StationeryHQ's General File Setup Requirements
StationeryHQ's General File Setup Requirements
StationeryHQ publishes technical file setup requirements for customers submitting artwork for printing.
The following is a summary of its general guidelines. Always check the current product-specific instructions and templates before submitting an order, especially for specialty finishes, variable-data products, and unusual formats.
| File requirement | StationeryHQ general guideline |
|---|---|
| Preferred file format | Flattened PDF |
| PDF standard | PDF/X-1a, compatible with Acrobat 4 / PDF 1.3 |
| Color mode | CMYK |
| Raster image resolution | At least 300 DPI |
| Fonts | Outline fonts |
| Crop marks | Remove crop marks and other printer's marks |
| Bleed | 0.125 inches on all sides |
| Black text and elements | Flat black: C0 M0 Y0 K100 |
| Heavy black or saturated colors | Combined CMYK value below 240% |
| Spot, RGB, and PMS colors | Convert to CMYK |
| ICC profiles | Remove before creating the PDF |
| Overprint | Remove; it is not required for the general workflow |
| Orientation | Right-reading, matching the intended viewing orientation |
These requirements are especially important when preparing files for repeat production. <Cite refs={["turn853941search0","turn853941search2"]}/>
For the full technical reference, visit StationeryHQ File Setup Guidelines.