A good file?

-PDF, format PDF/X-4:2010 – CMYK FOGRA51 (coated) / FOGRA52 (uncoated)

Always add 3 mm of bleed to your files, so that your image, illustration or background runs right up to the edge after cutting: the cut can move slightly.

• Add the bleed around the final size (not inside it).
• To avoid the opposite problem, don't place any important information within a 3 mm margin inside the finished size.
• Printer's marks (crop marks, bleed marks…) are not needed.

Die cutting

If you want a die-cut shape, place the cutting path on a layer of your PDF, as a stroke set to overprint.
This stroke must be a spot color in Cyan 100% (C:100 M:0 Y:0 K:0), named "Cutcontour".

File to submit

Printed result

Spot varnish

If you want a spot varnish, place it on a layer of your PDF.
This varnish must be a spot color in Magenta 100% (C:0 M:100 Y:0 K:0), named "Varnish".

File to submit

Printed result

White ink

If you want a white underprint, place it on a layer of your PDF. This white must be a spot color set to overprint, in Cyan 100% (C:100 M:0 Y:0 K:0), named "White".

Le blanc peut servir de soutien sous vos couleurs, ou s'utiliser comme couleur à part entière, par exemple pour du texte ou des motifs blancs sur un support coloré, foncé ou transparent. Dans les deux cas, placez le blanc sur un calque de votre PDF. Ce blanc doit être un ton direct en surimpression, en Magenta 100 % (C:0 M:100 J:0 N:0), nommé « White ».

File to submit

Printed result

Embossing, hot foil stamping, debossing

Example of a file for the die form

Brochures

When you make a brochure, you can include your cover in the PDF.
Remember that a brochure with the cover included must have a page count that is a multiple of 4.

Book

For a book, please send us the cover as a separate PDF: we will tell you the spine width to allow for, which depends on the weight (gsm) of your paper.
The number of pages must be a multiple of 4.
Also allow a safe margin of 4 mm and 3 mm of bleed.