General Preparation

• Files must be at final size, plus 1/8” (.125) all around bleed and marks.
  
  
• Placed photographic artwork must be 300 dpi at the final size being used in the piece and saved as either a .tif or .eps file except lineart scans which should be at least 1200dpi and saved as .bmp.
  
  
• All colors and images used must be CMYK or specified spot colors, never RGB.
  
  
• We encourage you to pre-flighted all files prior to submission using programs such as FlightCheck, PreFlight Pro or PitStop Professional.
  
  
• We cannot be responsible for accurate reproduction of your job if a proof/hard copy is not provided. (Fax, press proof, laser printout or pdf are acceptable proofing options.)
  
  
• Make sure your files are proofread and approved by all necessary parties prior to releasing to any printer to avoid costly alteration charges.

Acceptable File Formats/Software

Our file preference is Adobe Acrobat PDF with fonts embedded, CMYK images, bleed, hi-res print-ready.

We can also accept InDesign, QuarkXPress, Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Word* and Publisher* provided that you include all "nested" artwork and fonts (postscript printer & screen fonts, and Open Type fonts only.) Using the software's built-in collection feature will help insure all necessary files are included.

*Ads produced in Microsoft programs are not suitable for professional printing and additional charges may occur.

JOB Submission

FTP:
ftp://ftp.mallardpress.com
User Name: public
Password: public

Drag and drop your print-ready PDF or your compressed file (zipped or stuffed) into the window. Note: You cannot transfer folders that contain multiple files unless the folder is compressed, using Winzip or Stuffit. Please name the file accordingly, matching the job name on your purchase order. After uploading your files, please send an email to your customer service representative or print@mallardpress.com with the file name and company name to alert us of your job submission.

Email:
A PDF file or compressed file under 5MB can be sent to print@mallardpress.com. All files must be compressed in a folder with all necessary artwork and fonts, using WinZip or Stuffit. A hard copy of your job is still required. Please email a PDF proof or fax a copy to 630-701-1401.

Mail:
We accept CD-R or DVD-R. Please include a laser printout as proof of the final file contained on the disc. Include your name, phone number and email address in case questions arise. Send to: Mallard Press, 335 Eisenhower Lane, Lombard, IL 60148.

Creating Adobe Acrobat PDF Files

When creating PDF format files for professional printing, all raster-based graphics (photos, scans) must be at least 300 dpi and at reproduction size. Please check that the settings for PDF export or Adobe Acrobat Distiller are set so as not to downsample to less than 300 dpi at reproduction size. Also make sure that all fonts are set to be embedded. Using Distiller's default "Press Quality" or the standard "PDF/X-1A" settings should produce the desired results. Please also make sure bleed (1/8” on each side) and trim marks are included.

Some of the graphics programs that support PDF format export are: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress 5.0 or later.