Art Requirements

CDROM2GO's creative team is committed to getting you the highest quality product available. Our art requirements are just guidelines to help you create your duplication or replication artwork with the best looking print quality in mind. It is important that you follow our specifications in order for us to complete your job perfectly and without delay.  Please follow the guidelines below in order to achieve the best results.  For questions about setting up your artwork contact graphics@usdigitalmedia.com Top 5 Tips to remember when creating your artwork: • All artwork should be set at HIGH-Resolution 300 dpi for best print quality. • Include all FONTS, or convert text to outlines. • Include all linked or placed IMAGES. • All artwork is to include a 1/8” BLEED past all edges. • Art and Template should be placed on separate layers, NOT flattened please.

Download Art Requirements  Printable PDF Version

Content Delivery:

Supply USDM With:   Submittal:   1. The electronic file(s) complete with extension, set up in our template.      CD-R   2. All FONTS used, or convert text to outlines.   DVD-R   3. All logos and images used in your file.   File Upload    4. A PDF or JPG copy or composite of the file for placement purposes.     5. Printed layout for color matching.

Software File Types PC   Illustrator (CS2)   .ai, .eps, .pdf   Photoshop (CS2)   .psd, .tiff   InDesign (CS)   .indd, .eps, .pdf        QuarkXPress (7)     .qxd, .pdf MAC   Illustrator (CS2)   .ai, .eps, .pdf   Photoshop (CS2)   .psd, .tiff

General Art Requirements:

• All artwork should be complete and set-up using one of our templates. Templates are available in applicable design formats for download from our website:   http://www.cdrom2go.com/Resource-Center/Service-Support/Your-Artwork/artwork_templates.asp
• Artwork and template MUST be placed on separate layers. Do not flatten templates or dyelines within your files. Any flattened artwork submitted is subject to additional fees or refusal. We highly recommend sending us your complete layered artwork just in case you need a quick text change we can fix it for you instead of having to resubmit your artwork.
• All artwork MUST be at a high-resolution of 300 dpi at exact printing size. Anything smaller decreases image quality is not recommend.
• Vector .EPS files are recommended, but not required. All templates are in .EPS format for best print quality. If you must use Photoshop to create the layout, we recommend all text be laid out in Illustrator or Quark for best print quality and crispness. Text from Photoshop will print with blurred edges, as it is pixelated.
• Color: Large areas of solid may have banding or “ghosting” during printing and are not recommended for any print processes, except Silkscreen. Any gradient settings higher than 85% and no lower than 15% may not print clearly.
  Blacks*: 100% black is not as deep as some prefer in their artwork. For a thick crisp black we recommend using this CMYK mix for any black areas of your art:
  *Rich Black: C = 90%, M = 60%, Y = 50%, K = 100%
• Depending on your chosen printing process some variations in color will apply, here are some specific details: Silkscreen images that are not 100% will not be solid and will appear as dots in a halftone image. Offset/Silkscreen Printing: Any gradients cannot be guaranteed, as colors higher than 85% and lower than 15% may not show at press. Photo Pro Printing: Large areas of solid color are not recommended due to possibility of “ghosting” or “banding” in the print as it is a CMYK process creating excellent looking photographic quality images.
• Define all color modes as CMYK or PMS. No RGB files. Offset, Photo Pro, or Thermal printing are CMYK process printing and cannot guarantee Pantone colors. All Pantone colors must be specified in artwork and can only be guaranteed with Silkscreen printing. Use Pantone coated color guides for closest color.
• Indicate if disc will be printed WITH or WITHOUT a white flood coat. The white flood-coat is a layer of ink on a silver disc that acts as a base-coat or primer for the colors printed on it, recreating the effect of printing on white paper. No white flood coat will show silver of disc.
• White Flood Coat Knockouts: When having a selected white flood coat since they are custom some restrictions may apply. Please use these tips to help us guarantee your graphic placement of silver and white.
• Text must be minimum 10 pt. and bold to be guaranteed as a knockout to the silver of the disc.
• Lines must be a minimum 1 pt. in width to show the silver of the disc.
• A 1/8” bleed past ALL edges is required on artwork. This includes the center hole of disc artwork; please do not delete artwork in that area as bleed is needed there also. We recommend keeping all type 1/8” from all edges to give a safety area. Please don't feel you need to delete your center holes or extra artwork past the bleed or printable edges as we need this area. Sometimes we have other print possibilities or center hole sizes that need to be used if we change your print process, which could lead to charges or delays if we don't have enough of your artwork to use.
• All art files need to be accompanied with any placed or linked images and "True Type" font files. Text under 7 pt. In size cannot be guaranteed. For no white flood coat minimum point size is 10pt. For white flood knockouts minimum point size is 12 pt. If fonts are unavailable, convert text to outlines. External linked files are required to verify print quality.
• Stacking Ring: The print quality may be affected if the customer chooses to print over the stacking ring as noted in specific templates and proofing. See templates for details.
• COLOR MATCHING: As colors vary in printing processes, if your artwork needs to be matched please supply USDM with a printed color match sample &/or Pantones colors. If color matching is requested additional fees and proofs may be required.

• Any changes, additions, or alterations to original art file.
• Manipulations or removal of defects from any image.
• Creating bleed areas past image edges.
• Artwork created by our staff Graphics Department.