Knowledgebase / FAQ
This is CEC’s knowledgebase and frequently asked questions page. Below are answers to some common questions about the services CEC offers as well as some helpful downloads and guidelines for how to set up files for the best results.
Table of Contents
Downloads
Here are some files and applications which will make submitting files to CEC a little easier.
All files are saved as .ZIP archives. You may need to download an application to open .ZIP files (such as 7-Zip, listed below).
- 7-Zip: (PC-only) A free app for opening and creating various archive files (.ZIP, .RAR, etc…). This link will open 7-Zip’s website in a new tab/window.
- PDF Job Options: For use with Acrobat/Distiller, Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.
- CutePDF Writer: (PC-only) This free application allows you to create a PDF file from any application that you can print from. This link will open CutePDF’s website in a new tab/window. You will need to download & install 2 files. Read the installation instructions on the CutePDF site for details.
Digital Printing
CEC’s File Setup Guidelines
Our Prepress guidelines will help you to bypass common pitfalls associated with preparing digital artwork for print such as embedding fonts and unlinked images.
CEC strongly prefers Adobe PDF files, but we also support the following professional design programs *:
- The Adobe Creative Suite
- InDesign
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- QuarkXPress
We also support:
- The Microsoft Office Suite
- Publisher
- Word
- Powerpoint
- Excel
- Adobe Postscript (.ps)
*Remember to include all of the support files (images, fonts, etc…).
When submitting artwork online it is best to combine your files into a .ZIP, .RAR, or .SIT (Stuffit) archive first. You can download 7-Zip, a free file archiving tool from our Downloads section above.
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Good: EPS
Encapsulated Postscript language file format can contain both vector and bitmap graphics and is supported by virtually all graphics, illustration, and page layout programs. EPS format is used to transfer Postscript artwork between applications. EPS format supports Lab, CMYK, RGB, Indexed Color, Duotone, Grayscale, and Bitmap color modes.
Good: TIFF, TIF
Tagged-Image File Format is used to exchange files between applications and computer platforms. TIFF format supports CMYK, RGB, Lab, Indexed Color, Grayscale, and Bitmap mode images.
Bad: GIF
Graphic Interchange Format is commonly used to display Indexed Color graphics and images in HTML documents over the World Wide Web. GIF only supports Indexed Color.
Bad: JPEG or JPG
Joint Photographic Experts Group format is used to display photographs and other continuous tone images in HTML documents over the Web. JPEG format supports CMYK, RGB, and Grayscale color modes.
High resolution requires all photos to be 300 dpi (dots per inch) and bitmapped images to be 1200 dpi. If you design a job at 72 dpi or lower, your image will be pixelated or fuzzy and will not reproduce correctly.
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Good: CMYK
(Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) – These are the colors used for printing.
Bad: RGB
(Red, Green, Blue) – These are the colors your monitor uses to display.
Color Matching
In order to maintain fast turnarounds and competitive pricing, CEC adheres to a “pleasing color” standard. While there is no guarantee that your finished piece will be an exact match of your printed sample, we will make every effort to create an attractive, professional grade digital print.
There are often widely varying results from different output devices. Even from one commercial printing firm to another, there can be significant differences in results. In particular, inkjet and laser prints are known to look substantially different than true offset lithography.
If you require precise color match, please contact us to arrange for a digital color proof. There are additional charges for precise color matching service. Also, if you request color correction or other changes after you see your proof, there will be a minimum of $60.00 charged for color correction time and a new proof.
I have an RGB file. Does this mean CEC will not be able to match the colors when printed?
Not exactly. While CMYK is best for digital printing, CEC’s digital color press does have the ability to compensate for files that are composed using an RGB color profile. The important thing to remember is that there may be some trade off. The press is still using Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black to recreate the image. But if you specify which colors in the document are most important for us to try and match, we can usually come to a pleasing result.
Can’t I just convert the file from RGB to CMYK in Photoshop?
Yes, you can. However, this often results in very muted tones and ‘flat’ images with little contrast. We have found that is usually best to leave the conversion to our digital press.
More Coming Soon!
Variable Data
Variable Data Digital Printing makes each sheet different by pulling selected information from a data file to produce personalized or unique materials.
- Perfect for one-to-one marketing programs
- Print only what you need to fit the life cycle of the document
- Increase response rates with individualized mailings that speak to your customers’ interests and needs
- Print on a wide variety of materials including: paper stocks, paper board, plastic and static cling
- Reduce waste, avoid over-runs of unused product and eliminate the need for large amounts of storage space
- Color Digital printing
Variable Data Digital Printing produces eye-catching, personalized products including:
- postcards
- posters
- brochures
- letters
- greeting cards
- labels
- self mailers
- calendars
More Coming Soon!
Direct Mail
By combining our variable data digital printing and postal permit, CEC can save you time and money on your direct mail marketing campaigns!
Can CEC mail my postcards, brochures, etc. using my existing mailing list?
Absolutely! For postcards, brochures and newsletters, CEC Document Services will gladly mail your material to a list of mailing addresses that you supply. We can support a number of formats, but comma-delimited text files (.csv) are preferred.
Please keep in mind that your list should be as clean and consistent as possible for the best pricing. For example, if your list has a “Address” field and a “Address 2″ field, but “Address 2″ sometimes contains a city name, this can cause problems with formatting the list for printing and mailing.
Can you use my mailing permit and mail my material from your location?
Mailing permits are linked to local USPS offices and may only be used in the locality where they are issued. If you would like CEC to address and print your material using your permit and deliver it to you, you could then mail it from your location.
If you have a Non-Profit mailing permit, CEC can use a “ghost permit” process which would allow us to mail the project with our permit and from our location using your permit’s Non-Profit discounts. Please contact a client service representative for details.
Do you have postcard and brochure templates?
Currently, CEC does not have templates designed for client use. We are planning on offering template-based design services in the near future. We may be able to design a mail piece for you though. Please contact a client service representative for more details.
How should I lay out a piece to comply with USPS mailing regulations?
When designing a piece for mailing, generally you need to have margins of 0.25″ on the top, right and left edges and 0.625″ along the bottom edge on the address side. As with any project you are working on with CEC, please call us with specific questions.
More Coming Soon!
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