Premium Printing File Guidelines

We accept PDF (strongly recommended), Adobe Illustrator (.ai), EPS, Photoshop (.psd), TIFF, JPEG, and PNG files. For spot UV orders, your submission must include both the print file and a UV mask file or layer. PDF/X-1a with the mask on a separate layer is the most reliable format. If submitting separate files, the mask file must be identical in dimensions and orientation to the print file.

All images must be at least 300 DPI at the final print size. UV coating amplifies fine detail — high-resolution images look sharper and more vivid under the glossy finish, while low-resolution images look worse than they would on uncoated stock because the coating draws attention to every pixel. For photographic images, 400 DPI or higher produces even better results under UV coating. Check resolution carefully before submitting, especially on hero images and featured photographs.

The spot UV mask tells our press exactly where to apply the UV coating. Create a separate layer in your PDF or a separate file at the same dimensions as your artwork. Use solid black (K:100) to mark areas that receive UV coating. Use white (no ink) for areas that remain matte. The mask must align precisely with your artwork — even a fraction of a millimeter of misalignment creates visible registration errors on the finished piece. Sharp edges on the mask produce crisp coating boundaries. Feathered or anti-aliased edges create soft, graduated transitions between glossy and matte areas — this can be intentional if your design calls for it, but most applications require sharp edges.

Extend all edge-to-edge design elements by 0.125 inches past the trim line on every side. Your UV mask file should also include the same 0.125-inch bleed if UV coating extends to the edges of the piece. Both print and mask files must share identical bleed dimensions for accurate registration during the UV application process.

Keep all important text, logos, and design elements at least 0.125 inches inside the trim line. For spot UV elements that are close to the trim edge, maintain at least 0.0625 inches of margin to account for normal cutting tolerance. A spot UV logo that gets clipped by the cut looks worse than a non-UV logo that gets clipped, because the interrupted coating creates an obvious visual defect.

Submit all files in CMYK color mode using the US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 color profile. UV coating enhances color saturation — so colors that appear slightly muted in your CMYK file will look richer once the coating is applied. Dark backgrounds gain depth, and photographs gain vibrancy. Total ink coverage should not exceed 300 percent. For rich blacks under UV coating, use C:60 M:40 Y:40 K:100 — the glossy finish on rich black creates a deep, lacquered appearance that flat K:100 cannot achieve.

Embed all fonts in your PDF or convert to outlines. For spot UV applied to text elements, ensure the text in your mask layer matches the exact position, size, and shape of the text in your print layer. If using outlined text in your mask, verify that the outlines were generated from the same font files. Minimum font sizes: 6 points for standard text, 8 points for reversed text, and 10 points minimum for text rendered in spot UV — thinner characters may not hold the coating edge cleanly.

The three most common spot UV file errors: (1) Misaligned mask — the UV coating lands in the wrong position relative to your design, creating a visibly off-register finish. Always verify mask alignment at 400% zoom. (2) Anti-aliased mask edges when sharp edges are intended — this creates a soft halo effect around UV elements that looks like a registration error. Use hard-edged selections in your mask. (3) Text in the mask that does not match the print file exactly — if you update text in one file, update it in the other. Our prepress team checks for mask alignment before production, but getting it right in your file saves a round of revisions.