Technical requirements for print files

KPrint press profiles and presets – Download
Exporting PDF files – Download
Indesign PDF export presets – Download

Color profile for coated paper – PSO-coated_v3
Color profile for uncoated paper – PSO-uncoated_v3_fogra52

Video tutorials for making print files

We accept composite PDF which meet the requirements of the PDF/X:1a (2001) standard.

All used fonts have to be embedded in the PDF file.

The trim box of the print file has to be positioned exactly in the centre of the page with an additional 3-5 mm symmetrical bleed.

All backgrounds, lines, images and other design elements that run up to the edges of the format have to be positioned 3-5 mm over the edge of the format, so as to reach into the bleed.

To avoid important elements from being cut off or altered in any other way in post-processing, they should be positioned 3mm from the edges of the paper.

All print files have to be designed at 1:1 scale.

The optical resolution (dpi) of high-quality images must be double that of the raster resolution (lpi), but no less than 200 dpi. The pre-printing control system cannot identify the resolution that is digitally up-sampled. The printing house does not take responsibility for the resulting loss in print quality.

The imposition of the prints is realised in the printing house. Therefore, the print file has to be single-paged and not a double-page spread.

The cover file of a perfect bound book is an exception and can be pieced together with the spine (inner covers also count as covers and also have to be pieced together with the spine). In this case, the intended thickness of the spine must be taken into account, which depends on the number of pages and the thickness of the material.

The cover file of the  perfect bound book can also be designed as separate pages that are imposed by the printing house. In that case, the print file consists of 5 pages: front cover+inner front cover+inner back cover+back cover+spine.

In a multi-paged print file, all the pages have to be in the right order within a single file. The cover and the contents can be presented as separate printing files, if they are printed on different materials. NB! Even a page without content (an empty page) counts as a page and has to be positioned correctly in the print file!

Depending on the coloration, the printing file has to be converted into the appropriate colour space of CMYK, SPOT or CMYK+SPOT.

If the print file contains colours from the RGB or Lab colour space, then they are automatically converted into CMYK colour space in the printing house, which may significantly alter their hues. This also goes for the automatic conversion of colours from the SPOT colour space into CMYK colour space.

The design of the print file must take into account for the following reasons:

That all black (K-100%) objects (text, lines, backgrounds) are automatically subject to black overprint. If unoverprinted blacks are needed, the objects must be designed accordingly (C- 1%, M-1%, Y-1%, K-100%).

The margins of different-coloured objects are trapped (overlapped).

If the total ink limit (TIL) of the print file exceeds the total ink limit of the printing paper, the printing house reduces it to an acceptable level using an appropriate ICC profile.

The print files of die cut prints must include a die cut line that is overprintable and designed in vector graphics with SPOT colours.

The different types of lines on the die cutting drawings must be designed with the following colours: cutting line – red, creasing line – green and perforation line – yellow.

Die cutting drawings must take into account that the distance between blades must be at least 3 mm.

Embossed or partially varnished design elements must be overprintable and designed in line-art with spot colours, which differ from colours usually used in printable design. The embossing, debossing and (or) partial varnish design can be in a separate file or on the page of the print file, but it must be on the same page as the design and with the same layout. If the print file employs both embossment and partially varnished, then these must be designed with different spot colours.

In the case of embossing or debossing, the direction of the embossing/debossing must be indicated. Embossing (raised)/debossed (pressed down).

Hot foiled elements must be overprintable and designed with different spot colours than the rest of the file. If the design utilises different-coloured foils, then these must be designed with different spot colours.

The error margin of foil stamped design elements is 1 mm. This should definitely be taken into account in the design.

The foil stamping clichés are produced by etching. Therefore, lines (including negative lines) with a thickness below 0.3 mm cannot be realised.

The printing house reserves the right to reject material for further adjustment if the aforementioned requirements are not met. The printing house cannot guarantee a high-quality print if the print file does not meet the stated requirements. Corrections performed by the printing house are subject to additional fees.

Tips for print and design files:

The final printing result is highly dependent on the resolution of images used in the design. In order to attain the highest quality results, the printing material must be considered. Depending on the material, the correct ICC profile must be chosen for converting the images from RGB colour space (in which image processing is usually done) into CMYK colour space, which is used in printing. The right ICC profile ensures the appropriate dot gain, total ink limit (TIL) for every material and minimises the colour and contrast differences. It is also vital to use the correct colour catalogue in choosing the colours of graphical objects. Colours with the same code can significantly differ when printed on coated and uncoated materials. It is also important to calibrate the design monitor regularly and adjust the work area according to the material.

Therefore, the adjustment of the work area of the design program according to the choice of material is the first step in making a print file.

Most used materials in K-Print printing house and the corresponding ICC profiles:

Gloss paper: PSO-coated_v3 Resolution of print raster 175 lpi
Silk paper: PSO-coated_v3 Resolution of print raster 175 lpi
Matte paper: PSO-coated_v3 Resolution of print raster 150 lpi
Uncoated paper: PSO-uncoated_v3_fogra52 Resolution of print raster 150 lpi
Coated cardboard: PSO-coated_v3 Resolution of print raster 150 lpi
Uncoated cardboard: PSO-uncoated_v3_fogra52 Resolution of print raster 150 lpi

If the print utilises different materials (e.g. book covers on Gloss paper and the contents on uncoated paper), this should be taken into account in the making of the print file.

Design should also definitely take the different binding types into consideration.

The front and back cover of an perfect bound book is glued to the first and last page of the contents to a length of about 7 mm. Therefore, the design of an adhesive-bound book should leave a gap of no less than 10 mm between the inner edge of the page and the design.

In the case of brochures (saddle stitching), the shifting of the inner sheets by the thickness of the material should be expected. The printing house can adjust for the creeping unless the print file includes images and text with a two-page spread. If such elements are necessary, then important design elements (text, page numbers, etc.) should be appropriately distanced from the outer edge.

When designing a print file for spiral or wire-o binding, it should be taken into account that the edge of the print will be perforated. The perforation distance is 7 mm from the edge, and 10 mm if a calendar hanger is included.