Frequently Asked Questions

What DPI should I scan my photos at?

Between 200 and 300 dpi at the final size.

If you scan a photo that is 3" x 3" and place it in your file at actual size (3" x 3") then you should scan at 200 - 300 dpi. If you are placing the 3" x 3" photo into a file that will be enlarged to 6" x 6", this is a 200% enlargement, so you should scan at 600 dpi. Any scans that are scanned above the recommended dpi will waste space and time. Any scans that are scanned to a lower than recommended dpi could result in unsightly pixelation and a degraded image quality.

The only exceptions are scans destined for fastcolor.com's large color format printer which should be scanned to 100 dpi at the final size. You cannot increase resolution in Photoshop, nor can you maintain resolution while enlarging an image.

Once an image is scanned, any enlargement will result in a decrease in resolution. Therefore, it is critical that you scan it to the proper final size to begin with.

Many people confuse imagesetter resolution with scan resolution and have difficulty understanding how a 300 dpi scan can yield a publication- quality image. Without going into a complicated technical explanation, suffice to say that imagesetter resolution (typically 2,540 - 3,556 dpi) is a completely different concept from scan resolution (typically 200 - 300 dpi). The simple explanation for this is that scans are continuous tone images, while color separations are screened images.

In order to allow for sufficient variation in dot size and frequency when creating screens, it is necessary for an imagesetter to operate at a much higher resolution than the resolution that the image was originally scanned at. The ratio is 8:1, meaning that a 300dpi scan requires 300x8=2,400 dpi of imagesetter resolution to output with all the shading variations and color nuances intact.

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Is there a checklist I can follow before I send my files to Fastcolor.com?

Yes. There are a few basic guidelines to follow to double-check your files before you send them - which will save you time and money. This checklist represents guidelines to the most common errors made in digital file preparation:

• Convert your photos and images to CMYK
  
  
• Save your photos between 200 and 300 dpi at the final size
  
  
• Send all fonts used within your files
  
  
• Send all placed images used within your final document
  
  
• Save your photos as EPS or TIFF files

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Can fastcolor trap my files?

Yes, our Rampage system will automatically trap your files while they are being Ripped. Please notify us with any specific trapping specifications you may have.

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What is the difference between an Epson proof, a WaterProof and a Blue line proof?

Epson proofs are high-quality full-color digital contract proofs.

DuPont Waterproof and Blue lines are made from your final film. WaterProof is full color, while Blue lines show only layout, not color.

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What is the best format to save bitmap images in so they can easily be imported into another program?

Images should always be saved as either grayscale or CMYK. TIFF and EPS are two best file formats for these types of files. All RGB images should be converted to CMYK before being sent to fastcolor.com so as not to incur additional charges for conversion.

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How do I gather required fonts?

Windows

• Type 1 Fonts
  On your hard drive there should be a directory called /psfonts which contains [filename].pfb files. Within that directory is a directory called pfm. This contains the [filename].pfm files.

  For each font we need both the .pfm and the corresponding .pfb file. Once you copy these files out of these directories, you can then verify they will install by trying to reinstall them from the directory you copied them to.
  
  

• True Type fonts
  In the control panel, open the fonts folder. Right click on the desired fonts, drag them into another folder and select "copy". Then send us those files.

Macintosh

• Type 1 Fonts
  Copy the screen fonts and printer fonts out of your System/Fonts folder.
  
  
• True Type Fonts
  Copy the True Type font out of the System/Fonts folder.

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How do I create a bleed?

Extend the image 1/8" past the page boundary on all of the bleed edges.

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How do I pay and can I get terms on my payment?

We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, or company check and you can complete our order form, or request a quotation right here on this Web site.

We also offer Net 30 terms for corporate accounts after credit application approval.