File Format & Preparation

Camera-ready artwork should conform to the dimensions shown under Rates.

OUTlines Magazine is created on an Apple Macintosh using Adobe InDesign. InDesign files can be accepted natively. For Macintosh-created InDesign files: send font files along with the InDesign file.

File Formats

The following file formats are accepted for ad artwork, in either PC or Mac format:

Format	Best Use	Notes
EPS Encapsulated Postscript	Art created in vector drawing programs like Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand. Art that is to be spot color separated.	Resolution is printer-dependent allowing files to be output at the maximum resolution.
JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group	Art created in paint or photo imaging software like Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro or Corel Photo Paint. Art that is to be process (full-color) separated.	File sizes are smaller due to file compression. Images are created at a specific resolution and lose resolution when enlarged.
TIF Tagged Image File Format	Art created in paint or photo imaging software like Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro or Corel Photo Paint. Art that is to be process (full-color) separated.	Images are created at a specific resolution and lose resolution when enlarged.
PDF Portable Document Format	Can come from any application able to export PDF. This format is preferred for all ads.	Vector and bit-mapped images can be saved together. Resolution depends upon the original art used to create the file. Type and vector graphics can be output at higher resolution. File compression makes somewhat smaller files.
PSD Adobe Photoshop native file	Complex artwork requiring possible editing	Native PSD files save layers and type information allowing for easier editing if necessary.

We do not accept, nor can we work with, native Microsoft Publisher files.

Word processing or presentation applications, such as those in the Microsoft Office suite are not good applications for creating camera-ready artwork and have to be converted to a compatible format. This may cause the ad to be changed in an undesirable way. There will also be additional charges for converting these files.

Resolution

All photo art should be 300 dpi or better. Line art should be 600 dpi or better.

Photo Art for Black & White Ads

If the art is intended for a black and white ad it should be converted to grayscale if possible. This will reduce the file size and give a more accurate representation of the printed ad.

Color

There are two types of color: Spot and Process (full-color). For spot color, separations must be made in an application capable of saving spot color information such as one of the vector drawing programs listed above. Software such as Adobe PageMaker, Adobe InDesign and Quark Xpress are capable of correct color separations as well. Check here for more information on spot color separations.

For more information on preparing a file for full color printing, check here.

Sending Files

Files may be saved on floppy disk, CD or Zip 100MB disk and delivered to OUTlines Magazine. The most convenient way to send files is by email to ads@outlinesmagazine.com. Files can be ZIPed or STUFFed to save on file size.