Tools

Use the following tips to make the most of your Direct Marketing and Fulfillment.

How To Prepare Your Mailing List

Mailing list files are easily transferred on disk or via email. To assure proper presorting and maximum postage savings, here are some tips on setting up your files:

Set up your file with separate fields for first name, last name, street address, city, state and zip code. Any additional information, such as title, company, salutation, etc. must be contained in separate fields within each record.
Excel or Access are two programs where lists can easily be set up.
Export list files in ASCII comma delimited format where possible. This minimizes the size of the file so most can be sent via email.
Lists on disk must be in PC format, not Mac.
Multiple list file layouts should be consistent.

Accepted File Formats

MS Excel 97-2003, 2007+ (XLS, XLSX)
MS Access (MDB)
Comma Delimited (CSV)
Text Tab Delimited (TXT)
Standard ASCII Fixed Length file (ASC)
dBase (DBF)

How To Prepare Your Design Files

You may use any software program that saves files in the formats below. Please flatten images, layered or linked files are not accepted.

Adobe ® Portable Document Format (PDF)
Adobe ® Postscript Format (PS)
Encapsulated Postscript (EPS)

Accepted Image File Formats

JPG/JPEG
BMP
TIF
EPS
PSD

Resolution: 300 DPI. Lower resolution will print pixilated/fuzzy.

When scanning signatures for letter merges, please scan in black and white (unless you require a color signature) at the highest resolution possible.

Transferring print files on disk or electronic transmission can save time, or waste it. To prevent delays and avoid additional costs, make sure you furnish clean files that don't need extra work. Here are the top ten digital print file problems:

Fonts missing
Bleeds not adequate
Graphics missing
Page settings not set properly
Color incorrectly specified
Graphics not linked
No laser proof provided
Resolution too low/high
Trapping incorrect
Scans in RGB mode instead of CMYK