Support and Information
Welcome to our Support and Information center. Here you can find information on our file submission requirements and recommendations, troubleshooting tips and answers to some common prepress questions.
Electronic File Requirements:
Echo Publishing has access to the following platforms and software:
Windows PC
- Adobe Photoshop CS
- Adobe InDesign CS
- Adobe PageMaker 6.5
- Adobe Acrobat 6
- QuarkXPress 6.5
- Macromedia Freehand 9
Apple Macintosh
- Adobe Photoshop CS
- Adobe InDesign CS
- Adobe PageMaker 7
- Adobe Acrobat 6
- QuarkXPress 6.5
- Macromedia Freehand MX
Although documents from any of the above applications are preferred, standard export file types (EPS, PS, PDF, TIFF) from other applications may be usable. All PDFs should be produced from a PostScript compatible format via Acrobat Distiller (with Press quality job options), or from an Adobe application's PDF Export feature.
Unless submitted as a PDF, any images and artwork that are used in the original document should be included with the document to be printed. These files must be of a standard, PostScript-friendly, file type (EPS, PS, PDF, TIFF). Files with Microsoft clipart gallery files, Windows metafiles (WMF), and Internet formats (JPEG, GIF, PNG, .MOV, WMV) can not be printed. Any raster (bitmap) images intended for 4 color process production must be converted to CMYK and be at least 200 dpi. Artwork to be used in 2 color production must contain ONLY a spot color and black.
Unless embedded in a production-ready PDF, a copy of all fonts used in a document should be included with the artwork. PC fonts should be standard TrueType (TTF), or PostScript Type 1. Mac fonts can be TrueType, Type 1, OpenType, or DFONT. Both mac and PC PostScript Type 1 fonts should include all parts of the font (printer and screen), as well as all variations used (Italic, Bold, Condensed, etc.).
Electronic File Submission:
If not sending files on disk, jobs can be emailed or uploaded to our in-house FTP server. All files submitted electronically must be Stuffed or Zipped and abide by the requirements outlined above. Please contact us for more information.
Color - Spot versus Process
One very important thing that customers easily get confused on is color. In the old days spot color was all there was, so everyone knew how to properly lay out a spot color job. Today, spot color proves challenging, to say the least, because we have become spoiled to the simplicity of process color production. Why not use process color all the time? The bottom line is that it costs more to print. You have four inks instead of two, more film, etc. Besides costs, there are other reasons to use spot color; no registration issues, you are guaranteed that the color you choose will be the color the prints, and colored objects such as text and graphics will be cleaner.
Examples 1 and 2 below illustrate what the color separations, or plates, should look like for a typical spot or process job.
Example 1: 4-Color Process
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Composite |
Cyan |
Magenta |
Yellow |
Black |
Example 2: Spot Color
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Composite |
Spot Color |
Black |