Printing Specifications

FASHION is produced using a PDF-based workflow. We prefer Macintosh-originated digital files and a SWOP-certified proof.

CONTACTS Ad Traffic (512-320-6991); traffic@texasmonthly.com

DEADLINES Materials are due July 18.

SHIPPING ADDRESS Ship materials to: FASHION, 701 Brazos, Suite 1600, Austin, TX 78701, Attention: Ad Traffic (512-320-6991). Please ship via trackable carrier.

Producing Your Ad

AD ORIENTATION Ads, especially partial-page bleed ads, should be designed so they can be placed on either left or right pages.

FILE TYPE For best results, create a print resolution PDF with live or outlined type and all fonts embedded. You may also submit InDesign, QuarkXPress, Photoshop, or Illustrator EPS or TIFF files, or CT/LW or TIFF/IT/P1 files. Ads created in Pagemaker, Microsoft Publisher, or other applications not mentioned above may not be usable. If you use a Windows PC, include a PDF, TIFF or EPS file in addition to source files. We may not be able to modify Windows-based files if your ad has a problem and our deadline prevents getting a corrected ad from you.

FONTS Do not use Adobe Type 3 fonts. Choose bold or italic fonts when needed; don’t apply bold or italic styles to plain fonts or your type may not output correctly. To avoid font issues with EPS files, be sure to supply fonts used in them, and/or consider converting your EPS file’s fonts to outlines.

CROP MARKS/BLEED Use crop marks to indicate bleed and trim. Offset your crop marks at least 1/8” to keep them out of the bleed.

IMAGE RESOLUTION All bitmap images must be at least 300dpi. Do not enlarge 300dpi images more than 100% as this will result in a lower-resolution image. Bitmap files containing text should be at least 600dpi.

COLORS Unless you’ve made special arrangements to run PMS inks, FASHION will convert PMS/spot colors to CMYK and remove color profiles in ad files, and is not responsible for any resulting color shifts. To avoid this, please convert all PMS/spot colors to CMYK before you send us your ad, and do not embed color profiles in image files. If you are running a PMS color as a second or fifth color, notify FASHION of the PMS color number and approximate percent coverage by the space closing date. Metallic colors are available as well for an additional cost.

BLACKS IN FOUR-COLOR ADS You may use a “rich black” of 60% cyan, 1% magenta, 1% yellow, and 100% black in four-color ads for a deeper black color, but only when the black element is at least ¼” wide. Do not use rich black of any kind for text; we will convert rich black text, or items smaller than ¼” wide, to 100% K. Black elements will overprint by default—i.e., any underlying cyan, magenta, or yellow ink will cause variations in the “richness” of the black. If you wish black elements to knock out, please include at least 1% of all four colors in the black.

DENSITY OF TONE In black-and-white ads, a tone density greater than 85% may fill in on press. For four-color ads, the sum of color densities should not exceed 300%, with no more than one color printing solid. Two colors should not exceed 170% with one color solid or both colors screened.

ADVERTISING “SLUGS” Per American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) Guidelines, any advertisement that might be mistaken for editorial content must be “slugged” with the word Advertisement or Promotion at the top of the ad in type that is at least 8.5 points in size. FASHION will add this slug at its discretion, but we prefer you add the slug yourself. For more information, visit magazine.org/editorial/guidelines.

Proofs

All ads must be accompanied by a proof. Proofs must be printed at 100% and must match the supplied file. If we do not receive a proof, we will pull a laser print from the submitted file, and will not be responsible for color or content discrepancies.

FOUR-COLOR AD PROOFS We strongly recommend you pull, review, and submit a SWOP-certified proof of your four-color ad if you want to be assured of how it will reproduce on press. All submitted SWOP-certified proofs are sent to press and used for the color okay. Otherwise, your ad will be printed within standard SWOP densities. Non-SWOP proofs for four-color ads will be used for content only. A list of SWOP-certified proofing systems is available at swop.org/certification. SWOPcertified proofs must show standard GATF color bars/exposure scales and crop marks.

BLACK-AND-WHITE AD PROOFS A laser print, inkjet print, or velox is acceptable.

Sending Us Your Ad

No matter what format your ad is in, it must be accompanied by all source files, including the final layout file, images, logos, and screen and printer fonts. Fonts used in placed EPS files must be included as well if they have not been converted to outlines. We archive digital files for one year after publication, but do not return media.

PHYSICAL DELIVERY Send us your ad files on a CD or DVD, along with your proof and contact information, via trackable carrier. Be sure to indicate clearly that the ad is for FASHION.

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY Visit texasmonthly.com/ customupload for electronic submission. Acceptable hard-copy proofs (see above) must be sent for all electronically submitted ads.

Problems

We want your ad to print correctly. If your ad is late, has technical problems (see below), needs last-minute changes, or is otherwise “stressed,” the chances of its running incorrectly increase significantly. Therefore please make every effort to get your materials in on time and to our specifications.

CHANGING YOUR AD Any ad intervention requested by the advertiser and/or required by FASHION or our printer may result in additional charges to the advertiser, and releases us from responsibility for its reproduction. If we encounter a minor problem with your ad, we will attempt to fix it and inform you of this at our discretion. If we cannot fix it, we will ask you to submit a corrected file.

COMMON PROBLEMS Low-resolution images, missing screen and/or printer fonts, incorrect dimensions, images not converted to CMYK, text outside the safety area, non-bleed ads that bleed (and vice versa), excessive density of tone, ads created in non-standard applications, unacceptable proofs, incorrect use of rich black, spot colors, and embedded color profiles.

Preprinted Inserts

Advertisers running preprinted inserts will be supplied specifications and approval procedures upon request. A blueline proof must be submitted for approval prior to printing. Multipage preprints with advertorial text must be slugged “Advertisement” or “Promotion” at the top of each page (see above).

Creating a PDF

Current versions of InDesign, QuarkXPress, Illustrator, and Photoshop have options for outputting high-resolution, print-ready PDFs. Consult your graphics application documentation for details. You may also use Acrobat Distiller to create PDFs; a Distiller job options settings file is available at texasmonthly.com/specifications. FASHION Production will check your PDF, fix any problems we can, and notify you if we can’t. If you are at all unsure about whether or not your PDF is print-quality, please send us your source files along with the PDF so we can produce a new PDF if necessary.

SCREEN RULING Body forms print at a 150-line screen; the cover form prints at a 175-line screen.