Artwork Capabilities and Guidelines

All future projects being assigned to Reliance Plastics USA for print and prepress production will need to adhere to the following guidelines. If you have any questions, please consult with your sales representative.

 

Designs: The designs should be created in a vector format program (Adobe Illustrator, Quark, etc). Designs created in Photoshop will not print correctly and will have to be recreated, at the customer’s expense. Placed images can be used in the design (see Placed Images). Suitable programs are listed under “Artwork Files” or the graphics department can be contact.

 

Borders / Edges: The rotogravure printing process allows the artwork to print to the very edge of the design. Please note that it is a shard edge so the next impression has to match. Bands of solid color on the left and right are an easy solution.

 

Knockout/white text: Designs that utilize knockout white text will need to include s think black outlines. This can be added in prepress.

 

Placed Images: All placed images should be saved as CYMK or Duo-tone images. TIFF’s and EPS’s are preferred. All images should be 300dpi. Layered PSD files also help considerably in color correction.

 

UPC’s: UPC’s can be supplied to us in the artwork or we can replace any FPO artwork. The UPC width reduction will be completed in-house as needed. The color of the UPC should be a line black color. If line black is not available, use the next darkest line color. Any variations of RED cannot be used as a UPC color. The UPC bars should follow the print direction for best results.

 

Color Usage: Reliance Plastics USA is capable of printing up to 10 colors. Registered white and registered surface inks/effects (such as matte varnishes) are possible. For process work, an additional Black is recommended for text, separate from the process Black, in order to reproduce a Black of acceptable density. All PANTONE colors should be clearly identified and used properly in the artwork design.

 

Artwork Files: Reliance Plastics USA can support a wide array of common artwork file formats from either MAC or PC computers. In most cases, we request all fonts to be included with the design AND a separate file with all text converted to paths/outlines/vector. Adobe illustrator AI files are preferred but we are able to accept Quark, Adobe Indesign, Corel Draw and PageMaker. Designs created in Microsoft WORD (or similar) will need to be recreated as a layout file. Files should be sent on CD/DVD. We do not currently allow customer uploads of digital files but if the size is less then 5mb it can be emailed. We are able to download files from FTP or similar web transfer services.

 

Customer supplied Proofs/Samples: If available, customer supplied proofs should be sent along with the artwork. The proof should indicate, or be noted elsewhere, if the proof is color accurate and approved. Print samples from previous print runs should be included if they are color accurate or to be used as some other reference.

 

Trapping & Prepress: All trapping and prepress work will be completed in-house prior to printing. If trapped files exist, please forward them to the Reliance Plastics USA Art Department for review.