Film:

• Positive
• Right reading
• Emulsion side up
• Minimum film thickness 0.004 in. (0.10 mm)
• Minimum film size 8"x8"
• Film image shall have sharp, hard edges with a minimum density of 4.0
• Clear area shall have no fog
• Film shall be output at a minimum of 1270 dots per inch. For quality work 2400 dots per inch is recommended
• Colour separated with one film per colour. The specific PMS Pantone colour or process colour must be identified at the top right corner if the film along with a job number and print sequence
• For solid backgrounds, a seperate piece of film must be provided
• Film should be free from contamination and scratches

Registration Marks:

• Registration marks are to be made of solid circles - 2.0 mm in diameter
• Solid circles shall be at 45, 135, 225, and 315 degrees
• Dots shall be 45 mm from the center of the image to the center of the dot measured both horizontally and vertically
• There shall be 90 mm between centers of the registration dots, measured horizontally and vertically
• Registration marks must appear on all pieces of film

Type Size and Line Print:

• Minimum printable type is 5 pt
• Minimum reverse print type on a solid background is 6 pt bold
• Minimum reverse print on a halftone background is 7 pt bold
• Minimum serif width is 1/2 point
• Minimum character line width is 1/2 pt
• Minimum reverse character line width is 3/4 pt
• Any colour printing over another colour(s) shall have 1/2 pt trap
• Bold face type recommended: best results are achieved with Helvetica bold type (font)
• Boxes, curves, rules - follow the direct and reverse print minimums above
• Only black colour can be used to overprint a PMS colour without knockouts
• Avoid halftone text. Text should be done in a sold type to reproduce correctly.

Screens/Halftones:

• Dot shape MUST be elliptical with hard edge
• Multicolour halftones are recommended at 100 lines per inch
• Photo type images are recommended at 133 lines per inch
• Tonal range to be within 15 to 85%
• Printing of vignettes is discouraged
• Lithographic separation shall be rejected
• Rescreened separations shall be rejected
• Radial tints shall not be used
• Angles required for each colour separation:
  • Yellow 0 degrees
  • Cyan 15 degrees
  • Black 45 degrees
  • Magenta 75 degrees
• Single colour halftones shall be 75 degrees
• GCR: whenever applicable, GCR shall be incorporated

Four Colour Process:

• Any colour printing over another colour(s) shall have 1/2 pt trap
• For any process job that requires a flood; the flood should be 1/2 mm smaller than the other colours

Proofs:

• Any multiprocess or multicolour halftone graphic shall have a proof supplied. This may be a dye proof, chromaline or equivalent
• Care is taken to match proof copies as close as possible, but can not be guaranteed 100%
• A print sample can be ordered through your Account Manager at a nominal charge. NOTE: VCR Active will make every effort to match your printed discs to this sample. However, due to the nature of the silkscreen process and its many variables, there may be slight variations between this printed sample and your printed order.

Ink Colours:

• Only Pantone PMS colours are to be used and must be identified by colour numbers
• A white flood coat will help in matching Pantone PMS colours
• NOTE: Care is taken to match PMS colours as closely as possible but slight variations may occur.

Film Identification:

• The following information shall be found at the top of each piece of film containing halftones: colour, screen ruling, screen angle, dot shape, GCR used (%), job number

Standard Content:

• The designation "Made in Canada" shall be printed on discs designated for export
• When applicable, the "Compact Disc Logo" shall be clearly placed in the graphics with minimum 50% contrast with background colours
• No alteration of the logo will be permitted!

Review our pdf preflight checklist to ensure successful print jobs.

Last Updated: February 2006