SERVICES
Bertek Systems, Inc. offers complete design and composition services which include image and text creation, color proofing (digital and analog), high resolution film output, and platemaking. Bertek Systems, Inc. can also assist you with project consultation. Estimates for artwork production costs are available and are based on job specifications. A diagram with job specifications is required before any estimates can be given.

PROJECT PLANNING
Project planning is best performed before any artwork is created. Things to consider in the planning stages are ink colors (PMS, metallic, fluorescents or any customer/trademark exclusive colors), type of stock printing on, color of stock or background tints used, as well as clearance issues for additional finishing steps (numbering, folding, die cutting, tipping, laser/inkjet/thermal imaging or magnetic stripes) Certain considerations must also be evaluated with regard to the printing process to be used in the production of the project (offset, letterpress, silkscreen, etc.) The substrate printed on can have a considerable affect on the project as certain substrates have unique characteristics which affect trapping and registration. If you prepare your files inhouse, use a service bureau or a freelance graphic designer please use the following information in the preparation of electronic files created for submission to Bertek Systems, Inc.

Apple Macintosh Platform Applications:

Scanning and image editing:
Adobe Photoshop

Illustrations and Line Art (logos):
Adobe Illustrator
Macromedia Freehand

Page Layout:
Quark XPress
Adobe PageMaker
Adobe InDesign

 

FILE SUBMITING INFORMATION
Please include a composite file scaled to 100% and prepared for output.
All submitted files will be tested for viruses and submitted for a preflight check to confirm all elements are included and are correct. Please use Bertek Systems, Inc. Electronic Mechanical Information sheet as a checklist when preparing files. This sheet will help ensure smooth handling of your order through prepress production. If you are using preflight software or Quark XPress please be sure to use the “collect for output” feature and provide the generated electronic report as well as a printed hardcopy with your submitted files

All components should be assembled in one of the recommended page layout programs.
Bertek Systems, Inc. recommends either Quark XPress (#1) or Adobe PageMaker (#2). Manufacturing templates, step and repeat processes and imposition as well as final film output is accomplished using Quark XPress.

Hard copy output of your composite design must accompany ALL electronic art submissions.
If possible, supply color hardcopy. If black & white hardcopy is supplied please make sure “print colors as grey” is selected in the print dialog box. Also please make sure colors are clearly marked on hardcopy. This hardcopy is the guide the Prepress Operator will follow for final assembly of your project. If a hardcopy is not provided a charge of $35.00 will be incurred as well as possible delays in production as we need to generate a hardcopy proof for quality control.

Do not nest or embed graphic files.
Nesting or embeding refers to importing an existing graphic file into a new Illustrator or FreeHand file and then saving as a new EPS file. These files will not output to film properly.We will be unable to make edits or adjust trap to these files. The work around is to supply us with the EPS file as well as all components used to assemble the EPS in their native application.

Turn off trapping features in all applications you use to produce files.
Due to the many different substrates used to print on and different printing processes we prefer to handle trapping in house.

Organize jobs into folders - Final Layout, Fonts, Scanned Images, Artwork
Please use TIFF formats for all scanned images. Images need to be CMYK or grayscale. Scans should be done at twice the dpi of our output resolutions of either 150 lpi or 200 lpi. Image resolution should be 300 or 400 ppi (pixels per inch). Scans should be done at 100% if possible, re-sizing can have a negative affect on final output. Linework scans should be at 600 or 1200 ppi saved as photoshop bitmap (bmp) format. Type set in photoshop will output at a lower resolution then type set in a page layout or illustration application. If at all possible please set type in Quark or one of the illustration applications.

Use Postscript fonts only.
Include both screen (bitmap) and printer (postscript) fonts in the font folder.

Please supply all fonts used for the creation of any component of the design.
Including all support files - Illustrator and/or Freehand.

Do not use style options to customize a font! Use the actual font required for the desired effect. Without the actual font the type will not output correctly.

Be sure colors are defined correctly.
Spot colors should be defined as spot colors. “Process separation” should be de-selected or the spot color will be generated as a process color build which may not be an exact match. Not turning process separation off on spot color jobs may also cause production delays as well as incur additional charges for artwork preparation. Also be aware that spot colors should be defined by a Pantone number and not an arbitrary name such as “Moody Blue.” Also colors selected in a drawing program such as Illustrator must be named exactly as the color is named in a page layout program such as Quark XPress. For example Quark’s PMS 300CV is NOT the same as Illustrators PMS 300CVC and will not output to film correctly.

The color mode MUST be CMYK.
Scanned images must be converted from the RGB palette to CMYK for proper final output. All image editing should be done in the CMYK mode.

Color fidelity
Color accuracy is dependent on many variables. These include the scanner used to create the image, the quality and calibration of the monitor as well as the quality of lighting during viewing. A monitor can only display in RGB and is not equal to the capabilities of a printing press printing in CMYK. Matchprint color proofs are calibrated to account for the variables in the process but still can only be considered a reasonably close representation of actual color reproduction on press. If color fidelity is a critical concern please notify your customer service or sales representative at the time of order.

Bleed must be extended and additional 1/8” beyond the overall finished size.

Do not use the default “hairline” rule weight within page layout or drawing programs.
Preset line weights differ from application to application. Define the line weight as .25 point if you wish to have a “hairline” in all applications.

Avoid reverse printing problems.
Sans Serif type smaller than 6 point bold should NOT be used. Rules and serif type where the smallest stroke is less than .008” should be avoided in areas that reverse print.

Special effects and borders must be properly applied.
Quark XPress and PageMaker drop shadows should be created with overlaid, offset text blocks. Text outlines should be created in a drawing program such as Illustrator or FreeHand. Never use rules or lines to create frames. Alignment problems are usually encountered during film output when this method is used.

FILE SUBMISSION

Electronic files may be submitted on the following media

3 1/2” Disk - 1.44mb
Syquest Cartridge - 44/88/200mb
Zip Disk 100/250mb
Jazz Cartridge 1 or 2 gb
CD ROM

Online File Transfer
Files may be submitted via the internet. There is a 5mb limit on file size when attaching files to e-mail. To transfer larger files please visit our FTP site located on this web site.

E-mails with artwork attachments should be sent to your customer service representative or to your sales representative. This will assure that your files will be properly identified and all Bertek Systems, Inc. work order and tracking numbers are assigned so no delays are encountered during the production process.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions at 1-800-367-0210.