We recommend saving as a .PDF
You may also send the file in the following types: jpg, jpeg, psd, tif, tiff, eps, ai, and png

We prefer that you send .PDF and .EPS files with outlined fonts. These files are easier to handle and will likely speed up your turn-around. Remember to add crop marks and flatten your files before uploading.

If you send us an RGB file, there is a chance that a color shift may occur and you may not be satisfied with your job.

You should always start and finish your designs in CMYK color mode.

Low resolution files may be printed as is or will be placed on hold until we receive new files, slowing your turn-around.

We only accept 300 dpi files and no less.

Bleed must extend further than the cut line. Using one of our Geografixx Templates can help you visualize this. Please keep all text and anything you do not want cut at least .125" away from the cut line.

Yes, but if the border is too close to the cutline, it may be cut off-center slightly.

We cut through many sheets at a time, so watch your borders to avoid an unwanted mistake.

Geografixx Inc. requires Print Ready files with proper rotation. Files submitted are printed HEAD to HEAD as-is based off your files.

Make sure to set up your files so that when we print them HEAD to HEAD the final product will read the way you would like. Also, front and back files need to be set up either both sides vertically or both sides horizontally.

For files not properly set up, Geografixx will use best judgment and will not be responsible for improper rotation.

Any transparency issue can be resolved before saving your file.\

To prevent this, never use shadows, glows, or any other transparency (image or otherwise) on top of a spot color. Always convert your spot color to CMYK and flatten before sending.

When sending artwork, do not send extra files, like proofs or samples, because they might get printed. Only send the files you need printed.

We are not responsible for these kinds of files being printed. Unless requested by one of our employees, DO NOT send files that you do not want printed.

Primarily used to intentionally overlap inks for a number of reasons, overprint can cause unexpected results. We suggest that you turn all overprint objects off before submitting your files. In this case the logo was set to overprint. The colors from logo are mixing with the colors from the background. Unexpected results may occur if you have accidentally set certain objects to overprint. Always check logos and other artwork before submitting.

No. We are now specifically set up to process one side at a time, and this requires that each side of a job must be on a separate file. Not separating files will cause delays and you might have to send the files again. Remember to separate the pages of your .pdf files as well.

When creating a Spot UV job, You must include a Spot UV template file along with the regular full color file. The Spot UV template file is used to show where the UV will be placed. Use 100% K to indicate where you would like the UV. White will indicate no UV. Remember "If it's white, you can write!"

Silver ink files must be sent in a vector format. You must use a vector program, like Illustrator or Indesign Corel Draw, to call out the object you want in silver ink.

To indicate the silver ink, you must set the object color to Pantone¨ 877 C. Any other color will not be accepted as silver. Also, labeling the layer as "silver mask" or "silver" will not qualify your file. Remember, silver is a spot color and transparencies like drop shadows should be avoided.

We recommend using 100% silver, however, we are able to print silver on a gradient and different percentages of silver.

With our Metallics Unlimited (MU) system, you can make any CMYK color or full color image into a metallic color. MU jobs must be created in Photoshop. In addition to your full color artwork, you must add a channel to your final file.

When using a blue in your design, always make sure to leave at least a 30% difference in your Cyan and Magenta values.

100% C 100% M 0% Y 0% K

Blue is close to purple in the CMYK spectrum. Remember, use a low amount of magenta whenever using high amounts of cyan to avoid purple.

Example: C-100 M-70 Y-0 k-0

When exporting from any program such as Indesign or Illustrator, use these settings to make sure your .PDF files export correctly.

Export settings for .PDF files

Grayscale images that are converted to CMYK will have a color shift in the final print. That shift may be green or yellow.Always check the CMYK values of your grayscale in the final CMYK document. If there are other values other than K in your grayscale image, there is a chance that the color will vary.

To eliminate all values other than K, use your Channel Mixer (adjustment layer) in Photoshop, then click "Monochrome" and adjust accordingly.

Rich black is an ink mixture of solid black, 100% K, with additional CMY ink values. This results in a darker tone than black ink alone. If you print black alone as 100% K, the resulting black may not be as dark as you might like.

We recommend using
C 60 M 40 Y 40 K 100
This will give you a deep, dark, rich black.

Cracking of the edges of a business card sometimes occurs when the card contains high values of ink, as in dark colors.

This usually happens on a small amount of cards in the run. To prevent this, use lighter colors or if you must use dark colors, use as little ink as possible.

Many things can cause banding. Banding can be caused by the program that it is exported from, such as Indesign or Corel. Also, too many gradient steps, for example going from a very light color to a dark color, in a small area will cause banding.

To prevent this, check your digital files before sending. If you use a gradient, make sure it has enough room for a smooth transition.

When a job is coated with UV then scored and folded the job may begin to crack. During use, the cracks will become bigger and the ink may start to chip off.

Cracking is normal when coated jobs are scored and folded. Ordering the job without UV will help but may not prevent this. As the job is used and folded more and more, cracking will eventually happen.

There are three different ways Pantone colors can affect the way your job prints.

You can see the image is no longer transparent on top of the Pantone color. These white areas will show up during printing. To fix this issue, convert all your Pantone colors into CMYK. If you need to have a Pantone color in your art, for example when doing a silver 877c job, you must create a clipping mask around the image so the white area will not show up. This must be done before submitting the order.

The last way Pantone colors can affect your order is the color conversion between a Pantone color and CMYK. All of our normal printing is done in CMYK unless you specifically order a Silver, MU, or Custom job. If you use Pantone colors in a job that will print CMYK, your job might print with undesirable colors.

If you send in a job with Pantone colors, the CMYK conversion will change the Pantone color. Before sending your order, make sure all Pantone colors have been converted to CMYK.

Our Certified Templates are a great tool to create artwork that can be printed faster, easier, and more accurately. If you are using Illustrator, you can use our specialized EPS templates. If you are using something other then Illustrator, download the JPG version.

These templates will help you identify where the cut line, bleed line, and safety line, are located along with other information so you can design your art correctly.

Some of our templates are labeled as OUT and IN. This means that there is some folding involved with the template. OUT means the FRONT of the job and IN means the BACK. During the upload part of your order, remember that OUT is the FRONT and IN is the BACK.

As you can see, OUT is the FRONT of the job and after folding, will be facing outward. You can also see the rotation of the job. The front must be positioned upside down so it can fold correctly.

Remember, do not move or change any part of the template when using them.

ESR quantities start from 25-250 and are printed on brand new, high tech digital equipment. These products are available at all of Geografixx's locations nationwide, for your convenience.

Our brand new Digital color presses are in a different class. The print quality of digital prints exceed professional standards. Here are a few facts about Digital Color Printing:

- Tests show digital quality matches offset.
- Digital printing offers larger color gamut.
- Print buyers find digital quality interchangeable with offset quality.
- Today, many showcase applications are printed digitally.
- Digital printing is more affordable for short runs, due to very low set up cost.

*disclaimer: Occasionally, quantities of up to 5000 and more might be printed using digital color technology in order to meet turnaround deadlines

When creating a Spot AQ job, you must include a Spot AQ template along with the regular full color file. The Spot AQ template file is used to show where the AQ will be placed.

Use white, 0C 0M 0Y 0K, to indicate where you would like the AQ. Black, 100%K, will indicate no AQ.

When designing plastic cards, it is important to keep in mind that the frosted and clear plastic cards are transparent. Also, all plastic cards come with round corners at no extra charge!

With the clear plastic cards, there might be a small percentage that may have light scratches. This issue originates from the manufacturer and is due to the material and handling. To help compensate for this, we run overs of the clear plastic cards to help meet the required quantity.

Clear plastic cards will come with a thin protective layer on one side that can be peeled off. This is to prevent the cards from scratching during packaging and shipping.

We offer 2 types of foil, Silver and Gold. Each order can only have one type of foil, Gold or Silver. You can't order a Foil Worx job with Gold foil on the front and Silver foil on the back.

Foil mask files are set up just like our Spot UV mask files. The file can only be black and white. Black in the areas you want the foil and white in the areas you do not want the foil. If you order a Foil Worx job with Spot UV, you must provide separate mask files for the Foil (foil mask) and UV (spuv mask), in that case up to 6 files will need to be provided.

However, please keep in mind that the Foil and UV can't overlap. Also please avoid using small / fine text or fonts for foil objects. For best results, please make sure that foil coverage is less than 50% of the artwork area

Also, be aware that there may be up to 1/16" shift on the placement of the foil. Keep this in mind if you are trying to align foil with other printed artwork on the card.

Geografixx's standard round corner radius is 0.25" (1/4"). If you wish to order a radius of 0.125 (1/8") and your current loyalty level qualifies for a custom estimate, please submit your request to estimating.