Bleed
Bleed is the artwork that extends past the trim line or finished size of your product. If any element of your artwork is designed to be printed to the edge, it must be extended past the trim line and into the bleed area by a minimum of 0.0625".
The addition of bleed compensates for uncontrollable shifts that occur during the printing and trimming process; and ensures that any content touching the edges does not leave unwanted gaps or borders.
Fine Detail
Due to the slight texture of this stock, it cannot hold fine detail as well. The finest detail we recommend is 0.4pt line-weight; however, please note that light colors or lines that are not solid (such as dotted lines) should be made thicker.
Color
Artwork must be supplied in CMYK.
Image Resolution
All images should be 300 PPI or higher (at 100%).
See: Image Quality
File Format
Our preferred file format is PDF.
Color (Paper and Inks)
The color of the paper stock will affect the overall appearance of your design. Lighter colors of your design may not be very visible on a colored stock, and medium to darker colors tend to appear darker when printed on a colored stock. Darker colored stocks are only suitable to be printed with dark colors and black.
Photographs and gradients are not recommended as the colored stock will greatly alter the colors. Minimal colors and simple designs are best.
Ink Absorption
Uncoated stocks have a porous surface, which absorbs ink and can make colors appear more dull and not as crisp.
If you think about it in simple terms, coated stocks are like a pane of smooth glass and uncoated stocks are like a sponge. Ink will sit nicely on top of a coated (glass) stock surface, giving a bright and colorful, clean crisp output. In contrast, uncoated stocks will absorb some ink (like a sponge) causing colors to appear more dull and less vibrant; even not as sharp.
Print settings are optimized and calibrated for each type of stock to give the best output; however, this effect is a property of the paper. Many designers will add more saturation to colors when designing for an uncoated stock due to this effect. Others will create their designs with this "inconsistent" look as a desired effect, as it does tend to make the print feel more rustic, or handmade.