Art Submission File Guide

File Guide for Art /Card / Mag Stripe .............pg 2 Bleed Image ....................................................pg 3 Illustrator Outline/Curve Fonts.....................pg 4

File Guide for Art / Card / Mag Stripe Submission

Yellow Bleed Image area is w 3.625" x h 2.375" White Live area is w 3.375" x h 2.125" This Live area is the Actual Card Size
(please keep yellow bleed area when creating your card)

Image Area
If your design has a full image, the yellow is the image area. Keep your image sized at w 3.625" x h 2.375". This ensures the bleed area we need to properly cut the card. Please DO NOT send your image size with the rounded corners at w 3.375" x h 2.125".

Position your image and text that you want to Show on the card in this white area. Let the image that you do not want on the card "bleed" or "extend" past the red border area to the end of the template.

*Your card SHOULD look like a square at w 3.625" x h 2.375" w/bleed.

It should NOT look like a card with rounded corners at w 3.375" x h 2.125". You may incur an extra charge for us to manipulate your image out to w 3.625" x h 2.375" for bleed or we may need to request you to re-send your image at the correct size.

* Yes
w 3.625" x h 2.375"

All Text should remain 1/8" Inside the red border area.
(The red border is the Cutting area, please keep text 1/8" inside to allow for a slight variance while cutting the card.)

No
w 3.375" x h 2.125"

Front

Please keep all text at least 1/8" away from Mag Stripe.
Yellow Bleed Image area is w 3.625" x h 2.375"

FPO Mag Stripe position in Quark

In Quark, with the document layout sized at w 3.625" x h 2.375", use these parameters to set the FPO 1/2" mag. stripe position and design around it.

1/2" FPO Mag Stripe

White Live area is w 3.375" x h 2.125" All Text should remain 1/8" Inside the red border area.
(The red border is the Cutting area, please keep text 1/8" inside to allow for slight variance in the cutting of the card.)

In Quark, with the document layout sized at w 3.625" x h 2.375" use these parameters to set the FPO 3/8" mag. stripe position and design around it.

FPO Mag Stripe position in Illustrator

In Illustrator, with the doc layout at w 3.625" x h 2.375"

x Set the 0
point in Illustrator

Drag left corner cross hairs x to edge point of Illust. doc. y Release. 0 point is now set.

Back

y
In Illustrator, with the doc layout at w 3.625" x h 2.375" use these parameters to set the FPO 1/2" mag. stripe position.

z
In Illustrator, with the doc layout at w 3.625" x h 2.375" use these parameters to set the FPO 3/8" mag. stripe position.

Submitting File Formats

We accept all Macintosh and Mac compatible files. We cannot guarantee the usage of any non-Mac files. Contact us before submitting PC files. Send your pictures files as a TIFF or EPS. (300dpi CMYK @ full print size). 2400dpi for b/w bitmap images. Send your Illustrator files as EPS art, CONVERT FONTS / TYPE TO CURVES OR OUTLINES. If you do not convert your fonts or type to outlines this may result in a delay and you will be asked to send the fonts or new outlined artwork. (See page 4 for Outlining Fonts information) If placing an image in any design program, include the original links. We accept QuarkXPress and InDesign files. (MUST include all used Fonts & Images) Always include a PDF of your finished card design showing the front and back.
Spot Colors / Pantone If spot colors are used, please note colors used on your file. No more than 2 spot colors can be used on a CMYK file. Up to 6 spot colors can be used if only printing in Pantone colors.

e-mail your files: cardart@bbfprinting.com FTP via Software: Host: ftp3.bbfprinting.com User ID: card-prepress Password: pcs-bbf
Please compress your files into a Stuffit file. Please send an email to cardart@bbfprinting.com once your files have transferred successfully.

Submitting Bleed Images

Full Card Bleed example:
White Live area is w 3.375" x h 2.125" This Live area is the Actual Card Size
Live area h 2.125"
(please keep bleed area when creating your card)

Bleed h 2.375"

Position your image and text that you want to Show on the card in this white area. Let the image that you do not want on the card "bleed" or "extend" past the red border area to the end of the template.

All Text should remain 1/8" Inside the red border area.
(The red border is the Cutting area, please keep text 1/8" inside to allow for a slight variance while cutting the card.) Live area w 3.375" Bleed w 3.625"

Image bleeds out 1/8" from live area

Bleed Image area is square at: w 3.625" x h 2.375"

The image area we need actually extends or bleeds past the actual card area (denoted by the red dash area) by 1/8" all around the card. If you want your image/art to cover the card or bleed off the card, please submit your image/art at w 3.625" x h 2.375" which includes this 1/8" extra bleed area.

Half Card Bleed example:

White Live area is w 3.375" x h 2.125" This Live area is the Actual Card Size
Live area h 2.125"
(please keep bleed area when creating your card)

Bleed h 2.375"

Position your image and text that you want to Show on the card in this white area. Let the image that you do not want on the card "bleed" or "extend" past the red border area to the end of the template.

Image bleeds out 1/8" from live area

All Text should remain 1/8" Inside the red border area.
(The red border is the Cutting area, please keep text 1/8" inside to allow for a slight variance while cutting the card.) Live area w 3.375" Bleed w 3.625"

Bleed Image area is w 3.625" x h 2.375"

Maintain the 1/8" bleed image area past the actual card area. (denoted by the red dash area)

Finished card example:

NOTE: Please DO NOT submit your card image or art (that bleeds) at finished dimensions (w 3.375" x h 2.125" ) or with rounded corners. If you do, you may incur an extra cost for us to manipulate your image out to bleed specs or we may request you re-submit your image with the proper bleed area resulting in a delay in the processing of your order.

Full card finished

Half card finished

Submitting Illustrator Outline or Text to Curve Fonts

When using text/type in Adobe Illustrator, please outline/curve the font. This will save a great deal of time on both sides and ensure a quick processing of your order. It is still a good idea to collect and include your fonts used in the creation of your ad when submitting your artwork. There are thousands of fonts for use now and not everyone has the same fonts. And if you used specialty fonts, we will have no way of knowing what font it is you used. However, if you include them with your art submission, this will speed the process along should you decide to make text or copy changes to your order.

Why Outline / Curve fonts?

When you set type in Illustrator (or any other application you use) your font is a type face that needs the font/suitcase installed on the computer in order for it to print properly. A computer system without the font installed that you used, WILL NOT print the font correctlyif at all. Example: You created an ad on your computer with fonts you have. If you send the file without giving us the fonts or without outlining the fonts and our computer does not have your fonts, it cannot read the fonts and your text will not print properly. However, if you outline/curve your fonts in Illustrator, there is no need to include your fonts that you used. Basically, Illustrator turns your font into Art and the file is processed as such, without the need to install any fonts.

How to Outline or Text to Curve your fonts.

Fortunately, Illustrator makes outlining/curving your fonts extremely easy! First, if youre working with layers in Illustrator, make sure the layer with type youre working on is NOT locked. Locked layer icon
Locked layer cannot outline type

To unlock the layer, simply click the lock icon to unlock it.

Unlocked layer can outline type

When you select your type, you will notice a line that appears on the baseline or bottom of the font. Line appears on bottom At this moment, with your type selected, use these key commands to outline your font, push them down all at once: COMMAND / SHIFT / O (O as in Outlinenot zero) Your font will now turn into an outline/curve, notice the square points that surround the artyes your font has now turned into art that will not require any font installed on any computer system. It will print perfectly. After outlining, square points will appear

Outline / Curve from other Applications

If youre using Freehand or PageMaker, you can export your design from them as an EPS file, (or save the page as an EPS file) then open that EPS file in Illustrator and Outline / Curve your fonts, then save the file as an Illustrator EPS. Please submit this Illustrator EPS with fonts outlined as your file. InDesign files: Select all type, go to TYPE menu, Create Outlines, re-save your document.