you set up an account with a bureau. If you don't know of one we will try to recommend one in your area or suggest one local to us. On small jobs we tend to arrange scanning and film/proof production ourselves and will invoice you at cost plus a small handling fee.
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