1. What is a TIFF file? Why is it the preferred file format?
2. What is an EPS File?
3. What's wrong with using a JPG file for artwork?
4. Why do rules and outlines need to be 1 point or greater?
5. What are sans serif fonts?
6. What are PMS colors?
7. What is "dpi" and why is it so important?
8. What is considered "camera-ready" artwork?
9. How do you do branding?
10. What exactly is screen printing?
11. What software does Ruszel Woodworks use to deal with artwork?
12. Do you accept artwork that was designed on a Macintosh?
13. Do you accept Adobe Illustrator files?
14. What are separations?
15. Where can I get more information on graphic design topics?

What is a TIFF file? Why is it the preferred file format?

A TIFF file stands for Tagged Image File Format and was designed for storing black and white, grayscale, or color bitmap images. Ruszel Woodworks prefers to use this format for all bitmap images due to it's cross-platform compatibility(Windows and Macintosh). TIFF files also tend to retain better image quality than a JPG or GIF file, especially when printing. Two points to remember with TIFF files: 1. Do not use the LZW compression option, and 2. Make sure that all unused channels are deleted(channels are the selections that were saved during the creation of the image). [top]

What is an EPS file?

An EPS file stands for Encapsulated PostScript File and was designed to store vector graphics created in programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand. EPS files can also store bitmap images, but it is not recommended because they are less efficient than a TIFF file and could result in longer print times and other possible errors. The format is compatible on both Windows and Macintosh platforms. Basically, if you have a vector art image, save it as an EPS file. If you have a bitmap image, save it as a TIFF file. Because EPS files are fairly complex, you will probably get a bewildering dialogue box when saving them! Don't worry, just use the provided default settings and everything should work. [top]

What's wrong with using a JPG file for artwork?

Well, nothing really! It's just that JPG files have built-in compression options to make them as small as possible in file-size, usually for the internet. However, what looks good on screen, NEVER equals what is printed. And this is even more true with JPG files. They don't retain as high of an image quality, especially if compressed, which means the print will look pixelated. This typically happens when you save an image off the internet and try to print it. Most images on the internet (unless specified otherwise) are 72 ppi or screen resolution; not high enough for quality printing! If you need to use a JPG file, make sure the resolution is 300 dpi and the compression set to the highest possible quality. [top]

Why do rules and outlines need to be 1 point or greater?

They need to be 1 point or greater to maintain a solid mark. Any smaller than this size will result in inconsistencies in the line. [top]

What are sans serif fonts?

Sans serif fonts are those without any stylized curves or variations in line thickness. All the fonts on this website are sans serif fonts. These are the best fonts for printing, especially at small sizes, because they are very easy to read. Examples of "serif" fonts are those such as script typefaces (i.e. Nuptial Script). "Serif" fonts generally become difficult to read at 10 point and below which makes "sans serif" fonts a better choice for most applications. [top]

What are PMS colors?

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System, an industry-standard color matching system for matching color from your computer screen to the final product. PMS colors are premixed colors based on standards set forth by the Pantone corporation. If color is extremely crucial to your product, a Pantone color swatchbook is usually a good investment. These books are a catalog of all the colors available (depending on which book you buy; some are only partial catalogs) with samples of the ink color. They will give you a good idea of what the printed color will look like. But, keep in mind, that no system is 100% accurate and this is true even for the Pantone system. Certain variables such as what medium you are printing to, slight temperature changes, etc. can also effect how the final color will look. [top]

What is "dpi" and why is it so important?

DPI stands for "dots per inch" and is one of the standards for measuring print resolution. PPI is another term used when talking about computer resolution and stands for "pixels per inch". While technically different than dpi, ppi is generally used to mean the same thing. Standard printing resolution is 300 dpi and Ruszel Woodworks requires all files be at this resolution when submitted. Anything lower than this will degrade the quality of the print, and ultimately the finished printed product. Please do not take a small resolution file (say a 72 dpi image downloaded from the internet) and upsample it to 300 dpi. This will only give you a horribly pixelated version of the image because the image editing software will be adding pixels to "guesstimate" what the higher resolution would be. Remember, start out with 300 dpi for all printing. [top]

What is considered "camera-ready" artwork?

Ruszel Woodworks considers "camera-ready" artwork for each of the following; For Branding: to be a black and white printout at the actual finished size. For screen printing: film-positives at actual size of each PMS color (if necessary). [top]

How do you do branding?

Branding is the process where a metal branding die is created from your black and white, camera-ready artwork. The die is then heated up and pressed into the wood surface to create a burned impression. [top]

What exactly is screen printing?

Screen Printing is the process where ink is forced through a screen stencil onto a printable surface. The screen is created from a film-positive, which is taken from the color-seperated, camera-ready artwork. [top]

What software does Ruszel Woodworks use to deal with artwork?

Ruszel Woodworks uses Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for dealing with all artwork. [top]

Do you accept artwork that was designed on a Macintosh?

We can accept artwork that was designed on a Macintosh as long as it is saved as a TIFF or EPS file. We can also accept JPG files, but keep in mind, these file types may not retain the same high image quality that a TIFF or EPS file has. See " What's wrong with using a JPG file for artwork?" for more information on this topic. [top]

Do you accept Adobe Illustrator Files?

Yes. Please make sure to save your final artwork as an EPS file (most likely an Illustrator EPS) so we can work with it. Also, make sure to convert any and all fonts to outlines (i.e. rasterize them). See "What is an EPS file?" for more information on this topic. [top]

What are separations?

Separations are printed proofs of the artwork and are used to verify the accuracy of text and graphics before any films are made. Each printed separation represents one of the 4 color plates in the 4-color printing process. The most common and affordable separations are black and white printouts from a laser printer. [top]

Where can I get more information on graphic design topics?

There are numerous sites on the internet that offer free tips and tutorials on graphic design and desktop publishing, in general. One site that is particularly useful is DTP/HTML Plus which has a plethora of information on both Desktop Publishing and Web Design. You may find more answers to your questions at this site, as well as more detailed descriptions of some of the topics discussed here. [top]