How To Fix Common Errors In Your Artwork
HOW TO: CHANGE COLOR MODES
It is always better to start with the correct color mode for your intended output. Switching from RGB to CMYK can result in a color shift in the document. This is due to the fact that RGB has a larger color range than CMYK.
What is the difference between RGB and CMYK?
RGB is additive color using lights to create color for digital media, such as websites, apps icons, social media, or video.
CMYK is subtractive color using ink to create color for printing, such as branding, advertising, or merchandise.
CHANGING COLOR MODES:
Illustrator: Go to File > Document Color Mode > RGB Color or CMYK Color.
Photoshop: Go to Image > Mode > CMYK or RGB Color.
After you have changed the color mode, make sure the colors and effects are correct.
HOW TO: CHECK RESOLUTION
We like for all images/raster artwork to be at 125 dpi at full size in order for the artwork to print clearly. Image quality also depends on the original image itself and will only print at the high quality if the original image is sharp (not pixelated or blurry at print size). So please check the template for guidelines.
What is resolution?
The amount of pixels or detail in a raster image is measured by DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch). A high res image will have 300 DPI at full size, while a low res image will have 72 DPI. It is easier to take away pixels than to add pixels.
Scaling up an image decreases the resolution of the image. So for large format printing, it’s always good to use the largest image you can purchase, or use .raw images from a photographer and export the image out to your required resolution.
FINDING THE RESOLUTION:
Photoshop: Go to Image > Image Size. This will show the size of the image and the resolution.
HOW TO: OUTLINE FONTS
The text can no longer be edited after it has been outlined. We would recommend saving a copy of the edited text file.
Converting text to outline?
Not all fonts come standard on every computer. When opening the file, the program searches for the font and if the font is not on the computer, it is replaced with a default font. So it is best to outline your fonts when sending print-ready artwork. Outlining your fonts will convert the text into shapes, which keep the appearance of the type without needing the font.
Text on a path line (live text)
The text will show black fill in outline view
Text outlined into a compounded path (shape).
Text will show in black line in outline view
OUTLINE THE FONTS:
Illustrator: Go to Select > Object > All Text Object. Select all text in the document.
Then go to Type > Create Outline or Shift + Ctrl + O (PC), Shift + Cmd+ O (Mac)
Photoshop: Go to the layer panel > Right-click on all text layers, and choose Rasterize Type from the menu.
HOW TO: EMBED LINKED FILES
Are your files embedded?
When sending your files to production, it is always a good idea to check your layers or links panel to ensure that you don’t have any linked files in your document. Instead, they should be embedded. When graphics are embedded, they become apart of your artwork file and they can be displayed no matter where the file is opened.
EMBED THE FILES:
Illustrator: Go to Window > Links. Select the file in the panel, and choose Embed Image from the panel menu.
Photoshop: Go to the layer panel > Right-click on the link layer, and choose to Embed Linked from the menu.
Photoshop’s
Layer Panel
Illustrator’s
Links Panel
These are linked files and will not be sent with your document.
These are embedded graphics and are apart of the document.
HOW TO: USE TEMPLATES
It is all about the layers
Setting up your workspace will help prevent a delay in your proof. The templates will have bleed size, final size, safe zone, resolution, and any other information pertaining to the product. Read the template and set up your file to the recommendations or you can open the template file up in Illustrator or Photoshop.
It is always good to separate the template and artwork on different layers. This way the template does not get printed by accident. When you are done, simply turn off or remove the template layer before saving out your finished file.
ADDING LAYERS:
Illustrator: Go to Window > Layers. To add a new layer click the 
icon.
Photoshop: Go to Window > Layers. To add a new layer click the icon.
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