artwork specifications and design tips

quicklinks: artwork formats
design guidlines
colour correcting

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artwork formats

Advertisements should be supplied
1) up to 6MB by EMAIL to [email protected]
2) over 6MB use https://www.wetransfer.com or similar free FTP program (simple instructions are on the sites)

RealTime is printed on Norstar 55gsm paper stock using cold set (web offset) printing.
The cover is printed on Sappigloss 104gsm.

• CMYK PDF files - print/press optimised 300dpi with fonts & images embedded. (For designs with complex transparencies it is recommended that you make an eps or postscript file and then PDF using Adobe Distiller, rather than simply exporting to PDF.)
• CMYK JPG/TIFF files 300dpi. Please note, due to rasterisation this format may result in slightly lower quality reproduction than a PDF
• Correct size as booked, NO bleed (unless back cover), NO crop marks
• CMYK colour, total ink limit 215% (see below)
• Please set any spot colours to separate to CMYK.

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important design guidelines

To ensure best results on our paperstock please make sure your artwork conforms to the following.We may ask you to resupply if these details are incorrect.

The following are essential:*
• TOTAL CMYK Ink Limits - 215%
Please ensure CMYK colours & images do not exceed 215%-220%. (eg. Cyan=40, M=40, Y=40, K=90 Total saturation = 210%).
Colour profiles will be ignored at the press so please MANUALLY adjust the ink limits, and save without a profile. If unsure how to do this, see instructional video below.

We suggest using US Web (SWOP) Uncoated Colour Profile then manually adjusting ink densities to 215% - see tips on Colour Correcting below

Colours may also appear different on your screen to how they will print in CMYK inks on newstock. To get a more accurate impression use US Web (SWOP) Uncoated Colour Profile in your editing programs (including Acrobat see Colour Correcting below).

* For ads booked on Back Cover / Inside Front Cover / Inside Back Cover, the ink limit is 280%, as this is printed on coated stock. (Use US Web (SWOP) Coated profile and manually adjust to 280% - see Colour Correcting below.)

• FONT SIZES (no smaller than 12pt bold in reverse)
If using full reverses (ie white or coloured text on a solid background of more than one ink) do not use fonts below 12pt bold. Fine detail in small logos will also be difficult to read.
Please avoid using 4-ink colours & rich blacks for fonts smaller than 12pt bold as they may appear blurry.

NB: If it is unavoidable to use below 12pt you must add a 0.5pt black outline to the fonts in reverse to assist with maintaining registration.

We suggest that for best results:
> purer colours print more vibrantly than solid blacks.
> use images with high contrast as subtle tones may be lost
> Sparer copy is often more effective.

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colour correcting

An instructional video to assist designers of ad artwork to colour correct images back to 215-220% CMYK ink saturation.

If this is beyond your skill level feel free to contact [email protected] and they can put you in touch with the RT designer.

To get a more accurate sense of how your colours will print in CMYK inks on newstock, it is suggested that you use the US Web (SWOP) Uncoated Colour Profile* in your layout and editing programs. (Photoshop & InDesign go to >Edit>Colour Settings - choose from drop down menu; Acrobat go to Preferences>Colour Management)

In particular it's important to use this in Photoshop to convert your image to CMYK, before placing in your document. (If image is already CMYK - convert to RGB then back to CMYK for the colour setting to take effect.) You must then manually adjust the ink limits to 215% using either levels or curves. As each image is different there are no easy rules for colour correcting however using a mix between overall lightening (using an s-curve will keep contrast clear), and then individually adjusting the C, Y, M, K curves offers the best results.

* For ads on Back Cover, Inside Front and Back Covers use US Web (SWOP) Coated profile and manually adjust to 280% CMYK

Please feel free to discuss your design ideas with us or send draft ads for assessment with us prior to placement.

For more information
[email protected]

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