Artwork Guidelines

HOW TO SUPPLY YOUR JOB:
Please supply your job on CD, or ask your Rainbo account representative for our ftp information. Jobs can be e-mailed to your account rep. if you compress them to a single file, and if the file size is smaller than 7 MB.

• Use our art templates. It is helpful if you fill out the Artwork Form and provide print-outs of each document.

• Keep in mind that home color printers and computer monitors show misleading and inaccurate color. For best color accuracy, use
Pantone Process and Spot swatch books to determine the proper color values.

FORMATS ACCEPTED:
Supply the art in one of the following three ways (listed in order of our preference):

1. Quark XPress (up to version 7), using our templates from the web. Please include all fonts and imported graphics used.

2. Adobe Illustrator or Adobe InDesign (up to the latest version), using our eps templates from the web. Please embed all graphics and outline all fonts, and supply the files as native files or exported as EPS files.

3. Adobe Photoshop (up to the latest version) as a TIF (or EPS) file. You can import our eps templates into Photoshop: Open the file from Photoshop, rasterize it at 300 dpi, and flatten layers. When constructing the layout, make sure any new art is on other layers above the template layer. Do not flatten dielines into the artwork.

We prefer not to get PDF FILES because we need to make the final print pdf ourselves, but if you would like to supply them, make sure it is a PDF with the images at 300 dpi, the fonts are included, and you've followed all of these guidelines and used our templates.

MOST COMMON MISTAKES:
Many jobs we receive have technical problems, and we charge
$80/hr. (1/4 hr. minimum) for fixing them. Here are the main rules to follow to avoid these charges:
• Lay out all documents according to Rainbo's Templates, available at www.rainborecords.com.
• Use CMYK or GRAYSCALE mode (not RGB) for all images and color spaces.
• Make sure all documents contain bleed, where appropriate. (When a background image should extend to the trim line, extend it 1/8" beyond the trim line).
• Keep all type and logos are at least 1/8" from any trim line.
• Supply all images and fonts needed to output the job. (Provide both screen & printer font parts for Postscript fonts.) Or, in Illustrator or InDesign, you can outline all fonts.

CD LABEL TIPS:
• When supplying art in Photoshop, please provide bleed at the inside and outside edges.
• If supplying spot art in Photoshop, use spot channels or duotone mode. A CMYK Photoshop file is four-color, even though it may only appear to have 2 colors in the design.

ILLUSTRATOR TIPS:
• Use CMYK color space only. Also, don't correct the color space of imported RGB images in Illustrator. This has proven to be unreliable.
• Flatten all transparent objects and groups before supplying files. (note: flattening automatically converts spot colors to CMYK). In some cases, automatic flattening produces unexpected results in the image quality and/or text..
• Make sure all colors used are Process CMYK colors, not Pantone or spot colors (unless you're specifying PMS colors in your design).

PHOTOSHOP TIPS:
• All images should begin as high resolution files (300 dpi for CMYK or Grayscale, 600 dpi or higher for Bitmap Mode).
• Provide all images in CMYK mode, not RGB.
• Type that has been set in Photoshop may not print with clean, sharp edges. While this may be acceptable for titles, logos and larger type, it can make smaller type unreadable (below 7 pt.). For sharp type, use a vector-based program such as Quark, Illustrator, or InDesign.
• Save line art in bitmapped mode, not grayscale, or it will not print crisply.

QUARK TIPS:
• Make sure all colors used are Process CMYK colors, not Pantone or spot colors (unless you're specifying PMS colors in your design).

OTHER TIPS:
• Be sure to keep a copy of all your files, since we will not be responsible for keeping or storing any files which we did not create.
• For folding CD booklets of 6 panels or more, please provide a folding mock-up, or "dummy," showing how you intend it to be folded.

 

DESIGN TEMPLATES FOR CD, DVD and VINYL RECORDS

Please use these templates when submitting any artwork to us for production. Template sizes vary depending on the manufacturer, so using other templates may incur additional charges.

If you are looking for a graphic designer, or need help completing your project, let our Art Department help you. Our designers are fast, experienced, and will work within any budget.

Please read the Artwork Guidelines below, or download the pdf: Artwork Guidelines to avoid extra charges and delays. Also, it's helpful to provide the Artwork Form and printouts of your files.

Each compressed ZIP file contains the Quark, Illustrator EPS, and pdf template. Use WinZip (PC) or Stuffit Expander (Mac) to uncompress. Please do not send your final art as a pdf--we prefer the native Quark, Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop files with any needed links and fonts.

We always send an e-mailed or printed proof for you to approve before we print your job.

We can add a barcode to your project. Click here for more info.

If you have any questions, or if you need additional templates not listed here, contact the Art Department at 818-280-1100.

 

Design Templates for Compact Disc Packaging

TEMPLATE TYPE
DIAGRAM
DOWNLOAD

CD Label (Silkscreen)
(For the Circular CD itself)
NOTE: Use this label template for designs using PMS or spot colors, and for CMYK designs in which richer color is desired.
cdl
cdl.zip

CD Label (Offset)
(For the Circular CD itself)
NOTE: Use this label template for CMYK designs in which smoother printing at a higher line screen (175) is desired.

cdl_off.zip

 
STANDARD JEWEL CASE PACKAGING: Most CDs are packaged in jewel boxes, and have a Card, Folder, or Stapled Booklet inserted into the front, and a Tray Card in the back.  


CD 2pg Card
(no folds).

cd2
cd2pg.zip

CD 4pg Folder (one fold) or
Stapled Booklet.
Outside (page 4 and 1) and Inside (page 2 and 3) use the same template. Also, use this template for each 2-page spread of a Stapled Booklet.

cd4cd8bk
cd4pg.zip


CD 6pg Folder
(two folds). Outside and inside use different templates.

cd6
cd6pg.zip

CD 8pg Folder (three folds). Outside and Inside use different templates. The EPS file only shows the Outside template. Rotate it 180 degrees to create the Inside template.

cd 8pg folder
cd8pg.zip
CD Tray Card, (Inlay Card) (containing the spines). Also included is the optional Tray-Back template, for the inside of the tray (under the CD itself).
cdtray
cdtray.zip
 
5" Minijacket
Usually used for Promos or Singles, this is like an LP jacket, but only 5" square, with no spine.
cdmini
cdminij.zip
 

DIGIPAKS: These hard cardboard packages have a plastic tray glued into the inside right panel. Here are the most common styles. Contact us for special digipak templates.

 

CD Digipak--4 panel, no pocket

This package has no pocket. Design #15003.
cddigi
cd4pgdigi.zip


CD Digipak--4 panel, w/booklet pocket
This package has a "half-moon" type opening for a CD booklet on the right edge of the inside left panel. Design #15145.

cddigi
cd4digi_P.zip

CD Digipak--6 panel, no pocket

This package has a plastic tray glued into the inside far right panel and no pocket. Design #15004.
cd6pgdigi.zip

CD Digipak--8 panel, no pocket

This package has a plastic tray glued into the far inside right panel and no pocket. Design #15016.
cd8pgdigi.zip


Design Templates for DVD Packaging

For templates not listed here, contact the Art Department at 818-280-1100.

TEMPLATE TYPE
DIAGRAM
DOWNLOADS
DVD Silk-Screen Label
THIS TEMPLATE IS FOR SPOT COLORS ONLY--FOR FULL COLOR USE THE OFFSET TEMPLATE.
dvdlbl.zip

DVD Offset Label
THIS TEMPLATE IS FOR FULL COLOR (CMYK) ONLY--FOR SPOT COLOR USE THE SCREEN TEMPLATE.

dvdoff.zip

DVD Wrap
This is the standard packaging for DVDs--A single sheet slips behind the clear plastic overlay of an Amaray case.

dvdwrap.zip
DVD 2pg Inner Insert
This insert has no folds and inserts into the inside left page of the Amaray case.
dvd2pg.zip
DVD 4pg Inner Insert
This insert has 1 fold and inserts into the inside left page of the Amaray case.
ALSO USE THIS TEMPLATE FOR STAPLED BOOKLETS.
dvd4pg.zip

 

Design Templates for Vinyl Record Packaging

For templates not listed here, contact the Art Department at 818-280-1100.

TEMPLATE TYPE
DIAGRAM
DOWNLOAD
7" Label (Goes directly on the 7" itself)
Click here to see our stock colored label backgrounds.
7l.zip
7" Jacket (Glued; open on one side)
7_jck.zip
7" Foldover Jacket
(Folded, not glued; open three sides)
7_fold.zip
 

12" Label (Goes directly on the 12" itself)
Click here to see our stock colored label backgrounds.

12l.zip

12" Jacket (Standard Album Jacket)

12jack.zip
12" Gatefold Jacket
12gate.zip
12" Sleeve (Goes inside 12" Jacket)
12_slv.zip

 

 

 

rainborecords
CD, DVD, and vinyl manufacturing


contact • directions • brochure

HOME | CD | DVD | VINYL | CASS | ART TEMPLATES | ART DESIGN | FORMS | OUR HISTORY | LINKS | CONTACT | SITE MAP    ©2009 Rainbo Records