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Quark Xpress® 6 Templates

The instructions below will help guide you in preparing the best possible files for production and print using Quark version 6. For Quark 4 & 5 users, please click here.

Templates


Mac Format	Windows Format

Control-Click ( Mac ) or Right-Click ( Win ) to save these files.

Adobe Photoshop® Help

Trim and Bleed

Before you start work on any design and layout, make certain that your Quark document is set at the appropriate trim dimension for your project (or download pre-made templates here). The “trim size” is the final dimension that your printing job will be cut to (before any folding, if needed). An additional 1/8” “bleed” is required wherever design elements touch the edge of your trim dimension. This means that any element that touches the trim edge must be allowed to extend past the trim edge by at least 1/8”. This assures a safety margin during the post production trimming of your project to assure that your bleed elements remain touching the trim edge without any white, unprinted gaps between the bleed element and the trim edge. If you have any design elements (including borders) that come too close to the trim edge, and you do not intend for them to touch the trim edge, then you must “back it away” from the trim edge by at least 1/8”.

Maintaining Legible Type and Hairlines

One typical mistake is design is the use of type or hairlines that do not print well and thus wind up being illegible. To avoid this mistake, shy away from type sizes smaller than 6 pts and lines (rules) thinner than .25pt.

Type smaller than 6 pts becomes difficult to read anyway, and finer details may be difficult to hold on press anyway. Typical body copy should run between 9 and 12 pts in size for maximum readability.
Be careful when using “reversed out” copy (ie: text that is a light color running across a darker area). Because the darker area tends to bleed into the lighter text area on press, it is recommended that you use at least 6 pt type, and sans serif fonts, in these instances.

Hairlines thinner than .25 points may not show up when printed. To select a thickness other than standard set widths in Quark, select “Other” under “Width” and type in any value greater than .25 pt.

Image Quality and Color

When using images within your design, it is very important that you use the best quality images and color spaces possible.

Resolution: Be certain to use image resolutions 300 dpi (or ppi) or better for color and grayscale images (otherwise known as “halftone” images), and 1,200 dpi (or ppi) for bitmap images (otherwise known as “line art”). Click here for more information on image resolution.
Image quality: Use non-compressed file formats such as TIFF, EPS or native Photoshop files when possible (without compression settings). If you need to use a compressed file format like JPEG in your design, make sure the image is saved with “Maximum Quality” settings. This will prevent loss of image quality during the compression process.
4/4 and 4/1: The use of 4-color process (CMYK) on both sides of your print job is referred to as “4/4” (pronounced “four over four”). The use of 4-color process on the front side of your job, but grayscale or black and white on the back side is called “4/1” (pronounced “four over one”).
4-color Process (CMYK): When using color or color images in your design and layout, be certain to use CMYK values instead of RGB. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black “K”) is the color space that printers use to run your job. If you have an image that is RGB, like images that come from your digital camera or scanner, you must convert them to CMYK first before placing into your design.

Using “Rich” Blacks

When using black elements in your 4-color design, it is best to you use a “rich black,” which is a black composed of all four process colors. This gives your black a deeper, darker shade of black on press. It is best to use rich blacks in larger areas of black, such as thick black borders, headline type and shapes. It is still preferable to use 100% black for body copy (text).

To achieve rick blacks, create a color swatch or assign a process color with the following CMYK combinations: Cyan = 60%, M = 40%, Y = 20%, K = 100%.

Even though a “normal” black may appear as dark as you wish on screen, it may not come out as dark and rich on press. Use the “rich” black to be certain. Here is an example of setting the CMYK sliders in Photoshop’s color palette.

Font Usage

It is important to have full knowledge of which fonts you are using in your document. It is often recommended to narrow the number of different font families in your design to reduce complications. To determine which fonts you are using in your Quark document, go to Utilities > Usage and check the “Fonts” tab. This will list all instances of any font in your document. You will need to keep track of these fonts during the “Collect for Output” process at the end (see below). It is IMPORTANT to note the following:

Do not stylize any fonts (eg: bolds, italics, outlines or shadows) using QuarkÕs settings. If you need to bold or italic a font, select the bold or italic font from the font menu (eg: Futura Bold). Not all fonts have bold or italic versions. If you need to create an outline or shadow look, use Illustrator to create the effect and import in as an EPS graphic.

Do not use Multiple Master fonts in your Quark document (eg: fonts that have “MM” in their filename like “OceanSansMM.”)
If you are importing EPS vector graphics from Illustrator or Freehand that have fonts (“ editable type”) in the graphic, please make sure to make note of those fonts as well and include in the “Collect for Output” step below. Quark does not keep track of fonts imported in from other applications. It is recommended that you outline the fonts in your EPS graphics before submitting your files. Please see the Illustrator help section for more details.

Update All Linked Images

All images “linked” (placed) into your Quark document must be “updated” before “collecting for output.” You cannot proceed with the “Collect for Output” until all linked images have been updated. To determine which images you are using in your Quark document, go to Utilities > Usage and check the “Images” tab. If any images are “Missing” or “Modified,” you will need to update them until “OK” is displayed next to every image (see below). Make sure that all linked images are high-resolution, CMYK/Grayscale/Bitmap, and that all images are embedded and fonts outlined (in linked EPS files from Illustrator or Freehand).

Remove OPI (Quark 5)

In Quark 5, make sure that the OPI is “off” or unchecked for all images in your layout. Go to Utilities > Usage and check the “OPI” tab to confirm.

Export to PDF

Go to File/Export/Layout as PDF. Set Pages to the page you are exporting. (If you are working with a multiple page document, please export each page separately. Example: A 2-page document containing the front and back would be exported as 2 separate PDF files.)

Layout Info Tab: It is not necessary to alter the information in the layout Info tab.

Hyperlinks Tab: Deselect “Include Hyperlinks”:

Job Options Tab: Be sure to:

Embed all fonts
Subset fonts below 100%
Set all image compression to “None” and Resolution to “Keep Resolution”
Deselect “Compress Text and Line Art” and “ASCII Format”

Output Tab: Be sure to:

Set Type to “Composite”
Print Colors to “As Is”
Deselect “Produce Blank Pages”
DO NOT select “OPI”
Set Images to “Include Images”
Set Registration to “Off”
Set Bleed Type to “Page Items Only”

OPI Tab: Do not use OPI:

Compress And Send Your File

Compression: After you have successfully saved your file, we prefer that you compress your file using Stuffit or ZIP (Aladdin DropStuff or Stuffit Deluxe (Mac) or WinZip (PC). This will not only optimize the file size for faster upload through FTP, but will ensure that your file is protected during transit. NOTE: When creating your SIT or ZIP file, please include the PO# and Project name in the filename.

File Transfer:After you have successfully compressed your file, and placed your order, you will have the option to upload your file through our Web site. Follow the instructions accordingly.