Digital Art Guidelines

All copy and graphics should be placed no less than 1/16” inside the die cut edge: this includes inside borders.

All bleed images must extend (bleed) 1/16” outside of the die cut. Bleed borders must be a minimum of 1/16” thick with an additional 1/16” bleed outside the die cut. It is not recommended to bleed a butt cut label.

Minimum size rule lines in positive print are .5 point. Minimum size rule lines in reverse print are .75 point.

Minimum size type in positive print is 4 point in both serif and san serif fonts.

Minimum size type in reverse print is 8 point for serif fonts and 6 point for san serif fonts, anything lower may fill in when printed.

Do not use extra bold or extra light fonts smaller than 8 point, in positive or reverse print, text to bold will fill in and text to light will break up.

Spot color screen values can range from no less than 3% to no more that 90%.

Graduated screen (vignettes) values can range from 3% to 100%.

Four color process screen value no less than 3%. Anything above 90% will probably print as 100%.

Avoid process color mixes on small type and fonts with thin lines, especially mixes using more than 2 process colors.

Avoid process color mixes on small reverse type and reverse fonts with thin lines, especially mixes using more than 2 process colors.

Designs with significant solid elements and screened elements in the same color may need to be separated into separate plates as additional spot colors (this enables the presses to print more dense solids and more accurate screens).

Scans

Scanned images for four color process and continuous tone printing must be scanned at a minimum of 300 dpi.

Scanned line art and type must be scanned at 1200 dpi.

Scans should be saved as TIFF or EPS files. Be sure to convert scanned color images to CMYK before saving to disk.

Trapping

Please DO NOT apply trapping. Labels, Inc. Prepress Department will determine and apply all necessary trapping.

Design Elements and Federal Laws
(Legal Requirements)

Required elements for certain types of labels, like net weight statements, USDA “bugs”, or NLEA nutrition facts boxes, all have specifications about which a designer will need to know. There are rules concerning type weight, type height, and the position of information on a label that must be followed. If this is relevant to the label you are designing, all of the information needed can be obtained from the governmental agency which controls the manufacture and distribution of your product.