Print-Ready Ads
These Print-Ready requirements apply only to ad files, not articles. All articles must be submitted as text files (ASCII), RTF, or Word documents from our Submit Article Page.
Print-Ready ads (also known as camera-ready ads in the printing industry) are ads that can be placed directly into the newsletter publication for printing without modification and are in PDF or EPS formats. PDF files are preferred as they avoid common font problems that can occur with other file formats. We also accept EPS files with embedded fonts or fonts that have been created to outlines.
Ad files not in PDF or EPS format are not print-ready and will not be accepted as such. This includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher files.
Creating PDF files
Many software programs today can save or export to a PDF file thus producing a print-ready copy. Such programs include OpenOffice.org Writer, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. Other software like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher can make use of software that allows you to print to a PDF file like you would a standard printer. Macs running OS X include this feature built into the operating system. Windows users can purchase Adobe Acrobat Standard or CutePDF Professional. Alternatively you can use a free program like CutePDF Writer.
The following list includes some hints on creating PDF files with some common design software.
- Adobe Illustrator
- Create PDF files directly from the File > Save As dialog.
- Adobe InDesign
- Use the File > Export menu and select Adobe PDF from the Save as type box. After clicking Save, the Export PDF dialog will appear. Change the Preset to [Press] and click Export.
- Adobe PageMaker
- Use the File > Export > Adobe PDF menu in Adobe PageMaker to create PDF files from your publication. Select the "Print Job" control settings in Adobe Distiller when creating the PDF file.
- Adobe Photoshop
- Do not use Photoshop to design your ad as it will look grainy when printed unless it is a very high resolution.
- Corel Draw
- Export to an EPS file from the File > Export menu. When creating an EPS file, include a header in TIFF format, include the as Text (not Curves) and include fonts.
- Macromedia Freehand
- Export to an EPS file from the File > Export menu. Save as an EPS with TIFF preview and embedded fonts.
- Microsoft Publisher
- Print to a PDF using a PDF writer such as Adobe Acrobat or CutePDF.
- Micosoft Word
- Print to a PDF using a PDF writer such as Adobe Acrobat or CutePDF.
- OpenOffice.org Writer
- Use the File > Export as PDF... menu option. Under Images select Lossless compression then click Export.
- Use the correct dimensions when creating the ad. We can't fit a landscape ad into a portrait position without shrinking it down smaller than you want -- ditto portrait ads in a landscape position. Use the dimensions found on the Ad Specifications page when creating your ad.
- Create the PDF from the same computer you designed it on. Documents can look subtly different between computers due to things like different versions of the software (Microsoft Word 2003 vs Microsoft Word 2007) and having different fonts installed.
- After creating the PDF, open it up in Acrobat Reader and compare it to the original document. This step is important because what you see in Acrobat Reader is how it will look in the newsletter. Make any corrections and repeat until the PDF looks like you want it to.
- If your ad has images, print the PDF out and look it over carefully. This last check will ensure that all graphics look just as good in print as they do on the screen. If the graphics look grainy on the printed page they'll look grainy in the newsletter.