File Guidelines

  • File setup or Design charges will apply when necessary for additional preparation of supplied files that do not meet the file requirements.
  • File Formatting for production generally ranges from $15 - $30.
  • If more work is required beyond this charge, you will be notified beforehand. We can estimate any necessary work before it is begun based on a quick overview of your files.
  • If your files are submitted using file types: Microsoft Excel, Word, Publisher or PowerPoint we will do our best to convert your files to the necessary color mode but if we are unable to for any reason we are not responsible for the outcome of the print. Conversion from one color standard to another will cause colors to shift. File setup or Design charges will apply when necessary for additional preparation of supplied files that do not meet the file requirements
  • Please try to not use any images from a website on the internet. The internet displays images at 72 dots per inch (DPI) which is low resolution and should not be used for printing and may result in loss of quality.
    However we will do our best to work with the files that you send us.
  • To help prepare your file for professional printing, please see below for our standard file templates.


Because of our hours of operation and project workload we have to ask that files normally be sent through our website.
It is very important for us to work as quickly and accurately as possible to help you so we really appreciate your cooperation.

Thank you very much for your patience and we look forward to working with you.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any issues.

Click here to SEND FILES to The Penguins!

Large Format Inkjet Printing - FILE REQUIREMENTS

File Type Preferred - PDF
  • DO NOT add crop marks or a bleed to your file.
  • Please flatten artwork and save at 100% size. Must be cropped to actual production size or format will apply.
  • We also accept the following file formats: TIFF and outlined EPS files saved in CMYK color mode.
  • To avoid output problems, please convert ALL fonts to paths. File resolution should be at least 150 DPI at actual size.
  • Non-preferred files - there may be an additional cost for formatting your file(s) for the preparation of printing and production.
  • This cost generally ranges from $15 - $30.
  • If more work is required beyond this charge, you will be notified beforehand.
Color Mode - CMYK
If your files are submitted using any other color standard, such as Spot Pantone or RGB, then we cannot guarantee color matching. We will do our best to convert your files but conversion from one color standard to another will cause colors to shift.

Resolution 150dpi at 100% size
For an image to print properly, the image must be at least 150 dots per inch (DPI) at the final output size. Images with a resolution less than 150 DPI will reproduce poorly; the image will look fuzzy and/or pixilated. DO NOT try to change from a low resolution to a higher one by increasing the DPI in your imaging program. This will not improve the resolution or quality of your image.

Outlined Fonts & Strokes
When submitting a PDF file to us, you must convert your fonts and strokes into outlines. Outlining eliminates the need to send fonts along with your files, while maintaining a nice, crisp typeface.

Safety Zone
Text or artwork you wish to preserve from being trimmed must be 1/8" (.125) inside of the final dimension of your design.

Bleeds
Not necessary. We trim to the edge of the printed image.

Templates
We offer the most common file templates which are available to you for free. For optimum results please make sure to utilize the color zones. Design charges will apply when necessary for additional preparation of supplied files that do not meet the file requirements.

STANDARD TEMPLATES available on request:
1. Banners
2. Posterboards
3. Presentation Boards


Standard Paper Printing - FILE REQUIREMENTS

File Type - PDF
  • DO NOT add crop marks or a bleed to your file.
  • Please flatten artwork and save at 100% size. Must be cropped to actual production size or a File Formatting cost will applied.
  • We also accept the following file formats: outlined CS3 EPS files saved in CMYK color mode. To avoid output problems, please convert ALL fonts to paths and flattened to preserve transparancies.
  • Non-preferred files - there may be an additional cost for formatting your file(s) for the preparation of printing and production.
  • This cost generally ranges from $15 - $30.
  • If more work is required beyond this charge, you will be notified beforehand.
  • Other file types may be sent but may only used for content and layout purposes.


Color Mode - CMYK
If your files are submitted using any other color standard, such as RGB or Pantone, we will convert your files to CMYK but we are not responsible for the outcome of the print. Conversion from one color standard to another may cause colors to shift.

Outlined Fonts & Strokes
Outlining eliminates the need to send fonts along with your files, while maintaining a nice, crisp typeface.

Safety Zone
Text or artwork you wish to preserve from being trimmed must be at least 1/8" (.125) inside of the final dimension of your design.

Bleeds
Any time an image or color is printed to the edge of a page, it must extend 1/8" (.125) beyond the final dimensions of your job to allow for cutting variation.

Resolution 300dpi
Images with a resolution less than 300 DPI will reproduce poorly; the image will look fuzzy and/or pixilated.
DO NOT try to change from a low resolution to a higher one by increasing the DPI in your imaging program. This will not improve the resolution or quality of your image.

Templates
We offer the most common file templates which are available to you for free. For optimum results please make sure to utilize the color zones.

STANDARD TEMPLATES available on request:
  1. Brochure
  2. Business Card
  3. Envelope
  4. Flyer
  5. Letterhead
  6. Post card
  7. Posterboards
  8. Presentation Boards
  9. Rack Card
  10. Trading Card