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Submitting
Photoshop Files for Final Placement
Since
some designers only have access to Photoshop, we have added
a process where PSD files can be submitted as final design
submissions. Earthology uses Quark (sometimes Illustrator)
to image set all designs. If you know someone with Quark or
Illustrator or even Pagemaker you can get higher quality text
rpinting on your CD. PSD file must be flattened to 300 dpi,
so it is not as desirable as submitting vector-based text
using Quark or Illustrator files which achieve ~ 2450 dpi
text.
Note: These templates are for guide purposes only, please
do not flatten template lines into your artwork. For CD faces,
please do not include the center knockout in the artwork.
The center knockout on the template is for positioning purposes
only and is not meant to be included in your final artwork.
*Note:
JPEG and PDF are not full print resolution, they are just
to give you the proper dimensions, please do not use them
as a template, but rather a guide.
Photoshop
guidelines:
- Create
an original document for each individual
panel using the diagrams below. Do not combine or make a
"spread" within Photoshop. Resolution should be
set at 300 dpi.
- Save
your document using the default PSD extension (file type).
- Use
descriptive names when saving; ie: front cover pg 1.psd
, traycard outside.psd, cd label.psd etc.
- Color
modes are critical to avoid additional charges:
- color
panels for booklets should be CMYK colors only
- grayscale
mode for inside panels when designing the "1"
side for a 4 over 1 price quote
- Use
the template images below to size the final panel sizes
for your booklet and CD label
- When
designing the CD disc face - DO NOT MAKE A HOLE
IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PHOTOSHOP CD FACE IMAGE. DO NOT FLATTEN
IMAGE WITH CROP MARKS.
- Be
sure to increase the panel size by 1/8" (3 mm) to allow
color to bleed all around your design and CD label.
- Be
sure to keep text and critical images at least 1/8"
(3 mm), preferably more, away from all cut lines. Having
text encroach upon the edges of your design is asking for
trouble.
- Flatten
all files (no layers) so that your text is bitmapped eliminating
the need to submit fonts. * BE SURE TO SAVE A UNFLATTENED
VERSION FOR SAFE KEEPING IN CASE YOU NEED TO MAKE CORRECTIONS
LATER *
Supplied
Scans:
- Use
correct file format (TIFF, EPS). Avoid GIF and JPEG formats
wherever possible.
- Save
as CMYK, grayscale, or bitmap color mode. No RGB, index
color, etc.
- Make
sure resolution at size is okay. 350 dpi for color/grayscale
(175 lpi min.). 800 dpi for bitmap (175 lpi min.)
- There
should be no extra channels, layers, or paths unless necessary.
Linked
Files:
- Provide
all high resolution scans and logo (EPS) files that are
placed in your layout.
- Make
sure all linked files are editable.
- Include
any fonts used in your EPS files.
- Include
any scans used in your placed EPS files. For example, you
placed a scan into an Illustrator file, saved that Illustrator
file as an EPS, and then placed that EPS into Quark.
Font
Information:
- Supply
all font files (plain, bold, italic, etc.) used.
- PostScript
fonts have a printer file and a screen font file.
- TrueType
fonts have only one file.
Final
Booklet Size:
Final
Traycard Size:
CD
Layout : Printable areas
 The
early 80's first incarnation of disc printing machines only
covered the bright aluminum area of the CD face (illustrated
as area A). When customers began to complain about the wasted
space towards the center, CD manufacturers began to introduce
new printable areas to offer designers.
Our
regular CD label face templates come in 4 different size specifications
which dictate the printable area of the disc you would like
to cover with your design.
The
4 size specifications relate to the inside diameter where
the silk-screen machine will stop inking. Some people like
to print only simple text on the main aluminum area (like
classical records) This is our "A" template.
Because
the underlying surface of the CD effects the color tint of
the inks as you print towards the center of the disc, we make
it clear by defining our templates as to what is happening
beneath the area of your design.
A
= stops at the inside edge of the aluminum (116mm to 46mm
diameter)
B = includes the mirror band (very dark mirror optically absorbs
black text and thin lines) (116mm to 35mm diameter)
C = add the clear center stopping at the outside edge of the
stacking ring. (116mm to 26mm diameter)
D = desperate for more real estate? use this spec to gain
every last bit of CD printable area. You can *not* include
any design elements in the GAP between C and D. (116mm to
26mm then 23mm to 18mm diameter)
Why the gap in template "D"?
To
allow a disc to be picked up by robot arms, CDs have a shallow
groove on top near the center. The robot arm uses suction
and gets aligned perfectly center by using the groove as a
guide. It is not advised to get ink inside this groove. The
industry calls this the "stacking ring" but in fact
the stacking ring is actually underneath, on the data side
of the disc. The stacking ring allows CDs to be stacked on
top of each other while maintaining separation which prevents
ink smudging and ease of handling. We need a design gap at
23mm to 26mm. Otherwise an Earthology CD can print from 18mm
all the way out to 116mm.
There
will be a 1mm band of aluminum around your design at 116mm
to 117mm (outermost edge) when the CD comes out of silk-screening.
The
A,B,C and D specs for the CD templates have no relevance to
cost as long as you have the right product category of template:
Standard
CD-ROM and Audio
3" mini CDs
FAN-CD
DVD
Shape Business card
Make sure you have been quoted for the total number of colors
built into your design template file.
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If
you are unsure which template to use - use Spec "A".
It covers just the outer light aluminum area.
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Mirror
band : avoiding the data ring
The main aluminum area of the disc is reflective but dull
in appearance and contains no dark colors. However, between
the clear plastic and the dull aluminum is a highly reflective
ring or a "mirror band" containing various codes
and markings (35mm to 46mm).
Because
the mirror band is so dark, it has a tendency to swallow anything
printed on top of it. There is a definite lack of contrast
between dark letters and the mirror band presenting a challenge
to the eyes to distinguish these elements when printed on
top of the mirror band.
For this reason we recommend a white flood coat if your design
requires elements that sit on top of the mirror band (templates
B,C & D) ... or simply stay clear of this area
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Flood
coats : getting continuous tone
Template "D" is used in the illustration below .
It shows how light color tints will shift as they travel toward
the center, over the dark mirror band and then the clear center
hub. (Image on left shows disc image sitting on a dark tray
inside jewel case).
Light Blue printed on
spec "D" template. Note
color shift as it prints across
mirror band and clear center
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Same blue only printed
with a white flood coat.
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Go grab a CD with artwork that covers as much of the disc
as you can find. Now look at the underside of the CD, the
playable side. Look through the clear plastic center at a
light source. You should be able to tell (if you look closely)
whether or not the designer added a white flood to the label.
This is important, because if you try to maximize your design
size on the CD face and use the biggest template, you will
run into surface opacity changes as you travel into the center.
White
floods count as a color so be sure your quote includes enough
colors including a white flood if desired. You will not need
to produce a film for the white flood -we can add this without
additional film charges.
It's
like printing on heavy paper while your design is over top
the aluminum, but switches to onion skin paper for the clear
center. To achieve uniform color tint across the entire disc
face, a white background is usually required if you wish to
screen across the entire disc area.
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Colors
print much more accurately if your design
includes a white background "flood" coat. (courtesy
of CDman.com)
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