The following information for art submission will help ensure you get the best quality design reproduction. Please feel free to call us if you need additional assistance.

ART FILE GUIDELINES

EPS Vector Files created in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop are required.
The art file must be a 'Vector Graphic' with the file extension '.eps' at the end. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CorelDraw, FreeHand and similar programs are capable of saving in this format.

All text or fonts in the design must be converted to OUTLINES. 
This is critical. To convert all fonts to outlines in Adobe Illustrator: 

• Step 1 - Highlight your whole design including all fonts/words.  
• Step 2 - From the 'Type' menu, select 'Create Outlines,' then re-save your artwork.

Always save your art in the current version of the art program you are using and in at least TWO previous versions of the program. 
This is because not all manufacturers have the latest version of the software. By saving the art in previous versions, it is more likely to be useable by factories. In order to do this in Illustrator. Please follow the below steps.

• Step1 - Go to the 'File' menu
• Step 2 - Select 'Export' command. 
• Step 3 - In 'Save as Type' drop down box, select 'Illustrator Legacy EPS'. 
• Step 4 - Select the version of illustrator you want to save it in

File types are NOT acceptable for printed merchandise: 
.dat, .doc (Word), .bmp (Bitmap), .jpg (JPEG), .ppt (Powerpoint), Paint, .gif, and .pdf.

Multi-color graphics imported/placed into Illustrator and converted to an EPS are NOT acceptable, such as a multi-color .tif or .jpg. 
If you cannot click and select different components of the design from inside an art program, there is likely a artwork problem.

Four color process CMYK designs can be sent using Photoshop.
If you can set up the file so that each individual color is a separate channel/layer that can be output separately as a spot color, Photoshop may be used as well.

The design must be color separated. 
Since printers need to output each color of your design separately, each component of the design should be set up as a separate color layer. You can test this by printing out each color plate as a separate color separation. If you cannot print each color component on a separate sheet of paper, there is likely a problem with the design.

Design resolution should be 300 dpi (dots per inch) or higher. 
Images taken off the web are usually not high enough resolution to be printable.

Halftones and Tight Registration. 
Be aware that some promotional items cannot include halftones and some cannot include tight registration. If your design contains colors that touch or contains halftones, we recommend that you send it so us so we can forward it to the factory for review so they can advise printability. The print registration tolerance achievable on items varies by item and printing process. Be aware of the print registration abilities of the product you are printing so you know what to expect when you actually get the printed product Print registration is how much one color can shift in relation to another color during the printing process. Since printers print one color of your design at a time on a product, the colors do not line up perfectly though they do come very close. Their ability to line up the colors accurately is referred to as print registration. Print registration can range from less than 1/64" to more than 1/4" between colors depending on the product and printing process.

Custom PMS Colors
Many of our products can be customized in any color to match your specifications. Use the Pantone Matching System (PMS) Color Chart to assist in your color selection. To see a listing of Pantone colors, click here.

IMPRINT METHODS

The following imprint methods are available depending on items:

• Silkscreen Printing aka Screen Printing
• Pad Print
• FCP (Four Color Process/ Full Color Printing/ CMYK)
• UV Printing
• Laser Engraving
• Embossing
• Epoxy Dome

** Spot Colors are specific areas of solid color that you can easily determine by looking at the design. Halfton is not a spot color.

Silkscreen Printing aka Screen Printing:
printing spot colors on FLAT surfaces

Pad Print:
printing spot colors on CURVED or UNEVEN surfaces

FCP (Four Color Process/Full Color Printing / CMYK):
CANNOT print WHITE color, printing on curved or uneven surfaces. FCP is NOT recommended for black color items because the black of the item will make all the FCP colors appear much darker. Spot colors cannot be perfectly reproduced using FCP. This method is used when any of the following criteria are required:

• When a design requires halftones (multiple shades of a color)
• Edge to edge printing on an item (such as printing to the edge on a credit card drive).
• Printing over seams in an item (such as printing from the main body of a credit card drive onto the flip out connector).
• When a design has many colors that blend into each other (such as a photo)
• It is possible to sometimes print more than 4 spot colors, but it is more economical to print using 4CP.

• Power Banks the laser burns off the color top layer of the item and the result will appear as a WHITE logo.
• Metal USB Drives 
• On metal swivel drives, the engraving will be very subtle and appear in SILVER. Photo Proof are strongly recommended because silver color are similar to the USB drive for some models. The logo might be hard to read.
• USB Pens 
• The results will vary on pens drive. Depends on the model, pen drives are made of brass or other metal, even if the surface looks silver; so the engraving result may appear gold or copper or sometimes silver. Photo proof is recommended.

To get more help with what file(s) is required for each imprint method and example images, click here Athena Promo Design Guide.