Expert: Nick Putthoff - 2/10/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi Nick
I recently send a flier to the printer and when it came back it wasn't lined up correctly. I am using illustrator - so how should I line up the artwork, should the sides be touching each other vertically or horizontally, or should there be a specified gap?

Any help would be greatly appreciatied
Warmest regards
Melanie

ANSWER: Melanie,

Use marks outside of the printed area indicating cuts folds, scores and perfs is the best way to ensure that the printer lines up the artwork like you expect.

Print out a hard copy of your artwork and carefully trim it to the crop marks.

If you have a two-sided piece print out each side separately, trim both sides on the crop marks and put them together back to back and see how they line up. Once you are satisfied with the way everything looks, submit the files and your carefully constructed mock-up to the printer. This way the printer knows what you expect even if your files are not prepared correctly. The printer may not fix the files automatically but they will at least notify you of problems.

Leave nothing to chance. Note all concerns to the printer. Ask for a proof.

Talk to the printer. Printers are always happy to provide you with information that allows you to prepare files to run properly on their devices.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck

Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Great, thanks so much. Just wondering ''use marks outside the printed area'' - what kind of marks would I use, lines made up with the pen tool?

Warm Regards
Melanie

Answer
Melanie,
Usually you can create a rectangle at the size and orientation of the piece that will be printed and while the rectangle is selected go to the Object menu and scroll to Crop Area and select Make. For editable crop marks select a rectangle and go to the Filter menu and scroll down to Create and select Crop Marks.

Good Luck

Nick