For many graphic design projects, Design-First will create the majority of files required for the project.

Other new projects may require "re-purposing" or utilizing photographs, text, logos and other files which are provided by the client.

What media formats can you work with?

Design-First can accept the following media files:

• Adobe Photoshop (.psd)
• Adobe InDesign (.indd)
• Adobe Illustrator (.ai, .eps)
• Layered or high resolution PDF (.pdf)
• Tiff (.tif)
• JPG (.jpg, but only high resolution files)

In some cases, depending on the applcation used to create the projects originally, we can import the file into one our applications and work with the file as if it were its original layered format.

If the file has been "flattened" and no longer retains the layers used to originally create the file, there may be little other than cropping or resizing that can be done with the file.

Can you work with Quark Xpress?

If you have files that were created in Quark ExPress, we can usually import them into InDesign with most of the design elements intact. In the event we cannot import the files, we can usually recreate using your projects graphic elements.

What image resolution do you prefer?

If you are providing photograph files from your photographer, we prefer the highest resolution possible, as this will give us the most image information in case there is retouching, sizing or cropping needed.

Tif images, which are not compressed are preferred over .jpg images.

If you are providing existing pre-press files, chances are your image files will have already been converted to CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) and will be at 300 dpi.

How do we send files to Design-First?

Email - Small projects can usually be .zipped into an archive and emailed, provided the file size does not exceed 25 megabytes.

FTP - For larger files, we can provide you login information for using our FTP website, or for uploading through a file transfer service we utilize.

DVD - If you are providing previously used files or many different projects for us to work from, creating a DVD and sending the DVD to Design-First is always a safe bet.

Existing marketing materials

Clients often have existing marketing materials such as logos, brochures, direct mail and images created by different graphic resources.

We prefer to receive printed materials and/or .PDFs in order to see how the existing marketing pieces were uses, especially when we are providing new marketing pieces that must fit into an existing "family" of materials.

If Design-First is simply "re-purposing" existing materials, photographs, logos and other graphics will be utilized where possible. It is always best to provide as much as possible to us in electronic format, especially art files used for printing in order to save time.

Proofing graphic design projects

During the design and pre-press work on your project, Design-First will provide .PDF proofs, which are very useful for evaluating the overall design, layout and text within the project.

We do use calibrated monitors, however our client's monitors may not be calibrated.

Design-First offers a press-calibrated digital color proof on projects where we are providing our clients printing as well as design and pre-press. Printing companies provide calibrated color proofs to give clients a more accurate proof of a project prior to printing.

Submitting text for projects

Microsoft Word (.doc) format is usually best for text documents, or .rtf.

Microsoft Word allows for formatting text so we have some guidence if needed.

Embedding text in an email is usually not a good idea as this can introduce fixed line returns and other formatting issues. However, email is great for attaching a .doc file during the project.