Using Photoshop for layouts that contain text is not recommended. If the file is not saved as an eps to include vector data, then the text will print with fuzzy edges. If you are an advanced Photoshop user in versions 7 and/or CS and know how to save your text as vector data, then you can avoid this problem. If you are not familiar with this, then it is best to use a different application like Illustrator, Freehand or Corel Draw to lay out your text and import your Photoshop images into them.

Working in RGB mode in Photoshop will enable you to utilize more of the filters supplied in the application. Except for Wide Format jobs, any RGB Photoshop (including EPS, TIFF, PSD) files must be converted to CMYK before sending to print.

When saving a file as a Photoshop EPS, never check the button for “Postscript Color Management”.

Photoshop is generally where you create and edit your images to be placed in any of the drawing programs.
Our Wide Format Inkjet printers contain very bright inks. When preparing files for Wide Format output, we recommend you keep your scans in RGB. If you convert from RGB to CMYK, you could be throwing out brighter colors that could have made your Wide Format job brighter and more saturated. Following are some guidelines for preparing files for Wide Format Production:

Color Space Guidelines:

If your scans contain very bright, saturated colors and have been scanned in RGB, leave them in RGB. Work in the “Adobe RGB” color space in Photoshop. Save the file as a Photoshop EPS with Binary encoding. Don’t save the RGB file as a TIFF if you will be placing it in any page layout application. Embed the Adobe RGB profile when saving.

If your scans contain muted colors, skin tones, subjects where bright exaggerated colors would be undesirable, a CMYK workflow is better. Unless you have a high-end scanner that can give you great CMYK conversions, you’ll probably be scanning in RGB. Once you’re through the scanning process, you’ll want to convert to CMYK before placing or importing the file into any page layout program. We recommend you work in the “US Sheet fed Coated v2” color space for converting from RGB to CMYK. Embed the profile when saving.

Keep in mind that converting from RGB to CMYK will cause brighter colors to be lost permanently. Therefore, the original RGB scan should be saved for future projects. This is a common workflow and is useful if you use an image that will be output on several different output devices.

You can save CMYK Photoshop work in either TIFF or EPS format.

If you are working with RGB Photoshop files, they MUST be saved as binary encoded Photoshop EPS’ before placing into any page layout application. When saving a file as a Photoshop EPS, never check the button for “Postscript Color Management”.

Important: If your scans are already in CMYK, leave them in CMYK; don’t convert them from CMYK to RGB.

Saving The File

Do not flatten you Photoshop document. If we get all the layer information it will be possible to adjust colors if need be without affecting all the elements of the design
Save the file to size at 150 dpi, for large format printing higher resolutions are not necessary.
Name the file with your company name and date, (XYZcompany-mm-dd-yy.ai), or your order number.