About Sending Files

Delivery of your Files

There are two ways to digitally deliver your files. Please use the one that is most suitable for you and your file.

Email

Files smaller than 10MB, can sent to us through email via artwork@instaplus.ca


FTP Site

For files larger than 10MB, we provide a FTP site that allows you to upload large files (up to 2GB) directly to our store.
If this is your first time using our FTP site, please email or phone us to obtain a user ID and password.


Once logged in using Internet Explorer, you can then copy and paste your file(s) onto the ftp server. Once uploaded, You will not be able to delete or overwrite files that already exist. Users using a Macintosh computer and Internet Explorer are not able to copy and paste files and will have to use a file transfer program such as Fetch.


Accepted File Formats

We accept digital files in the following formats:

  • Adobe PDF
  • Adobe Illustrator CS2 or lower
  • Adobe Photoshop CS2 or lower
  • Adobe InDesign CS2 or lower
  • Macromedia Freehand MX or lower
  • CorelDraw X3 or lower
  • Microsoft Word, Publisher, Powerpoint or Excel 2007 or lower (for digital printing only)
  • EPS files
  • TIFF format images (minimum 300 dpi)
  • 4 colour process jobs (must be CMYK)
  • Scanned images (must be at lease 300 dpi)

Notes:

  • most images on the Internet are 72dpi which is not usable for offset or digital printing, causing the image to look pixelated or blurry
  • Press quality PDF's may also be used, however we are not responsible for files that are incorrectly built. No matter the file format, we always recommend seeing a proof first.


Font Information

All text should be converted to paths, curves or outlines. Remember that once the text is converted, it will no longer be editable so we advise you save the outlined version as a seperate file from the original.



Spot Colors

For Offset Printing use Pantone Spot Colours only - Do not use process colors. Make sure that the colour information, such as the Pantone colours, is clearly marked in the file or hard copy. For Digital printing, CMYK files will provide the most accurate colour results but we are able to simulate CMYK values based on RGB or Pantone Spot colours.



Required Margins/Bleeds of Full Colour Products

In the event that your job is full bleed, please be sure to submit electronic files with a 1/8" bleed per side. If copy does not bleed, make sure there is 1/4" margins for accurate trimming. All full bleed jobs should have crop/trim marks to show where the edge of the document is.



File Checklist

The following list is provided to help you minimize the turn around time of your job and to help you avoid additional prepress charges.

  1. Include all "linked" graphics in proper colour format and appropriate resolution.

    Appropriate Resolution

    • Commonly 300DPI or twice the line screen for Offset and Digital Offset Printing
    • Commonly 150-300DPI or for Digital Printing
  2. The document is in the proper Colour Format (Pantone Spot Colour for Offset Printing or CMYK for Digital Printing)
  3. Outline, Convert to Curves or Paths or Embed all Fonts (If Fonts are not outlined or embedded they may need to be supplied).
  4. Include all Bleeds(Commonly 1/8" or 1/16").
  5. Include Trim, Fold, Score and Perforation Marks when necessary.
  6. Include die lines when necessary.
  7. Ship Inkjet or Laser proofs or mock ups when possible.
  8. Upon uploading files, please send us an e-mail via our help desk