Gail Moore-Huie
Customer Service and
Graphic Designer

Call or email Gail
with questions regarding
preparing your files.

(678) 205-4453

Jeff Sands
Production Perfectionist

Call or email Jeff
with technical questions
about your print project.

(678) 205-4453

Order online

Jimmy Norton

Email Jimmy if you have
special requirements on a
particularly complicated
production issue.

Order online

Preparing your document properly is the most important part of the printing process. Remember, often we print directly from your file without altering it in any way. At Kipha Communications we want to make sure that you are completely satisfied with our work. For this reason, we are including the following guidelines that you should follow when submitting your printing work to us.

We recommend that you read this entire page and become familiar with all of our guidelines.

Topic
Document Size
Image and Resolution
Color
Fonts
Compression
Software

Document Size
Kipha Communications prints cut-sheet documents up to 12" x 18".

When you select the size of the document you need, please make sure that you leave an additional 1/8th of an inch all around for bleeding if your document bleeds. This will ensure that your entire art and text will be visible once it is cut to it's final size. Make sure, however, that no important art or text is in the bleeding area. You should also have at least 1/8" inside the final size (see graphic below).

What's a bleed?
The purpose of a bleed is to continue a color, image or design off the edge of the paper. For 4" x 6" postcards, for example, the print size of the card should be 4.25" x 6.25" and the portion of the card that will be trimmed off when they are cut to the final 4" x 6" size is the bleed area.

Is a bleed required?
No. Only if there is a color, an image or design that goes to the edge of the document. A document with a white border and with no image or design that goes beyond or to the edge does not require a bleed. Kipha Communications is not responsible if important artwork or text extends beyond the bleed area and is cut off!

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Image and Resolution
All images must be submitted at 300 dpi at 100% scale (of the print size) and must be submitted in uncompressed TIFF format without layers (flattenned). Full-color (4-color process) images must all be converted to CMYK colors.

Remember, a higher quality image resolution does not always result in better print quality. Excessive images resolutions (beyond 300 dpi) will only dramatically increase your file size and in most cases will not improve the print quality. Furthermore, the extra time required to handle these larger files could delay your turnaround time.

Vector-based graphics suitable for type and logos should be submitted at 100% scale and converted to EPS CMYK format with all fonts converted to outlines. Kipha Communications will not be responsible for output from an EPS which contains fonts that are not converted to curves.

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Color
Kipha Communications prints both PMS Spot colors and 4-color CMYK Process colors. PMS and Pantone colors should be specified as spot colors to print properly. Please, never submit anything using RGB colors - this is a color convention for you computer monitor and will not print accurately.

What are RGB Colors?
RGB colors are those used by most computer monitors and televisions to display full color. It is NOT, however, used for printing color output.

What are CMYK Colors?
Most color presses (including those used by Kipha Communications) use the combination of these four colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) to create full color output. Even simpler desktop color printers (such as Laser and Inkjet printers) rely primarily on the combination of these four inks to create full color output. All full-color work submitted to us must be converted to CMYK.

To obtain the richest possible black, all heavy blacks and defined text over 24 pt needs to be configured with the following color combination:
Cyan: 80%  Magenta: 80%  Yellow: 70%  Black: 90%

Also remember that you should not set light colors to overprint dark ones. When a light color is placed on top of a dark one, the dark one will always be dominant and will always overprint the light one.

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Fonts
If it is at all possible, please convert all fonts to outlines. Fonts that are used in QuarkXpress need to be submitted along with your file. We must receive both the screen and printer fonts used in your file. Also, don't forget to convert to outlines or curves fonts included in your graphics.

We are able to accept fonts for the Macintosh as well as Windows. We can also accept the new cross-platform OTF fonts. Make sure that when you submit your file you let us know which platform you used to create your job.

A PDF (with fonts embedded) or a hard copy of your work is recommended for all files so that we might confirm that we're printing what you want the way you want it.

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Compression
We request that you send any pictures and graphics in either TIFF or EPS format. Do not use LZW, JPG or any other type of compression offered by your software (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) for these types of files.

When you are ready to send your file to us, please compress all your files (document, fonts, images, etc.) into ONE archive. You may use either SIT for Macintosh or ZIP for Windows. You may use Stuffit Lite for the Mac or WinZip for Windows. Both are available free. Newer versions of Windows XP and the Mac OS include compression software as well.

Once your order is ready, you can order online via an email to one of our Customer Service Reps. If your file is unusually large, over 10 MB, please call first to so that we might provide additional instructions.

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Software
Kipha Communications accepts files from both Macintosh and Windows platforms. We accept files from the following programs:

Adobe Illustrator up to version 10.0
          (convert to Illustrator EPS with fonts set to outlines).
Adobe Photoshop up to version 7.0
          (for creating your TIFFs).
QuarkXpress up to version 6.5
          (must include fonts, links, and no embedded links).
Adobe InDesign up to version 4.0 
          (must convert fonts to curves. Embed links. No layers).
Macromedia Freehand up to version 10.0
          (convert to EPS with fonts set to outlines).
Corel Draw up to version 10.0
          (convert to EPS with fonts set to outlines).
Pagemaker up to version 7.0
          (must include fonts, links, and no embedded links).

In order to create a TIFF file, you may use any conventional photo editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint. Please make sure that they are saved using CMYK colors with no layers (flattenned) and no compression.

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At Kipha Communications we want your job to exceed your expectations. We are here to help. If you find any of the information on this page difficult to understand or require additional assistance, please send us an e-mail at graphics@Kipha.com or give us a call at 678-205-4453.

Kipha Communications accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express as well as company checks and good ole' cash. Repeat customers may qualify for an open credit account - our terms are Net 30 days. We require payment in advance on all initial orders with new clients. Please proofread carefully. All revisions and costs incurred after proof approval are the responsibility of the client (that's you).

Build your print image upon Kipha Communications.

Our Hours:

Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Email your files to:
Graphics@Kipha.com

Order online

Location:

2158 Fountain Square
Snellville, GA 30078

We're on Hwy 78
at the corner of
McGee Road

[old Target center]

Bleeds don't hurt.

Keep it sharp
300 dpi
at 100%

Color is cool.

Order online