Bleed 3 mm
This margin is absolutely essential in order to compensate the trimming tolerance. The margin will normally be completely cut off. It is mandatory that background images or areas which are to reach to the edge of the page of your print extend to within this 3 mm margin, thus ensuring that no thin white margin will be left after trimming.

Edge distance 2 mm
In addition, it must be noted that texts and important information are at least 2 mm away from the original or inner edge. Otherwise there is a risk that a portion may be cut off!
In most cases it does not look particularly attractive if the text is "stuck" so near to the edge.

Resolution
We print with a 70line screen which gives a resolution of 354 dpi. In order to obtain optimum printing results, your printing data must have a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). If your file is saved with a lower resolution a quality loss may result.

Colour settings
CMYK is the standard colour mode we use for full colour printing. You should therefore create your files in the CMYK colour mode. This is necessary for all products printed with the offset (litho) printing method (flyers, leaflets, brochures...). If, however, we receive files with other colour settings, our system will automatically convert them to CMYK. This may result in slight colour deviations which will not be accepted as complaints as we do not know the original colour you wished to have. If, from the start, your data are created in CMYK and you access our ICC colour profile (available under downloads) the probable result will be simulated on your monitor.

Inking (amount of ink used)
The colour channels cyan, magenta, yellow and black are displayed in percent in your layout programme. Assuming that the file is created and saved with a CMYK colour space, the summation of the colours cyan, magenta, yellow and back must not exceed 300%.
If it does, it causes an above-average ink application and can therefore cause a faulty result. Such a high ink application does not dry properly and your prints might stick together and tear on separation.
Attention:
When RGB files are converted to CMYK colour settings, RGB black turns into over 300% CMYK black(C+M+Y+K). The files have to be amended after they have been converted.
Complaints referring to an above-average ink application cannot unfortunately be accepted.

For a black or grey colour please use K (K=key=black) only. If your fonts use three or more colours shadows can appear on the printed product.

To obtain deep black, 40% cyan and 100% black are adequate (40/0/0/100). Alternatively you can use CMYK 30/30/30/100.

ICC-Profile
For the best possible colour result ICC-profiles are essential. For offset printing (litho) the current ECI ICC-profiles (www.eci.org) are used. These you can find in the download area on our homepage. Colour profiles enable a correct simulation of colours according via your layout or graphic programme. Click on the button “Instructions” on our homepage for more information.

Fonts
For offset printing (litho) you should always use Postscript-fonts. TrueType fonts can cause problems when the printing plates are exposed. If TrueType fonts are required for any reason, they have to be converted to a vector, outline or curve (depending on the programme you use). This action converts the font into a vector so that the original font itself is no longer required.

File formats
Generally we prefer multipage PDF files (version X-3:2002). Ideally you should send us a multipage PDF. The first page of your PDF will be used for the front, the second page for the back. Alternatively you can send us EPS, JPEG or TIFF files. Adobe Photoshop users should always save their files as JPEG or TIFF. If a Photoshop PDF is required please use Acrobat Distiller to create the file. Please never save a PDF directly from Photoshop.