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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• CD Face graphics templates (Quark Xpress, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Illustrator)
• CD Jewel Case insert and tray card
• Audio submission guidelines
• Attention Graphic Artists- the most common incorrect submissions are in the realms of the graphics. Please read through this website's CD submission graphics guideline before submitting.

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

Same blue only printed with a white flood coat.

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)

Earthology Records
P.O. Box 367
Hinckley, MN 55037
Information@Earthology.net