You are here: Home > Artwork Guidelines


Submitting Artwork

General Requirements

Submitting Press-Ready artwork ensures your job will be produced quickly, accurately and economically. Artwork is considered Press-Ready when it is 100% sized and in a digital format @ 200 dpi or greater (300 dpi is preferred). Please include all information used to create the final version of your job, including fonts, illustrations, EPS files, PICT files, TIFFS, etc.

Accepted Digital Media
Hard-copy format artwork is not accepted. Art is to be emailed to art@airwavesinc.com or is to be provided on a CD-ROM. If you are emailing a .zip file, please rename to .zap before sending.

Accepted Software Applications
If you have any questions about specific applications or file formats, please call us.
1.) Macromedia Freehand (up to Version 10) with fonts converted to paths.
2.) Adobe Illustrator (up to Version CS) with fonts converted to outlines.
3.) Corel Draw files are accepted if exported as an Adobe Illustrator (AI) format with all text converted to outlines.
4.) JPEG file with a resolution of 200 dpi or greater (300 dpi is preferred) at actual size is
acceptable for one color designs only. A JPEG is a rasterized file format; Vector art is preferred
and will yield a clearer print.
5.) Adobe Photoshop (up to Version CS) file with a resolution of 200 dpi or greater (300 dpi is
preferred). A Photoshop file is a rasterized file format; Vector art is preferred and will yield a clearer print.

Art should be provided in layers. The number of layers depends on the composition of the design. As a general rule, text should be on a separate layer, any background elements should be on a separate layer, and each foreground element should be on a separate layer. We’d rather have too many layers than too few, but there is no need to go to extremes. For example, putting each letter of a line of text on a separate layer is too much. Putting 5 lines of text and 6 background elements on one layer is too few.

Accepted File Types
FreeHand (.FH8, .FH9, .FH10)
Illustrator (.AI)
GIF (300dpi)
TIFF (300dpi)
JPEG (300dpi)
EPS (standard)
Photoshop™ (.PSD)
Vector Art is strongly preferred

Placed Images
If there is a placed image, the linked file must be supplied. Do NOT place a CMYK image. Additionally, grayscale, multi-channel, or 1-bit Tiff’s files are acceptable.

Fonts
Please convert all fonts to outlines (Illustrator) or paths (Freehand). If this is not possible you must include ALL fonts including screen fonts, and printer fonts. A minimum of 12 pt type recommended. Negative copy should have a minimum line weight of .017½ (1-1/4 points).


ART SPECIFICATION

Opaque:
1.) Line Weights (Refers to both the weight of the line and the negative space between lines).
- If transfer is being applied to darks, the minimum line weight is 1.5 points.
- If transfer is being applied to whites & lights, and a clear printer is not desired, the minimum line weight is 1 points.
2.) The maximum number of colors to print is 6.
3.) Line Screen: 35 LPI
4.) Tonal Range: 6% - 85%
5.) Art cannot have 2 colors (solid fill) printing over each other. The second plate must be halftone.

CP - Cold Peel:
1.) Line Weights (Refers to both the weight of the line and the negative space between lines).
- Minimum line weight is 2 points.
- No maximum width.
2.) The maximum number of colors to print is 6.
3.) Line Screen: 35 LPI
4.) Tonal Range: 6% - 85%

DuraTrans™:
1.) Line Weights (Refers to both the weight of the line and the negative space between lines).
- Minimum line weight is 2 points.
- No maximum width.
2.) The maximum number of colors to print is 6.
3.) Line Screen: 35 LPI
4.) Tonal Range: 6% - 85%

Glitter:
1.) Line Weights (Refers to both the weight of the line and the negative space between lines).
- Minimum line weight is 4 points.
- No maximum width.
2.) The maximum number of colors to print is 1.
3.) Line Screen: NOT AVAILABLE.
4.) Tonal Range: NO HALFTONES.

ART SPECIFICATIONS FOR DIGITAL TRANSFERS
Our artists print the file as provided, so no color reference is necessary. It is recommended that you provide a color copy of the artwork so that the artist has visual reference and can identify the correct file.

The total image area available is 10.5” x 16.5”. If multiple images are being imposed in the available image area, recommended spacing is a minimum of .25” apart to allow enough room to individually cut the transfers with scissors.

If your digital transfer is being applied to a mouse pad, refer to the additional specifications below.

The sheet size for DTI art is 11” x 17”, with a live area of 10.5” x 16.5”

Digital Transfers for Mouse pads
Art specifications for digital transfers apply to digital transfers for mouse pads as well. The following list contains additional specifications.

1.) All art should bleed .25” on all four sides.
2.) Copy (type) should be at least .375” away from the mouse pad’s edges.
3.) We recommend a minimum of 12 point type. Negative (reversed-out) copy should have a
minimum line weight of .017” (1-1/4 points).

LAYOUT GUIDELINES

Designs are laid out on sheets in rectangular image areas, spaced .50” apart for scissors-cutting by the customer. This applies only to images Air Waves Custom Products Group is expected to impose. The customer has the option of providing their own imposed sheet layout, with whatever spacing is desired, as long as it fits within available image areas (see specs below).


LAYOUT SUGGESTIONS

SHEET SIZE: 12.5” x 19”
1 Adult, 1 Youth, 3 Crest
Approximate sizes of images:
Adult: 11.5” x 6.875”
Youth: 7.5” x 4.5”
Crest: 3.5” x 3.5”

SHEET SIZE: 12.5” x 19”
12 Crests
Approximate sizes of images:
Crest: 3.5” x 3.5”