FILE SETUP GUIDE

Big Colour operate a wide range of print and finishing types of equipment, each with their own requirements for file and colour setup. Below is a general guide for file preparation as well as downloads for specific processes.

File Types

Big Colours preference is supply of files created in Adobe Creative Suite (Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and for most applications we request that files are supplied as PDF’s saved as the ‘PDF/X-3:2002’ format.
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Through testing, Big Colour has found this specific format to provide the highest level of compatibility with our printers and RIPs, it is important that this format is used and not other standard PDF formats such as ‘Highest Quality Print’ or ‘Press Quality’ as these are susceptible to causing transparency and gradient print errors. The PDF/X-3:2002 format comes standard on all Adobe applications post CS2. Where at all possible please outline all fonts

Colour Setup

Big Colour recommend all colour spaces and output settings are saved in RGB. This will both create smaller files and ensure a greater gamut of colour is produced on our print presses. If you are creating your file over multiple applications (ID / PS / AI) it is important that the colour settings (icc profiles etc) are matching across all of these, so that your linked and native images/colour save consistently for the final output.
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If your artwork contains spot colours please leave the spot colour in your file (except for when it is used in a gradient or transparency) for the most accurate colour match - do not change it to process/CMYK.

Size and Resolution

The correct size and resolution is based on the final output of the job. For prints up to 2 SQM please save the file at 100% of the output size and the image resolution at 100-150 dpi
For prints over this size, files should be saved at 25% of the output size and image resolution 75-100 dpi (at full size - so 300-400 dpi at 25%)
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If you are unsure of the resolution quality, an idea is to view the image at 100% on your computer this will give you a fair indication of the output resolution.

Bleed and Trim Marks

For standard prints, please supply files with 3mm bleed on all edges, this will allow us to digitally trim these prints.
For complex and signage graphic applications please ensure you talk to your account manager for bleed requirements specific to that job, as a rule of thumb wall graphics (large prints applied to walls) will need 20mm bleed on all edges.

Please do not save files with crop marks.
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Different banner and display systems will also has specific bleed requirements, in most cases Big Colour will have file templates and guides for these, please check with your account manager before setting these files up.

For most applications Big Colour will trim and cut prints on our Zund digital cutting system, this output requires the addition of a specific dieline with a named spot colour, please check with your account manager for more information on this.