Recommendations for creating print data for your stamps

In principle, we can support all popular graphics formats. Preferably, however, we work with Freehand, InDesign, QuarkXPress and Photoshop.
You can send open files of the above programs or closed PDF or EPS data.

Please note the following general information:

Fonts:

Please try to convert all fonts to paths (if you send open data). If this is not possible, please send with the appropriate fonts, keeping in mind is that you comply with any licensing requirements.

Logos, drawings:

Please try to create logos, drawings, etc. always in vectorized form. Only that way the best possible results are achieved. If logos or designs are available only in form of pixels, they should have a resolution of 2400 dpi.

Images:

Images should be in a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, with fine motifs of at least 600 dpi.

Black borders, fonts, etc.:

Please set them to "overprint".

Material:

For uncoated stamp material (Jac script) it is important to note that it´s not possible to print very fine bright lines and contours, as well as too small light fonts on a dark background.

Gaps:

Keep distance with important elements, logos, labels, etc. At least 1.5 mm clearance on all punching and perforation lines. The punching and perforation fluctuates up to half a mm and in poor weather conditions even more. Connect images and surfaces because of this reasons not exactly with the punching or perforation. Make them either at least 1.5 mm smaller than the punch or perforation lines or go as much beyond.

Formats:

You will receive dimensioned stamp sheet for your stamps in PDF format.

Proofs:

We create for you before printing either a digital proof or a contract proof, which allows you to get a feel for the look and the colors. Here it should be noted, of course, that a digital proof is no substitute for proof and depending on the material used, the result can vary in color. Our contract proofs are calibrated to offset presses, but remember also that we work under normal light conditions and standards, and others - in particular office lighting - distort the analysis results.

Notes about creating first-day-cards in digital printing:

Gradients and solid areas:

Particularly subtle tonal gradations and bright solids reach the limits of digital printing. We use one of the latest Xerox presses, but even here are critical gradients in bright blues and reds.

Marking the first-day-cards:

The first-day-cards will be stuffed with postage stamps and stamped. Our fast-drying ink stamp holds on power of digital ink poorly. One should therefore, the surfaces to be made on a stamp colored either weakly or not at all. Is a rich color area still desirable, we can take with manual stamping muster with the letterpress machine stamps. This keeps them clean the paint, but the manual character disappears in this process.

Transitions in the groove:

Folded first-day-cards can be grooved in the middle. Since in digital printing the alignment of the front and back is subject to variation, we recommend to work at the maximum groove on one printed page with sharp color transitions. In the solid areas of color with fractions must be counted in the groove.

Help and advice:

Of course, you can call us with all your questions.