DOCUMENT SETUP
Create your documents (page size) at a scaled down version (say 25% final size). We scale up the EPS file in proportion to the final size required. This avoids any restraints you have regarding maximum page size.

Please do not lay out multiple posters to be output on the same page of a document, or even on different pages of the same document.  For each poster to be output please set up as a single page document, and for any placed files/images within the document, please ensure that these are individual single page files and not different pages of the same file.

On the original source documents, to the edge of the graphic (off the printed page) please specify the scale (eg. 25%) and any other relevant information.  DO NOT INCLUDE THIS when saving the document as a postscript EPS file.

Where the print meets the edge of the graphic, please apply a little bleed over the edge.

Treat pop-up system panels (see picture above) as one large poster - we will panel the image to output the individual panels.  However, please apply some bleed to the edges of the artwork so that we do not have to expand the image slightly to create the bleed and thus alter slightly the relative crop positions of the panels.

COLOURS
Specify your colours as CMYK or Pantone Process, and do not rely on your software to convert Pantone Spot colours to process CMYK, since the accuracy may not meet with your requirements.

FONTS
It’s safest to convert all fonts used to curves with Create Outlines (Adobe Illustrator), Convert to curves (CorelDraw), etc.

If fonts are not converted to curves, use only Postscript Type 1 fonts when creating your document and save them onto disk with the job. Truetype fonts don’t conform to postscript when saving the file as EPS.

GRAPHICS
When designing your graphic you can design it at a quarter scale (25%).  The important thing to remember is the final size of any images in your document.
When scanning graphics, please allow 17-20Mb of data per metre² of final print size (1.5-2Mb data per square foot). This should ensure sufficient image data to avoid pixelation when printing.  Note that this only applies to the scanned images and not to vector graphics or text which do not lose resolution when scaled up.

eg. A1 poster
594 width x 841 height / 1000 x 17Mb = 8.49Mb file size.

eg. 3x3 P300 curved pop-up system (end panels not printed)
3 panels x 635 width x 2140 height / 1000 x 17Mb = 69.3Mb file size.

eg. 24" x 36" poster
24 x 36 / 144 x 1.5Mb = 9Mb file size

FILE/MEDIA SUPPORTED
Apple Mac or PC Floppy Disc, ZIP disc, CD-ROM

QUARKXPRESS (save as V.4.11 or previous)
Check that the graphics you intend to be printed have the print option ticked in Utilities:Picture Usage.

From the FILE menu use SAVE PAGE AS EPS. Make sure that the options match the following criteria...

Data:Binary Format:PC Colour

OPI:Include Images Scale:100%

Give the file name a name of up to 8 characters and an extension of .EPS

Hint: Graduated blends created in QUARKXPRESS tend to reproduce with steps ("banding") due to the way QUARKXPRESS handles postscript. To avoid this, use Adobe Illustrator or Aldus Freehand to create the blends, and import them into QUARKXPRESS as a graphic - this will reproduce a smoother blend when printed.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR (save as V.9 or previous)
Delete any excess artwork (that which you don’t want printed) so that it is not included in the EPS file.

Select Save As from the file menu and then Preview: Colour Macintosh or IBM PC, and Save Illustration with a name of up to 8 characters with the .EPS extension.

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP (save as V.7 or previous)
Use FILE:Save As EPS to save the file (don’t save as JPEG EPS).

Turn DCS off. Save in Binary encoding format.

CORELDRAW (save as V.7 or previous)
Delete any excess artwork (that which you don’t want printed) so that it is not included in the EPS file.

Select EXPORT then *.EPS(Placeable) (don’t use *.ai or *.EPS)

Use the option Save Text As Curves when exporting (this will eliminate the need for fonts used within the document).