We love hearing about all the new and popular creative programs & apps out there. From Canva to Procreate…  we’ve got you covered in terms of how to set-up a digital file. Our hope is that by sharing some tips & tricks, the process is as headache-free as possible.

Boxcar’s Note: All of the above programs are pretty good, however, they do not get you all the way to what we need for a plate ready file. 

You’ll need to email us your pdf so that we can fix them up for the “last mile” leg. 

Reach out to us at info@boxcarpress.com.  We’re here to help!

The Short & Sweet:

• All artwork should be 100% the size you need.
• Send your art exactly as how you want your pulled print to look. 
• Avoid wispy / fragile text or art.   If you think it may be too thin….then it probably is. You’ll it need to beef it up or scale-up the artwork (to be on the safe side).
• Crop marks – include them inside and on the artboard if you need them for your own printing needs.
• Artwork should be pure black or pure white (to the best of your ability).
• Save out as a PDF.

File formats we do not accept: 

• PNG
• JPG
• GIF
• PSD

(If this is the only file format you have, reach out and we will assist or advise how to proceed to a plate-ready file.)

Canva tips:

How to Make a New Custom-sized Document

• Log into or Launch the Canva program.
• On the upper right hand corner, click the “Create a Design” button 
• A fly-out menu will appear.
• At the very bottom of the menu, click the text option “Custom Size”.
• A new fly-out menu will appear
• Change the measurements to inches
• Enter in your Width and Height dimension in the correct fields. (e.g 5 x 7 inches)
• Click OK.

Saving Out A Digital File

• In the upper right corner, click the “Share” Button.
• Next, click the “Download” button.
• A new menu will appear.
• Change the File Type to “PDF Print”.
• Change the Color Profile to CMYK (may need to purchase a subscription for this).
  • DO NOT check the box next to “Flatten”. This will make a low-quality file (no fun).
• Click the “Download” Button
• A new pop-up window will appear. Save to your local computer / desktop.

Procreate tips:

Saving Out As a Digital File:

• Tap “Actions” 
• A fly-out menu will appear. Under the Share Images section, tap the word “PDF”.
• Choose “Best” if prompted (this refers to the quality of the file).
• Save to your local drive on your iPad
  
  
  

Trust Boxcar Press with your files, whatever your program. Send us a PDF file with what you have and we’ll work our prepress magic to aid you.