Star Quality Printing Offset Printers of 4C Brochures, Flyers, Datasheets, Postcards and Catalogs

We strive to provide the best quality four-color and two-color data sheets, brochures, postcards and other print jobs for our customers. Please check your artwork carefully using the following specs to help us assure you of the very best quality printed piece.

We regularly work with a wide range of software applications. Please be sure to include all placed images, and fonts. For best results artwork should be saved at a minimum of 300 dpi. Star Quality Printing accepts files created in a wide variety of applications found on Windows or Macintosh computers. We've listed some of these below:

Macintosh and Windows

Adobe Acrobat PDF
QuarkXPress
Adobe Pagemaker
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe In-Design
Macromedia Freehand
Microsoft Publisher

Generic File Formats

TIFF
JPEG
SCT
EPS
PSD
PDF

Design Tips

Here's some general information to keep in mind when working with various file formats.

Adobe Acrobat PDF
The digital design world offers a range of computer hardware and software solutions. As a result, it is difficult to share files across different hardware platforms and software packages. Unless you use the Adobe PDF format.

PDF stands for Portable Document Format and it lives up to its name. Using Adobe's distiller program, and any application, you can create a PDF file that contains all of the graphic elements necessary to properly display and print your project. This file can be viewed on any computer using Adobe Acrobat or their free Reader program, which is available for download on Adobe's web site at www.adobe.com/acrobat/readstep.html.

Because PDF files are so efficient we highly recommend that you create a PDF of your job prior to transferring it to us. Once you've set it up, creating a PDF file is as simple as printing.

To assure the best quality please check the following:

Be sure that the page parameters in Distiller (size, orientation) agree with the settings of your document.
Set all margins in your original document. Set margins to 0 in Distiller or PDF Writer.
Do not use font or image compression . Assuring the quality of your job is worth the extra file transfer time.
Set graphic resolution to 600dpi or higher.
Make sure to embed all fonts.
Review your PDF file carefully before sending it to us to assure that it matches your original.

Star Quality Printing uses the PDF format to send you a soft proof prior to production of the job. If you send a PDF as original artwork we will review your file, process it and place it online for your final approval. Once you approve it, the same PDF is used to print your job.

QuarkXpress, PageMaker.
We accept files created from these workhorses of graphic design. Both Macintosh and Windows formats are acceptable.

As with any printing project, please be sure to send all linked files and font outlines.We highly recommend that you create a ZIP or SIT archive file of all items to assure proper transfer without corruption or data loss.

Illustrator, Freehand
We accept files created from these applications from both Macintosh and Windows systems. To avoid any difficulties with text, please convert all text items to paths (outlines). Also, please be sure to send all linked files and font outlines. We highly recommend that you create a ZIP or SIT archive file of all items to assure proper transfer without corruption or data loss.

Photoshop
This application is typically not used for page layout. If you choose to create your artwork using Photoshop, please consider using a generic file format (tiff, eps, sct, etc.) to place your art into a page layout program such as Quark. Or send your art to us as a CMYK tiff at 300 dpi minimum.

Please be sure to send all linked files and font outlines.We highly recommend that you create a ZIP or SIT archive file of all items to assure proper transfer without corruption or data loss.

All Other Applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Etc.
There are such a wide variety of applications available that it is impossible to support them all. Some programs are best suited for office graphics and laser or inkjet printing. However, they may be used for high resolution offset printing within limitations. We would like you to be aware of the following:

Standardized color matching, such as the Pantone PMS system, is not available.
Type treatments may not translate properly.
Placed graphics and photos do not reproduce consistently

The best way we've found to assure reliable results with "office" type programs is to use them to create PDF files. In this way, you are able to assure that the content you transfer to us is consistent with your original art and avoid additional processing charges.However any application that can print to an office laser or ink-jet printer can be used to create a PDF file. Please refer to the section above for more details.

Checklist for Printing:

1. Have you supplied all the necessary files?
Include all image and graphic files imported into your document. Graphics that are missing may remain visible but will output in low resolution and look pixelized and fuzzy. Also please supply original and editable copies of all graphic files.

2. Have you supplied the necessary fonts for your job?
Please be certain to provide both printer and screen fonts. If printer fonts are missing we will not be able to create films for your job.

3. Have you converted all your colors from RGB to CMYK?
Your images may print black and white or with inaccurate color if you neglect to convert images.

4. When converting a Pantone color to CMYK, have you verified that the CMYK color is equivalent to the original color?
Some Pantone colors are outside of the CMYK color space and appear different when printed as process color. View your screen after conversion for a rough idea of how that color will appear. For an exact determination, view a Pantone color conversion guide.

5. Have you scanned or saved your images at the correct resolution?
Set scanning resolution at 300 (DPI) dots per inch for pictures and 800 DPI for Line Art.

6. Are your document bleeds set up correctly?
Make sure all bleeds extend one eighth of an inch beyond the edge of the size of the finished document.

7. Have you sent us a mock-up of your document?
It is always useful to have a mock-up as a guide for printing. A PDF e-mailed with your job or even a laser proof faxed to Star Quality Printing can serve as such a guide.

8. If you are mailing us a disk or art, have you labeled everything ?
Clearly write your name, address and phone number on all diskettes, art or proofs that are sent to us. It is also helpful to provide us with a checklist of everything you are sending.

Following the above checklist helps reduce potential problems, accelerates job delivery and avoids additional fees associated with pre-press problems. However, don’t worry if you don’t do all these steps or don’t understand how to do them. We can work with any file you provide. Just submit whatever you have: we will pick up the phone and call you if we have questions.

Design Tips: File Specifications

Design Tips

Here's some general information to keep in mind when working with various file formats.

Checklist for Printing:

Design Tips:
File Specifications