Design-supplied jobs are assumed to be accurate and complete as supplied; if you are submitting your project as design-supplied, please be aware that it is your responsibility to submit files for every part of your job. CD projects normally require a CD label, cassette projects need a file for the cassette shell printing, and if you are getting posters or postcards you will need to supply files for these as well. While all of our prepress specialists have some design background, our workflow is such that they do not normally have the time to create missing parts of your projects. It is also your responsibility as the designer to proof your layouts; if you find a lot of correction that need to be made after we receive your files, we will charge you to make these modifications for you.

We will check your supplied files and can correct technical errors you may have made. We examine every piece of every file to make sure they are ready for professional print production. If we find errors in your files (not following the crop and fold marks, insufficient bleed or safety margins, RGB images, small errors, etc.), we can correct them for you. But we do charge $50/hour for this service. For small errors we will let you know what needs to be done and an estimated charge for us to implement corrections. For larger problems, we may ask for a new file from you. Either way, please do not be angry or upset if we find problems with your files. It is our responsibility to make sure we can successfully print your files, and it is as much to your benefit as well as ours that we find all the problems at the outset. If there are significant problems with your files, we will work with you before we print anything.

To summarize, it is your responsibility to create all the artwork for your project, to proofread your work to make sure everything is accurate and correct, and to supply us with all the files necessary to print your artwork (fonts, scans, layouts for every part of your project, etc.). We will check your files for specifications, to make sure your files are ready for professional film output and printing.

Q. WHY SHOULD I USE THE TEMPLATES?

We have set up templates for each of the major desktop publishing & graphic design software packages Adobe and Corel DRAW. These templates have been designed by our pre-press and print departments to ensure that your job will meet our print shops specifications. If you send your job in without the templates, we have to adjust your layouts to fit, and this can cause delays in your print work. There is also the possibility that, if your supplied files are far enough out of spec, we will not be able to use them at all. If you do not find what you are looking for call us. Using our templates correctly will prevent this from occurring. If you need MAC templates we can supply them. However we are IBM based.

Q. I'VE DOWNLOADED THE template NOW WHAT?

The PC templates are contained in a compressed ZIP file. In order to extract them, you will need to have WinZIP (or any other file compression utility than can handle ZIP files) installed on your system. You can download a trial version of WinZIP from www.winzip.com

Once you've extracted the templates using WinZIP, use Explorer or File Manager to check out the new folder on your hard drive. Each set of templates is divided into categories: CDs and cassettes. Inside each of these folders you will find the templates you need to create your layouts! Open the selected files in your art programs.

Q. I DON'T SEE TEMPLATES FOR MY APPLICATION(S)?

We strive to stay on top of current desktop publishing technology, and we accept files from almost all major page layout, illustration and image editing applications.

Here is a list of software and file formats we can accept. Create you art in these(in order of preference):
1)COREL DRAW or COREL PAINT versions 5 through 11,(Templates are in v7. Ask for other versions.) The software is the most robust for ALL your needs. And it is the most intuitive and simple to use.
2)PHOTOSHOP up to version 7
3)ILLUSTRATOR up to version 10

Please note that at this time, we do not accept Microsoft Publisher files or Quark page layout files. This is due to the application's lack of pre-press functions (printing separations, image control, etc.) and lack of interest in the software. Images may not be submitted inside a Microsoft Word or other word processor document!!!

Export your finished design or provide us the elements you want to include in the design we will create for you,in:
1).TIF(Color=CMYK)(Black and White Grey Scale 8 BIT)
2)JPEG (.jpg)
3)Adobe or Corel Photo Paint native (.ai or .cpt)
4)Windows Bitmaps (.bmp)
All at minimum 300 DPI to size or specifically greater if we are to enlarge the images.

Vector Art is best when submitted as (used for logos, etc.):
1)Illustrator (.ai)
2)Corel Draw (.cdr)

Windows Metafile (.wmf) We do not want to encourage the use of metafiles, as they are problematic.

Fonts:
We can accept either TrueType. TrueType fonts will be a .ttf file.

Unformatted Text Only: (NOTE: ALL TEXT SHOULD BE IN ONE SINGLE DOCUMENT!)
1)Microsoft Word 2000, text should be unformatted, with no images. (.DOC)
2)Word Perfect, text should be unformatted, with no images
3)ASCII / DOS text files (.txt)
4)Rich text files (.rtf)

Q. HOW DO I USE THE TEMPLATES?

Just open each template as you would any other document. You'll see that each template comes complete with crop and fold marks, bleed and safety guidelines, and if the template is complex you'll also find additional notes and overlays set up to help you.

Q. WHICH TEMPLATE(S) DO I USE?

When in doubt, open them up and take a look on-screen. Use some brains. Then call us. We can help.

Q. DO I NEED TO SUPPLY LAYOUT FILES FOR EVERY PART OF MY PACKAGE?

Absolutely! Supplied-design jobs are assumed to be accurate and complete, and are priced accordingly. Each template set comes complete with every template for every package we offer. Commonly omitted files include the disc and cassette shell, or supplying CD files but no cassette layouts. To qualify for the full design-supplied discounts, you must supply layout files for the entire package.

Q. WHAT ARE ALL THESE TEXT BOXES AND LINES IN THE TEMPLATES?

We have placed certain text boxes, crop and registration marks, fold marks, and other elements in the templates to help us prepare your job for film output and the print shop. Under no circumstances should you delete, move or otherwise modify these elements. Anything that may be "in your way" while designing, such as the guides and overlays, are always on non-printing layers that can be made invisible or "sent to the back." Consult your application's help file for information on adjusting layers. We do not teach you how to use your software.

Q. WHAT IS BLEED?

When the print shop goes to cut your printed pieces down to size, they require that any objects that are butted up against the edge of the page actually extend 1/8" past the cut lines. This way, if the cutter is misaligned slightly, there won't be any white gaps at the edge of your booklets or J cards.

To see an example of this, print out your file, and then try to cut along the edges with a pair of scissors. See how sometimes there may be little bits of plain white paper showing along the edges? If you were cutting through the image instead along the edge, this would be impossible, as there would be ink on both sides of the cut.

Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much bleed you need to add to your layouts. These are generally the "outermost" guides.

Q. WHAT IS THE SAFETY MARGIN?

Think of the safety margin as bleed in reverse. Our print shop requires you to keep your type and other important non-bleed elements 1/8" inside the cut marks.

Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much safety margin to allow. These are generally the "innermost" guides.

Q. WHAT IS A RELEASE NUMBER?

The release number is the number we use to track the various pieces of your job through the production process. It is also the number (along with your UPC code) that any retailer will use to store your product in their computers and inventory. We require that your release number appear on every piece of your job, front and back. Industry standard placement includes the spines on your tray card or cassette J cards, the back cover of your CD booklet, anywhere on the inside or your booklets or J cards, on the cassette and CD imprinting, etc. If you haven't placed your release number(s) properly we will place them for you. TIP: Place the release number before or after your legal notice (i.e., AVL98014 ©2002 K&R. All rights reserved. Unauthorized...). This way it doesn't really stand out from the rest of your lyrics, text, etc., if you don't want it to. If you don't already have one, we can assign one to you.

Q. HOW SMALL CAN I MAKE MY TYPE?

Generally, for your printed pieces you can go as small as 4 points for black type on a light or white background, 6 points for white type on a dark, black, or complex background (also known as reverse type). This varies depending on the typeface. For your on-disc printing, the same rules apply, but in addition thin typefaces tend to get blown out of fill in when silk-screened. For your cassette shell printing, you cannot go below 6 points - no exceptions - and it is usually best to stick with very sturdy faces.

When choosing your fonts, choose carefully: the fancier typefaces are often referred to as "display" faces, because they are really intended to be used at large sizes, 18 points and larger. For smaller type, such as lyrics and credits, it is usually best to stick with simpler faces such as Arial or Times New Roman.

Q. I WANT TO SCAN MY OWN PHOTOS. HOW DO I DO THIS?

If you have access to a scanner, you can scan your photos easily. There are a few simple rules you must follow, however, to ensure the quality of your scans:

All scans must be made at 300 pixels per inch (sometimes referred to incorrectly as dots per inch) at actual print size. For example, if you want to use a photo for the cover of your CD booklet, you'll need to set your scanning software to 300 ppi, 5" x 5". If your software wants the measurements in pixels, simply multiply the inches times the ppi (300 ppi x 5" = 1500 pixels).

DO NOT SCAN A SMALLER SIZE AND THEN STRETCH THE PHOTO IN YOUR PAGE LAYOUT SOFTWARE! This effectively lowers the resolution (a 300 ppi image that is enlarged 200% become 150 ppi). If you need to enlarge, scan at a higher ppi rate (a 600 ppi image that is enlarged 200% become 300 ppi). Do your math.

DO NOT SCAN AT A LOWER RESOLUTION AND THEN INCREASE IT WITH PHOTOSHOP OR PHOTOPAINT! This is not a shortcut to scanning at 300 ppi, and will result in blurry and or pixilated images.

If you have an image editor, such as Adobe PhotoShop or Corel PhotoPaint, you should convert your scans to CMYK (32-bit) color mode before using them. If you don't, we will have to make this conversion before we can print your files, and your colors can change. It is undoubtedly better that you see any color changes for yourself, so if color correction needs to be done you can do it yourself. We will have to charge you for any color correction work to your images.

Save your scans as either .TIF or JPEG files. Avoid using .BMP or .GIF files as they can degrade the quality, and they do not allow you to save in CMYK color mode. If you use .EPS files or .CPT, be sure that you save the image with an 8-bit TIFF preview. MAC users need to look at the file extensions to make sure you have it correct.

Q. WHY DO MY EPS FILES APPEAR SO PIXILATED ON SCREEN?

EPS, or Encapsulated PostScript files are comprised of two halves. The actual image is stored in the file as raw PostScript code (the language the computer uses to talk to a PostScript printer). Since this is just code, the file also contains a low resolution preview image just for on-screen viewing. When the file is printed to a PostScript printer, the computer disregards the low resolution preview, and actually sends the code for the hi resolution image to the printer.

If you're trying to print an EPS file to a non-PostScript printer (such as a desktop inkjet or low-end laser printer), you will be printing the low resolution preview image. EPS files can only be printed correctly to PostScript printers. And this is why we do not care to use them.

Q. HOW DO I MAKE MY IMAGE CIRCULAR FOR MY ON-DISC PRINTING?

Basically, you don't. Leave your image as a rectangle; use the circle in the template itself to mask the image. This will result in a perfect circle, and exactly the right dimensions. Consult your software's manual or HELP file for information on masking your images into the template. We don't teach you how to use your software.

Q. WHY ARE MY FILES SO LARGE?

Don't worry, this is normal. A 5" x 5" scan, in CMYK color mode at 300 dpi, will take up about 8.5 MB on your hard drive. These are large files, but there's no good way to get around this. If you have WinZip installed on your system, you can use it to compress, or archive all your files into one. WinZip can often compress files down to as little as 10% of their original size. You can download a trial version of WinZIP from www.winzip.com Also if you use Stuffit a MAC based software, compress to .ZIP or .EXE

Q. HOW CAN I SEND MY FILES IN?

The ideal format to submit your layout is *.tif, CMYK, 300 dpi, to size, uncompressed, and on an IBM PC compliant CDr or DVD. All programs should have an "export" function or "save as" to create the *.tif CMYK format. With *.cdr Corel Draw files, include the fonts in a sub directory just in case we need them. Please.

With large files such as these for the most effective way to send your files we recommend using any of the following storage mediums:

1)Idealistically you can E-Mail them to us. Click recordav@knr.net when you are ready. Just attach the files you want to send. This requires us to send you a proof print to confirm reception.

2)CD-R recorded in an IBM PC-compliant file system, and finalized. Consult your CD-R documentation for more details on this. We will assume the disc was checked for completeness. Nero works well too. It's a drag and drop software for making CD and DVD copies.

Check your disks and/or cartridges before you send them in! Just because Windows did not report a file copy error doesn't mean there wasn't one. If you used WinZIP or Stuffit, try extracting the files to make sure the files archived correctly. If you're sending in a CD-R, check to see if you can read it in a standard CD drive on another computer (not your original CD drive).

Q. HOW CAN I SEND MY FONTS IN?

The primary font format for Window-based computers is the TrueType™ font. All of your installed TrueType™ fonts are usually located in the WINDOWS/FONTS folder, and contain the .ttf file extension. All you need to do is copy the necessary font files. Oftentimes the filenames are very cryptic, but if you double-click on a font file, you'll get a preview window so you know you're about to copy the right ones.

While we recommend using only TrueType™ fonts under Windows, it is possible to use Adobe Type 1™ fonts also. Type 1™ fonts consist of two files – a .pfm file and a .pfb file. You must send in both files in order for us to be able to use the font, since one file is the printer font and the other is the screen font. Type 1™ fonts do not have a set location on your hard drive, but Adobe Type Manager (which you must have in order to use these fonts) usually stores them in a folder called PSFONTS.

We currently cannot accept Adobe Multiple Master fonts, as we cannot print them on our systems here. For the time being, any MM fonts you supply will have to be converted to standard fonts, and this may result in altered kerning and spacing values.

Q. WHAT IF I CONVERT ALL MY TYPE TO PATHS OR CURVES?

Under no circumstances should you convert large portions of type to paths or curves. When you convert a large block of text, the resulting number of paths is too large for a PostScript printer to handle, and your type will not print correctly. Not to mention the fact that this would make any editing impossible. It is much easier and more reliable to leave your type as type, and send in the required fonts.

Q. DO I HAVE TO SEND MY SCANS IN IF THEY'RE EMBEDDED?

Absolutely! If we need to do any editing on the scans, whether to add bleed, convert to CMYK or to adjust the resolution, we will need your scans as individual TIFFs, or JPGs. Each page layout program handles embedding images differently. QuarkXpress always links to the images, CorelDraw always embeds which is OK and Freehand and PageMaker give you the option, but regardless of whether the images are embedded or not, we need the graphic files separately if you do not send us *.tif, CMYK format files.

As a general rule, you should never embed your images. Always link them, and send in the image files along with the layouts.

Q. CAN I USE OLE (OBJECT LINKING AND EMBEDDING) TO IMPORT GRAPHICS INTO MY LAYOUTS?

Never! OLE only works if the end-user has all of the same software and software versions as you do on your system! Since this is a situation that probably doesn't exist, you must IMPORT or PLACE your art into the layouts.

Q. CAN I SUPPLY A POSTSCRIPT FILE FOR OUTPUT?

NO!

Q. WHAT ABOUT TRAPPING?

Unless you're skilled and experienced at trapping your artwork, it's probably best to leave the trapping to us. We have skilled professionals to ensure that your job is trapped correctly.

WORDS TO THE WISE: DESIGN AND LAYOUT TIPS

While the subject of art and graphic design are far beyond the scope of this tutorial, here are some suggestions to help you in the design process:

In almost every instance, less is more. Don't over-complicate things just for the sake of filling in all the available space. Leaving ample space in your layouts forces the eye to focus on the images and text that is there. Use that to your advantage, drawing the reader in where you want them to be.

Don't use every font you own. Usually, two or three different typefaces are sufficient to complete a design. Again, less is more.

Take a look at some CDs in your collection for inspiration and guidance. Think about how their inserts are designed, and how all the elements fit together to form a complete package. You can learn a lot simply by observing how the pros do it.

Learn your software! Professional page layout applications such as Corel Draw contain literally hundreds of features for handling text and images. Read the manual that came with your software, and use these features to your advantage. Why waste time adding thirty spaces before a title to center it when this can be done automatically with one click of the mouse, with much better results?

Upgrade your software! Manufacturers try hard to keep their products compatible with previous versions, but this is not always perfect. Using an obsolete version of the software is just asking for trouble. For example, CorelDraw is up to version 12, and will open back to version 7 with few or no problems. However, files saved in version 6 format often open incorrectly, and we cannot open files from version 5 or earlier at all. Not to mention the fact that newer versions of the software will have newer and updated features to make the design process so much easier.

Use the right software for the job! Each software package has its strengths and weaknesses; PhotoShop was never intended for page layout, but it's the best application for image editing. Scan, crop, color-correct and manipulate your images in PhotoShop or Photo Paint, design your logos and vector elements in Illustrator, and use Corel Draw for your actual page layout and typesetting. CorelDraw combines illustration and page layout into one package and is most often the best we have ever worked with.

Stick with one platform! All of your files should be Windows. If you are using files from someone else's machine, make sure these files are converted to the platform your files are based on. Avoid MAC.

Be consistent. If you use a font for the track listing on page 3 of your CD booklets, use the same font for the track listing on the tray card as well. If the tracks are numbered in one place, then they should be numbered everywhere.

Attention to detail: proofread everything, print out copies and cut them out to fit in the jewel box to see how everything works together, check your images again and again in your software to make sure they're correct. If something seems wrong, take the time to fix it. If you notice anything about the design that you don't like, work on it some more. Get it right before you send the files to us, because for changes you want to make here will be a charged to you.

Don't give yourself unrealistic deadlines! It is very unwise to schedule your release party for the day you're supposed to receive your discs. If anything goes wrong in the production process, you've got a party to throw but no CDs to sell. Plan everything as far ahead as possible; there is nothing wrong with having your CDs in hand weeks before your release date. Major labels do it with every album. When projects get rushed though, often the result is an inferior product. As in the previous note, if something is wrong, make sure you have time to fix it. Just because we can deliver CDs in two weeks doesn't mean you should plan everything around that timetable. October through December are slow months for standard CDs. You may consider a 24 hour turn on Cdrs. But they are more expensive.

Not everyone is an artist. If you feel that you're getting in over your head, turn it over to a professional. Saving some money does not justify a poorly designed package. Keep in mind that many of your potential customers are those who haven't heard your music yet, so for them all they have to go on is your cover. If you feel your design skills are inadequate, there is no shame in hiring an artist to do it for you. We have top-notch professionals who can make your project even a WEB PAGE come alive. Contact us for more information.

A FINAL CHECKLIST

When you're ready to submit your job, make sure that you're including all of the following items:
your layouts files, your fonts, your scans, printouts of every file, a listing of the files on your disk, any special instructions you may have!!!!!!!!!!

Please make sure you are supplying a file for every piece of your job (including cassette shell printing, posters, postcards. etc.) If you or your artist have not completed all of the layouts, please do so before submitting your discs. Now is also the time to do a final proofread of all your text and layouts to make sure everything is accurate and complete.

SPECIAL NOTE TO QUARK USERS: WE STOPED USING THAT SOFTWARE DUE TO MAJOR PROBLEMS.

SPECIAL NOTES TO CorelDraw USERS: There are several features of CorelDraw that we recommend avoiding, as they produce inconsistent results on different systems, and sometimes will not print at all. If you have used any of these features, please rework your files before submitting them to us.

FONT EMBEDDING: Under no circumstances should you embed your fonts in the CorelDraw document, and not send us the actual font files. This feature only works if you never re-save the document, and that is something that we must do in all cases. If you use this font embedding feature and do not send us the actual font files, we will have to put your project on hold while we wait for you to send us the fonts.

DROP SHADOW EFFECT: CorelDraw had a built-in drop shadow effect that you can apply to any object. These drop shadows often do not produce the desired results, or print incorrectly. If you use the drop shadow effect, please be advised that it may not print as you see it on your screen, and we cannot correct this on our end. The correct method of creating the popular blurred and transparent drop shadow effect is to use the gaussian blur filter in PhotoShop or Photo-PAINT. You can create a solid drop shadow on type by duplicating it (CTRL-D), changing the color and moving it behind the main text.

DRAG & DROP (OR CUT & PASTE) FOR IMAGES: The only correct method to place scanned images, clipart, or other items into your CorelDraw document is to use the IMPORT command in the FILE menu. Dragging and dropping or cutting and pasting an image from PhotoShop into CorelDraw does not work, and prevents us from easily checking the resolution and color depth of your images. Text should always be flowed into a paragraph box or artistic text insertion point. If you've placed your text and cannot edit it with Corel's text tools, you've done it wrong (in other words, the status bar should never read EMBEDDED OBJECT when you have type selected. It should always read PARAGRAPH or ARTISTIC TEXT).

LINKING IMAGES: Newer versions of CorelDraw allow you to link to your images, rather than embedding them in the document. This feature does not work properly – please deselect LINK BITMAP EXTERNALLY in the import dialog box, so CorelDraw embeds the image.

Q. WHAT IF I'M SUPPLYING MY OWN FILM AND/OR INSERTS?

We no longer accept films because the preferred medium is all digital now.

DISCLAIMER

K&R does not guarantee delivery times. Supplied designs are assumed to be accurate and complete. You may request changes to your files, but this may incur additional charges for typesetting and/or art work. Incomplete submissions may also incur additional charges. If your supplied files are not in our templates, not to our specifications, or otherwise substandard, your job will be delayed and there may be additional charges for services rendered. K&R is not responsible for your original art, transparencies, photographs, film, supplied computer files or disks, SyQuest or Zip cartridges, or CD-R submissions. It is industry practice to retain copies of your files at your location in case your submitted files are lost or damaged. K&R Productions will make every effort to return your artwork, files, computer disks and other submissions upon completion of your job at your request, but will not issue any sort of refund or credit for lost or damaged submissions.