1. Open Illustrator and Create a New Document.

2. Name the Document.

3. Set the size of the document one quarter of an inch taller an wider than your intended final trim size (*if it bleeds). In this example we are setting up for a 4.25" x 6" Postcard.

4. Make sure the Color Mode is set to CMYK.

5. Make sure the resolution is set to 300 dpi or ppi.

6. Click Ok.

* Please note this example bleeds. For items without bleed simply make the document size exactly the size of your desired finished size.

 

1. Set your first guide in 1/8th of an inch in from the edge.

2. Set your second quide in 1/4 of an inch from the edge.

3. Repeat this process for all four sides.

The guides set at the 1/8th inch mark will be where the piece trims. Keep all critical text and images inside of the 1/4 inch guide but make sure the deisgn extends all the way to the edge if your piece bleeds.

* Please note: For items without bleed simply make the document size exactly the size of your desired finished size and only set the first guide as the safe area guide.

Design your item however you like... Just make sure to extend the design to the edge and keep all critical text inside the guides as depicted to the right.

1. When your document is complete and it is ready for printing convert all type to outlines.

2. Before doing this make sure to save a seperate editable verison of the document without all of the type in outlines. Just in case you need to come back and edit it or revise it later.

3. In your document select all text objects. Or simply Select all.

4. Go to type. Then to Create Outlines.

 

 

To the left is a before and after image of how the the appearance of the type will change. When the type is not outlined it is simply underlined indicating it is editable. When it is outlined the blue line outlines the curves of the text and it is no longer underlined.

1. Select an image. If the image has has a blue line x through it then it needs to be embeded.

2. When you find an image that has the x through it find and click the "Embed" button. When the image is selected the Embed button will show up approximately under the "Type" menu item depending on your version of Illustrator.

3. Afterwards the image will appear to be selected as the bottom right image.

 

 

1. Go to File > Save As.

2. Name your File appropriately, with no spaces, and be sure to include the word front, if it is the front file, and vice versa if it is the back file.

3. Select the PDF option, and click save.

 

1. For Adobe PDF Preset select the Press Quality option.

2. For Compatibility select the Acrobat 7 PDF option.

3. Only check Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities

 

 

 

1. Under Monochrome Bitmap Images set Compression to None.

2. Make sure Compression settings match the image on the left.

 

We do not want any Printers Marks at all, and Bleed has already been built into the file. Make sure your screen matches the image to the right.

 

 

Output setting should match the image on the left.

 

Advanced settings should match the image on the right.

 

 

Please do not apply any security settings. Match the image to the left.

 

1. The summary of your file should appear as it does to the right.

2. Click "Save PDF" and you're done.

Make sure you save one file for the front and one file for the back, if it is a two sided piece.