Print Ready
The Imaging Center will not resize, crop, or alter your file in any way. All files must come in ready for print. All files are printed at their “actual size”.
Recommended File Types
In order to guarantee that you have the best print quality possible, we ask that you save your file in one of the following file formats:
- Photoshop Files: high resolution .jpg
- PDF: flattened .pdf (X-1a or X-4) – Combine multiple like-sized PDF files into a single PDF.
Note: The Imaging Center does not accept Illustrator, InDesign, or Microsoft Office files.
Printer Resolution
It is often assumed that the higher the printer resolution, the better the prints will look. Remember, the final print quality actually involves various factors such as: how the image was captured, and processed, as well as, what printer the image was printed on, (which includes age & condition of the print heads), the version of print driver/RIP, inks, media, and the viewing distance.
- The maximum resolution that our printers reproduce is 360 PPI.
- The minimum resolution we recommend is 180 PPI (however, depending on the viewing distance and application, less resolution can work.)
Storage Device Information
The IC only accepts files via our online submission site. Though there may be instances where you will have to submit a file on a USB drive.
The IC is not responsible for the loss or damage of storage devices after leaving the premises. All files to be printed must be located in a Print Me folder on your USB drive.
Monitor Calibration
The monitors in the IC are calibrated on a weekly basis. We use X-Rite i1Profiler software and hardware to calibrate our monitors. To simulate daylight and the IC paper selection, the color temperature of our monitors is calibrated to 6500 degrees Kelvin.
Remember the range of reproducible colors available for a printed-out photographic image will always be smaller than the range that can be displayed on a monitor.
Color Space
The IC works in both an Adobe RGB 1998 and U.S. Web Coated CMYK (SWOP) v2 color space.
The Imaging Center will not color correct your file. If color accuracy is important, we highly recommend that you first print a test strip or sample page.
