Instructions

Preparing Native files on a Mac

The following is a list of instructions to prepare a native file to send to Style. Sending us a native does provide us with the ability to change or fixup your artwork but can also cause the layup to change depending on the artwork.

The following is a list of steps you need to consider when sending us a native file.

1. What programs and versions we accept.
2. Gathering fonts.
3. Gathering linked images.
4. We need to provide a proof.
5. Transfer the file to Style

Although Style has many fonts that are popular these days, it is impossible for us to have every version of every font. Sometimes certain fonts are issued from up to six different type foundries, and all are slightly different. This can affect the layout of your documents, and therefore we ask you to send the fonts that you have used throughout your document to us. The following is a list of instructions to gather fonts.

1. Find out what fonts you have used in your document, and note them down.
2. Open your Fonts folder. This is located inside your System Folder on your hard disk.
3. Gather the necessary files. If the font you are gathering is a TrueType font, there will only be one file. Sometimes the file is inside a font suitcase : if so, copy across the suitcase. If you are using PostScript fonts, you will need to copy across two files for each font. One is the actual Postscript font, and the other is a suitcase containing bitmap files. If you are supplying any PostScript fonts, make sure that you supply both files for each font. Sometimes they won’t be named exactly the same.
4. Copy these files to your disk, or if you are emailing them, first place them into an archive using DropStuff by Aladdin software. If you don’t have a copy, it can be obtained at www.aladdinsys.com If you email Macintosh fonts without first putting them into an archive, they won’t be usable at the other end.

IIn programs like PageMaker, QuarkXPress and even newer versions of Word, sometimes (or in some cases, always) graphics that you place into your document are not actually stored in the document itself. In this case you must also supply graphics that you have used for us to be able to print your fi le for you. Of all the programs in common use, QuarkXPress is the only one that will not embed graphics at all. All the others have the option of embedding placed graphics or linking them. While embedding your graphics might seem like a neat solution, we prefer that you link them in case we need to fix anything: if you embed them then there is little we can do.

The best way to work is to copy each graphic you use into a folder before you link it, then when you’re finished all you need to do is copy that folder to the disk along with the main file.

Because us accepting native files allows us power over your artwork we always provide a proof and require you sign it off to avoid problems. Problems arise because often software will re-layout a job depending on the printer it is attached to. So the job formatted on your laser at home/office is different from what comes off the digital printer at our end.

5 - Transfer the file to Style

We accept digital files in various ways click here to find out more.

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