WEB OFFSET PRINTING GUIDELINES AND TIPS
TIPS FOR BEST REPRODUCTION
Color Materials
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Highlight Dot 5% for the smallest highlight meant to hold detail
Midtone Dot should be set to compensate for approximately 30% midtone dot gain.
Max Density should not exceed 240% for all four films combined. Lower is better.
Reverse type should not be less than 14 pt. Only reverse in areas having at least 50% tone
value in color. Screen type reversed in solid color should not exceed 20% tint of that color.
Black & White Materials
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Highlight Dot 5%-10% for the smallest highlight meant to hold detail.
Midtone Dot should be set to compensate for 30% midtone gain.
Shadow Dot should be 70%-80% in shadow areas intended to hold detail.
Reverse type should be no smaller than 10 pts. Sans serif.
Screened type reversed in solid black should not exceed tint value of 20% black.
TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR FILES FOR OUTPUT
We accept files on Zip 250 or CD or Email or via FTP. It is recommended that all files be saved in a PDF
format. To best expedite your files through the pre-press process at Healdsburg Printing, we recommend
the following steps:
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All files to be printed in color must be converted from RGB to CMYK (remember, most scanners
scan as RGB).
All scanned images should be scanned at 200 pixels per inch (ppi) and cropped to the final size.
Higher resolutions do not mean better quality, only larger file sizes and longer output times
PC file names for linked images should be no more than 8 characters in length.
All artwork should be saved as either TIF or EPS file formats. JPG and GIF internet files must be
converted using a photo imaging program such as Photoshop.
All artwork should be converted with page layout to insure proper linkage to page.
All fonts used in Document and EPS files must be included with file. Note: PC fonts are not
compatible with MacIntosh and should not be included with files. If work is performed on a PC,
then compatibility of any font used other than Times, Helvetica, Garamond, Impact, Arial or
Futura should be verified. In most cases, specialty fonts should be converted to artwork to insure
proper output. When in Illustrator, convert all fonts to Outlines.
A set of B&W laser final proofs should be included with disk/zip for checking film to insure no text
reflow problems. These proofs can also be used to duplicate artwork in case of problems with
output files.