The Sheridan Group welcomes the submission of digital ad files for incorporation into pages for electronically composed publications. Our objective is to use submitted files whenever possible and to reproduce files as true as possible to the originator's intended appearance.

These guidelines are intended to improve awareness of successful digital ad file preparation methods and to convey optimal characteristics for submitted digital files. Please use these guidelines to help in your file preparation, and always consult your publication ad coordinator if any questions arise.

On all submissions, please include all available information:

• Contact name and phone number
• Publication name
• Volume and issue date
• Return address (for return materials)
• Directory listing of supplied media contents
• File type and format
• For electronic transfers, supply file location and filename

Variances from the specifications may not yield results that conform to quality control standards.

• Black and white Monochrome images should be submitted as bitmap (1-bit) mode

• Black and white halftone images and combination halftones should be submitted as grayscale color mode.

• Color halftone images should be submitted as CMYK color mode.

• Files should be free of color functions, including PostScript color management, transfer curves, halftone screen assignments, and black generation functions. Files should not include references to ICC profiles, or be in a color space other than: Monochrome, CMYK, or Grayscale.

• Total Area Coverage (TAC) for black or dark elements or for black areas within color images should not exceed 300%.

• For color images, black text and lines should be specified to overprint.

• Spot colors are to be identified using the standard Pantone naming convention and not a custom color such as “Dark Blue.” PMS colors will be converted to process unless otherwise specified. When using both art and layout programs be sure spot color naming is consistent in all applications
  (ex. Do not define both PMS 201CV and PMS 201CVC).

• Files are NOT to be trapped or prescreened. Our Prepress Department will use industry recognized trapping software to auto-trap your files for optimum performance and reproduction on press and will apply the appropriate screening.

• Copydot images are images obtained by the specialized scanning of film negatives at very high resolution. All copydot files should be supplied at 2400 dpi. These files must be tested for compatibility prior to submission for production. Type corrections cannot be completed on these type of files.

More Information on Color and Color Space

TIFF and EPS files must conform to the following minimum resolution specifications:

Monochrome (1-bit) images, typically scanned from line art and/or text originals, are comprised of a single bit of data. Since each bit (binary digit) can be represented only as either a zero or a one, pixels within a monochrome image can have only two states: black or white. Monochrome images generally require higher resolution (more pixels per inch) than tone images in order to prevent aliasing (stairstepped appearance) of diagonal lines. The suggested minimum resolution for this type of image is between 900 and 1200 dpi. See the chart below for details.

Tones, typically captured from continuous-tone photographs, are comprised of 8-bit data (represented as 256 different levels for grayscale images). Color tones contain eight bits of data per channel (i.e., per color); thus, a CMYK tone contains 32 bits of information (and 256 levels each for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). The suggested minimum resolution for this type of image is 300 dpi. See the chart below for details.

Combination tones contain both tone and text/line art elements. Consequently, like tones, combination tones are comprised of 8-bits of data per color channel. Thus, combination tones are saved as either grayscale or CMYK color mode. Because combination tones contain text/line art elements, however, the level of resolution employed must be compromised to address aliasing versus physical file size. The suggested minimum resolution for this type of image is between 500 and 900 dpi. See the chart below for details.

TYPE	EXAMPLE	FORMAT	COLOR MODE	RESOLUTION
B+W Line art		Tiff	Monochrome 1-bit	900 - 1200dpi
Halftone		Tiff	Grayscale or CMYK	300dpi
Combo (Image + Type)		Tiff/EPS	Grayscale or CMYK	500 - 900 dpi

Higher image resolutions are acceptable as they exceed the minimum requirements, but in some cases unnecessary resolution will be discarded to achieve smaller file sizes.

More Information on Image Resolution

Preferred format is PDF created with high-resolution PostScript from the native application. Convert the PostScript to PDF with Acrobat 4 or 5 Distiller set for compatibility to PDF version 1.3 (Acrobat 4). Other acceptable formats are EPS and TIFF.

The following source files are accepted and are expected to follow all requirements listed in this document:

• QuarkXPress,
• PageMaker,
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop

Additional costs may apply if problems are encountered.
NOTE: when using Adobe Illustrator/Macromedia Freehand it is preferred to have all fonts converted to outline/paths, and files submitted as EPS files.

Regardless of the format supplied, all ads must conform to the following specifications:

• Final size must meet journal trim size and include 1/8” bleed image on all four sides.
• Files will include trim marks with 1/8” setback.
• Supply as single page files only.
• Right Reading, Portrait Mode, No Rotation.
• No content is to be within a 1/2” of trim size.
• All fonts and graphics must be either embedded or included with the files and conform to the format type listed above. Images must also conform to the specifications above for minimum image resolution.
• All color ads should be supplied as composite files.
• Reverse type should be no less than 6pt. Fine lettering (thin lines, serifs) should be restricted to one color.
• Embedded images should not be scaled, cropped/masked or rotated within the page layout application but instead should be manipulated in a proper image editing program (ex. Photoshop) and then imported into the page layout program at proper size and position.
• DO NOT nest EPS files within EPS files.
• All lines and line art images should be of a minimum 1/3 pt thickness (1/2 pt for reverses) at final size to reproduce effectively on press.

More Information on File Sources and Image Types

• For vector EPS files, fonts should be embedded or converted to outlines.

• Lines or rules should not be defined as hairline width. Recommended minimum line width is 1/4 point (i.e., 0.0035 inches).

• For digital art files not supplied same as print size, the effect of scaling reduction should be considered for small text and for thin rules or lines. Files should be cropped to remove non-printing borders.

• Use of Postscript Type 1 fonts is encouraged. Include fonts for any embedded graphics. DO NOT use Type 3, Multiple Master or CID fonts. Avoid using menu-stylized fonts, TrueType fonts, Macintosh “city” fonts (Chicago, Geneva, etc.), and Microsoft Outlook fonts (Tahoma, Impact, etc.).

More information on Fonts

• A clean proof same size as the digital art should accompany file submission—for color images. The supplied proof should be color.

• All proofs must be produced from the final file submitted. Proofs must be imaged at 100% scale and in accordance with SWOP specifications (www.swop.org) All black and white or grayscale ads supplied require 100% size lasers for confirmation of ad content. Color ads require a proof produced using a SWOP-certified system. All color ad proofs must include a SWOP proofing bar or a GATF proof comparator. We cannot guarantee color match unless acceptable proof is provided. If a contract color proof is not supplied we will run to standard ink densities and dot gains. Revised proofs must be supplied whenever a text or design change is made. Any alteration to a file will require output of a new proof at cost to the customer.

More Information on Proofing