For best printing result, we prefer vector art in Adobe Illustrator. The most common way to print our bags is spot color printing.

Spot color printing:

Spot color printing is a method of specifying and printing colors in which each color is printed with its own ink. Each specified ink color will be assigned with a Pantone number.  In contrast, process color printing uses four inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) to produce all other colors. 

1. File format: Please provide artwork in LINE ART format (Adobe Illustrator file, or PDF file) for running "spot color" printing jobs. We prefer the art files to be saved as PC format, Illustrator PDF format.

2. Color indications: Please assign Pantone numbers for the spot colors used in your art file.  We are using the Pantone Solid Coated system swatch for PE or non-woven bags.

3. Grayscale image: The jpg or gif file is for web or review use only, which is in low resolutions, 72 dpi or 100 dpi. The jpg or gif file is not desirable for printing purpose. For one spot color job, the high-resolution grayscale image may be acceptable. The grayscale image needs to be above 300 dpi and save as tif file (or tiff file). If the image contains screens, like 20% of black, we will convert the art to Bitmap mode In Photoshop, and set up the Output value as “1200 dpi” and “halftone screen” method with value between 35 to 65 lpi (depends on the image and print size), then save the file as .tif. If place tif images in Adobe Illustrator, please remember to “Embed” the images before saving the file.  So the actual image will can be carried with the ai or pdf file.

4. Font treatment: Please outline the all the types of the artwork before sending the art to us. Usually, the procedure is done like this: First, SELECT ALL the artwork. Then, select the function "Create outlines" under Type menu in Adobe Illustrator. After applying this function, the fonts are converted to graphic nature that no longer needs the fonts to support form computer system. We didn't ask for the fonts because sometimes the customer may use Mac or PC fonts. I will take more time to figure out the installation.
   
   
5. Art size and print positioning: Please specify the exact art size if provided art file is not in the exact size. The # 1 position (centered from left side to right side and top side to bottom side) is used as our default print position. Please specify the print position when you wish to print the artwork differently. For example, the position can be indicated as many inches up form the bottom of the bag.

Plate specs for plastic bags:

1. Plate thickness: Rubber 110 or Photopolymer 112
2. Amount of sticky back: 1
3. Quantity: 1 plate per color per side
4. Eye mark: No (We have existing eye mark slugs available at mill)
5. Photopolymer type: Solvent-wash
6. Line Screen: 45 to 65 lpi