CMYK stands for cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black K). It's the industry calibration code that printers like us use to reproduce your job on a press. It basically establishes the final color of your artwork.

If you're more comfortable sending RGB or Pantone files, it's still okay. We'll convert them to CMYK before we actually print. This may cause a slight shift in colors. So if you can, it's best to send your files in CMYK format. If you're not familiar with printing in CMYK, you'll definitely want to order a hard copy proof from GTI SmART Print, so you can see the actual colors of your pieces. As you know, most computer monitors aren't perfectly accurate when showing colors. you are not familiar with printing in CMYK color mode, we highly recomend that you order a hard copy proof, which can be selected for most GTI SmART Print products. Please note that we can not guarantee that the color of your artwork printed on our presses will match that seen on your monitor or printed via any other method.

The best way to ensure color quality is to submit your files in CMYK color mode, and to make sure the correct color calibration is set for the desired color match. If color accuracy is critical, GTI SmART Print recommends that you order a hardcopy color proof to look over before we print.

It’s certainly a challenge to match these colors on a computer. But if you use a CMYK chart and enter the values that it recommends, you should come pretty close. The type of software and file type can certainly influence the look of your colors as well.

Definitely, but not the way that you might think. Using 100% black (K) will not result in a solid, saturated black. Instead, we recommend using rich black, which is made by mixing the other ink colors with the black ink to produce a deeper black.

To accomplish this look on the GTI SmART Print  presses, you should use calibration values of 50% cyan (C), 40% magenta (M), 40% yellow (Y), and 100% black (K).

Yes. GTI SmART Print offers both 4/4 (color on front, color on back), and 4/1 (color on front, black and white on back). For 4/1 layouts, be sure the artwork file for the back has a CMYK calibration of 0% cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y), and 10%-100% black (K), depending on the intensity of gray or black you want.

They’re like patterns that GTI SmART Print has provided to make it easier for you to create print-ready files in the design software program of your choice. You can download our templates and design from there. Each one gives you information on product size, layout, bleed, safety zone and any folding or mailing guidelines.

No way. They’re just here for your convenience. We do encourage you to take a little extra time to make sure your files are print ready before submitting them to GTI SmART Print, though.

No. Our product templates simply help designers quickly develop print-ready files. They don’t replace professional designers.

Yes. How you do it depends on the software program you’re using.

GTI SmART Print requires a 0.25-inch bleed around the perimeter of your artwork That way, we can make sure the cutting is accurate for your piece. (If your image has a white border on all four sides, bleeds are still recommended but not required.)

We recommend it so we can make sure your colors don’t shift. If you send us your files using another color standard, like RGB or Pantone, they’ll be converted to CMYK during preflighting, because that’s what our presses require.

We’ll accept print-ready files in the following formats: .eps, .jpg, .pdf, .ps, .psd, or .tif.

Generally, that means you can send us files saved from these design software programs: Adobe PhotoshopÒ CS, Adobe IllustratorÒ CS, Adobe InDesignÒ CS, Adobe PageMaker, Macromedia FreehandÒ and Quark XpressÒ. WE can also print raster images (.tiff and .jpeg) independent of the application program used to create the designs if you submit them at high-quality, uncompressed 300 dpi resolution, 8 bit, CMYK color mode. We can’t guarantee files created in MS-Word or MS-Publisher will produce high-quality images and text.

Of course! GTI SmART Print provides detailed file preparation guidelines and tips for popular programs in our Help Center. Or, if you have a specific question, you can email us or call us at 800-570-0138.

Resolution, or dpi (dots per inch), is the number of dots that fit horizontally and vertically into a one-inch space. The more dots per inch, the more detail can be seen and the sharper your image is.

GTI SmART Print recommends that an image is at least 300 dpi at the final output size. For larger formats, you can increase your resolution to up to 1200 dpi.

You must supply fonts, of course. We ask that you send them in your file and not separately, as we need to receive your file ready to print.

If you have vector artwork and your file is missing fonts, you can open your file in Illustrator, select “Create Outlines,” save your fonts, resave your artwork file, and then upload it.

If your artwork is rasterized, you can open it in Photoshop and select “Flatten the Layers,” resave your artwork file and then upload it.

All text within your files must be converted to outlines with the outline set to zero to eliminate the need for fonts.

That’s not a problem, but all borders need to be ¼ (0.25) of an inch wide on each side of your artwork. You also need to add a 1/8 (0.125) inch bleed on each side of your artwork. That will help us ensure correct cutting and help the finished product still looks balanced.

Please place all images in your artwork and be sure to save your files properly, according to the software you’re using.

Yes, gradients are pretty common. They can be shown in the file as a mathematical equation (Vector) or rendered by the application into a series of pixels (Raster).