Submitting Your Digital Artwork

If you do not have an original or camera-ready version the best way to send us your images, artwork or logo is in a digital or electronic format. Webxites’ production team can work with a variety of digital formats and graphic design applications. Below is a list of the most common graphic design and layout applications we use here at Webxites. If your application is not listed, please consider calling the production team before sending us your files to avoid a delay in completing your design request.

 

Webxites uses the following industry standard graphic design and layout applications:

  • Photoshop (this includes files created with Image Ready)
  • Illustrator
  • Freehand
  • Fireworks

Webxites uses the following industry standard desktop publishing and layout applications:

  • Quark Xpress 4.0+
  • Indesign 2.0+
  • PageMaker 8.0+
  • Fireworks 4.0+

Webxites can accept text for copy in just about any format but the following are the most common:

  • Microsoft Word (.doc, .rtf, .txt, .wps, .html)
  • Open Office Document
  • Windows text (txt) and Rich Text Format (RTF)

Note: In some cases we may be able to work with a PDF created with one of the applications above. Call our design team if you have questions regarding the use of a PDF.

There is an old saying “You only get out of something what you put in”. So, please be aware that the quality of your artwork is often easy to determine based on your original artwork source.

Using Digital Images, Logos and Artwork on Your Web Site

Your images, artwork and logo will be used to communicate who you are to your customers. If you would like to have those items resized, cropped or have any other modifications done, we suggest that you send in the highest quality artwork you have available. Below are some of the guidelines for the most common types of files used for web design.

Submitting Digital Images and Artwork

If you are submitting “loose” digital images, it means that we will be placing those images into your web site based on your instructions or mockup. In the simplest terms, we need images that are:

  • High quality TIFF or JPEG
  • Color if possible. If the photo needs to be B/W we can convert it
  • 355 ppi (1200 ppi bitmap)
  • Instructions and/or mock-ups indicating size and placement of image(s)
  • Note: We can work with some photo slides or negatives, please call for details.

Determine Image Quality from Source

The following is a comparison of good quality image sources vs. quality image sources:

Good Quality Image Sources

  • 2.4 MegaPixel or better digital camera
  • High resolution / high quality stock photography
  • High resolution / high quality scanner (true high resolution, not interpolation)

Low Quality Image Sources

  • 2.0 MegaPixel or lower digital camera
  • Screen capture or video frame
  • Low resolution / low quality stock photography
  • Low resolution / low quality scanner
  • Image lifted off a Web page

Submitting Digital Logos

Your logo is perhaps the most important identifier for your business. If you are submitting a digital logo, it means that we will be placing those images into your web site based on your instructions or mockup. In the simplest terms, we need images that are:

  • High quality TIFF or JPEG
  • EPS with fonts converted to outlines
  • 355 ppi (1200 ppi bitmap)
  • Instructions and/or mock-ups indicating size and placement of image(s)

Determine Logo Quality from Source

The following is a comparison of good quality logo sources vs. low quality logo sources:

Good Quality Logo Sources

  • EPS created according to our instructions from Illustrator or FreeHand
  • High resolution, CMYK TIFF (or JPEG) from Photoshop
  • High resolution / high quality scan of camera ready artwork

Low Quality Logo Sources

  • Image lifted off a Web page
  • Low resolution / low quality TIFF or JPEG
  • Low resolution / low quality scan
  • Clip art
  • Any file(s) created using applications we do not support or accept (example: Microsoft Publisher, etc.)

Common Digital File Errors

Wrong File Type

Our production process is such that we can only accept specific file types from specific professional graphic design applications. If your application is not listed, please consider having us build your layout for you.

Corrupt File

If you choose to e-mail files to use remember that they can get stripped of vital code that identifies them as valid TIFF's or EPS's or whatever the original file types. Without compressing your files, you run the risk of sending us incomplete or “corrupted” digital files. Remember to compress them with a compression program. We prefer .zip or .rar files.

Submitting Your Camera-Read Artwork

Camera Ready Artwork is better understood if you think “scanner ready laser print”. Essentially, you are mailing us a black/white hardcopy from a laser printer and we are scanning it and placing that into your layout for you.

Basic guidelines for getting the best possible results:

  • Use a good quality printer (laser printer preferred)
  • Black/white only (please do not use shades of gray)
  • Be sure that text, borders, and logos are sharp and clear

Getting the Best Quality

Be sure that your text, borders, and logos are sharp, clear, and black/white. This can typically be determined by scrutinizing your hardcopy on your end before mailing it to us.

Avoid Shades of Gray

Although you may be tempted to introduce gradients or screened images into your layout, please be aware that we scan all camera ready art as 1,200 dpi Bitmap TIFF's. This gives you the best possible output for black/white text and logos. If you submit camera ready art with shades of gray, however, you risk having those shades become severely pixilated (grainy).

Last Updated: January 24, 2006