Specialty Printing
Specialty printing and finishing processes require properly prepared production artwork. Use the guidelines below to separate, label and identify specialty elements, and to work correctly with supplied templates and dielines, so our prepress team clearly understands how your finished piece should be produced.
Die Cuts, Folds & Scores
For projects that include die cutting, folding, scoring or perforating:
- Place die lines, folds, scores and perforations on a separate, clearly labeled layer
- Use clearly identified spot colors for production guides
- Keep production guides separate from printed artwork
- Extend artwork beyond die-cut edges when bleed is required
- Keep important text and graphics safely away from cuts and folds
- Do not flatten production guides into the artwork
Foil, Embossing & Specialty Coatings
For foil stamping, embossing, spot coatings and other specialty processes:
- Place each specialty element on its own clearly labeled layer
- Use a clearly named spot color for each production element
- Keep specialty elements separate from CMYK artwork
- Clearly identify what each spot color represents
- Avoid rasterizing or flattening specialty elements unless instructed by Southwestern
Templates & Dielines
If Southwestern provides a production template or dieline:
- Do not resize or alter the template
- Build artwork using the supplied dimensions
- Keep the template on its own clearly labeled layer
- Do not delete required production marks or guides
- Set template elements to non-printing when instructed
When in doubt, ask first. Specialty projects can have unique artwork requirements. Contact Southwestern before finalizing your artwork if you're unsure how an element should be prepared.
Ready to Send Your Files?
Everything checked and ready to go? Upload your artwork and supporting files securely, or contact Southwestern if you need help before submitting.
Submitting native files? Please include a PDF of the final approved artwork with your packaged files as a visual reference for our prepress team.
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