1. Open Photoshop 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 Profile is Working CMYK US Web Coated.

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 flatten/rasterize all of the type in the document.

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. To do this select the type layer to be rasterized. Go to Type > Rasterize > Type.

 

 

To the left is a before and after image of how the the appearance of the type will change in the layers palette. When the type is not flattened it will look like the highlighted blue layer with the capial T. This indicates that it is editable. When it is flattened the text longer has the capital T.

 

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 Photoshop Editing Capabilities

 

 

 

1. Set Compression to None.

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

 

 

Output setting 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.