File Types
Action Graphics accepts many different file types for printing your artwork. However, our experts have found that the file types listed below produce the best printed results.
Adobe Acrobat Document (*.pdf) (recommended)
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator Artwork (*.ai) (recommended)
Adobe Photoshop Image (*.psd) (recommended)
Quark ExpressAction Graphics offers a free PDF proof so that you can better check your document’s layout, alignment, grammar and spelling. Because these proofs are printable, they make the proofing job much easier. When you order a PDF proof, your document is either mailed to you as an email attachment (<5Mb files) or saved to your Action FTP account (>5Mb files) where you can easily review it. You will be notified by when it is available.
We highly recommend PDF proofs, especially ones where you’ve realigned objects, uploaded images or added more than a few lines of text.
Please note, however, that you will not be able to check exact color with a PDF proof! Print proofs are required for all jobs where color accuracy is of extreme importance. Costs for color proofs vary so please notify your customer service representative if you need a printed proof.
To view your PDF proof, you may need to have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. It is a free program that can be downloaded and installed in just a few minutes.
What is CMYK 4-color process printing?
CMYK printing, also known as 'Process Color Printing,' is an industry standard method of printing in full color. CMYK actually stands for the four colors used as part of this printing standard.
C is Cyan, M is Magenta, Y is Yellow, and K is for 'Key,' which is the description that printers use for Black ink. CMYK printing can reproduce most color photographs very well. In traditional printing, a full color photograph is scanned and then run through software to create 'color separations.' Once the separations are processed, and 'plates' are made for each of the CMYK colors, the printer runs the ink through the plates on press, and the result is your full color image printed on paper.
Free Adobe Acrobat Reader
CMYK is the most economical method of reproducing full color images in the highest quality, and most magazines and glossy collateral is printed using CMYK. CMYK is the standard method that Action Graphics currently uses to process all print jobs for customers.
Color Accuracy Tips
Computer monitors and printers (or any other printing method) typically use two different color processes to reproduce color. Computer monitors use RGB to display color. RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue and looks great on the screen.
You will need to convert any RBG images or artwork, to CMYK before you upload them.
You also have to take into consideration that different monitor types display colors differently. You should understand that there will ALWAYS be variance from what they see on the screen to what they see on their printer, or any other output device. For instance, many LCD or laptop monitors cannot display as much of a range of colors as other monitors. On these monitors, colors can lose contrast and many colors sometimes look similar to others (for instance, dark greens and browns).
You’ll see some color changes to the artwork or images when you make this conversion, so it’s better that you see the changes and make any necessary adjustments before uploading your file.
Also some colors that you see on your screen in RGB will not reproduce using CMYK (or any other printing method). Therefore if you have the software that enables you to process your artwork or images into CMYK before you upload/deliver your files, you’ll have a better idea of what you’ll get once the printed products are delivered to you.
Sometimes solid blocks of black ink can be printed with all four process colors (CMYK) or with black and another color to get a desired affect. These color blacks are called “rich blacks”. We strongly recommend that customers do not use “rich blacks” but instead use 100% Black and set all other CMYK values to 0% (C:0, M:0, Y:0, K:100).
Please note that some of the hardest colors to match going from RGB to CMYK are blues.
Blues in RGB on your screen have a tendency to print with more magenta ink and will appear more purple than blue. A general guideline is the lighter the blue, the more purple it gets. For example, a blue gradient that starts with a deep blue will more than likely start to turn purple as it gets lighter.
Uploading Your Artwork
Upload your own complete artwork for printing - A great option for designers. Create and save your artwork to our specifications, then use our Action FTP site for hassle-free uploading.
