Мультимедийное Издательство Nika Game

General requirements for compact disks replication and package designing source materials

Please, familiarize yourself attentively with these requirements!

General requirements for compact disks replication and package designing source materials

Only in case, that Your layout ENTIRELY comply with ALL our requirements, we can guarantee quality of our production.

If some uncritical requirements are not fulfilled, materials would go into work, but in this case corresponding aberration in production quality would be solely put onto customer's responsible representative.

Please, remember, that prepress staff is also human and they cannot trace all disconformities between Your layout and our technical requirements.

Rules of material supply

1. Repeat ALL Your requirements and desires before placement of order. Remember, that all preliminary phone arrangements (copies quantity, order details, time-frame and so on) are informal and are not recorded anywhere. Actually, only information, provided during order placement, is recorded in order.
2. If You send a delivery man, please, enclose sheet with remarks and Your phones in order materials OBLIGATORY, for the majority of delivery man, to say the least of it, is inadequate and cannot clearly explain, who are they and why they were sent.
3. We never return source materials!!! Don't bring master disk or layout on original disk. Bring us copies. We don't return disks to have the possibility of comparing printed copies with the source material, when getting a complaint about the quality of printed copies. We keep these materials within two weeks period, whereupon we obliterate it. If nevertheless you take the source material away - quality complaints are not accepted! In case of repeat order placement You should provide new source materials.
4. ATTENTION!!! Master disk and layout, recorded on one disk, are not taken into work!!! Not at any price!!! Master disk MUST be recorded on separate compact disk with obligatory closed session!!! Also master disk editing is categorically NOT performed: renaming, deleting, moving of files and folders, disks merging and partitioning and so on.
5. Layouts for disk image printing, packaging and printing are accepted on CD, USB-mediums and via e-mail.
6. Color rendering complaints and disconformities of layouts are accepted only in case when the layouts were provided with coloring test and person-in-charge signature. When using Pantone colors, Pantone numbers must be clearly written in coloring test.
7. Information about the quantity of printed copies is accepted only on disks. It is not accepted via e-mail, on flash drives, floppy disks and so on.
8. For CD-ROM disk manufacturing You should supply materials as a CD-image file or recorded CD-R. Source information for manufacturing, written on CD-RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD-RAM - is not taken into work.
9. For DVD compact disk manufacturing You should supply materials as a DVD-image file or recorded DVD±R. Source information for manufacturing, written on CD-R, CD-RW, DVD±RW, DVD-RAM - is not taken into work.
10. We accept layout file in Adobe Illustrator format (.AI or .EPS) and in Adobe Photoshop format (.TIFF or .PSD). If it is possible, avoid file tracing. We DO NOT ACCEPT Corel DRAW files. If you do not have other possibility of making layout, except Corel DRAW, we would accept it, although we wouldn't guarantee absence of distortion in file while converting it to AI/EPS format (colors, gradients, line width, letter sizes, special effects and so on).
11. Images, created in Microsoft Word, Nero CoverDesigner and so on are categorically NOT ACCEPTED.
12. Don't bring unnecessary files and disks!!! They create confusion. If You bring disk with layouts, it should have one file for each printed disk-object and separately spreads of booklet and so on. If nevertheless unnecessary files are present, OBLIGATORY enclose sheet with remarks and notation of exact names of necessary files. If you did not noted file names, we will choose from Your files most appropriate at our discretion, but complaints on cause than we chose wrong file would not be accepted. If You bring master disk with information for replication, write "MASTER" and name of replication on it, and on its duplicates (if You bring them) write "MASTER (DUPLICATE)".
13. All text must be converted into curves (in Adobe Illustrator it is performed by the command Type->Create Outlines), so far as we cannot guarantee presence of fonts, used by You. However, you should do it at last moment, after all checks, for after doing it you lose the possibility of text editing. After that make sure, that all existing text was converted in curves - in "Document Info" menu choose "Fonts" - it should have value "NONE" (with "Selection Only" flag dropped). Obligingly check this moment, as Adobe Illustrator program has an error, owing to which in certain conditions not all the text is converted into curves.
14. All bitmapped objects should be embedded into layout, not linked to it as external files. If objects are linked, embed them into layout file ("Embed Image" command in Adobe Illustrator). Consequently you should obtain exactly one file for every printed object-disk, separately spreads and so on.
15. It is not allowed to use effects (transparency, radiance, shadow and so on) in layout file. If they present, they should be converted into bitmaps. In Adobe Illustrator use "Rasterize" or "Flatten Transparency" commands. If model effects are not converted into bitmaps, the product of printing might VERY SIGNIFICANTLY differ from what you see on the screen.
16. All objects, included into image, should have CMYK color model (except silk screen printing - in this case using PANTONE colors, which will be printed in separate pass, is admitted). Attention!!! If You bring RGB color model layout, color might UNPREDICTABLY change while printing.
17. Recommended resolution for bitmap images, embedded into layout, is at least 300 dpi (we speak of resolution AFTER ranging). Don't make resolution higher, than 400 dpi - it significantly increase file size and complicates working with it, while not giving actual quality enhancement.
18. In VECTOR makeup program (ATTENTION!!! Don't perform it in bitmap files and bitmap objects, included into makeup!!!) mark printing field boundaries as a separate contours (circles for compact disk and rectangles for printing), but do not cut the image itself, leave margin at least 2 mm width. Mark compact disk center with cross (centers of image bounding circles agree with cross center). All such contours (as well as printing cutting marks) should be drawed in thin lines (0.25pt) and have Registration color (In Adobe Illustrator this color is marked by shooting mark icon. Don't mix it up with color C=100 M=100 Y=100 K=100 - it's a different thing!!!).
19. If you create layout for disk printing in bitmap program (Adobe Photoshop and similar), do not cut out circles from image and do not draw circles as boundaries of the printing field!!! Image shouldn't terminate in these places!!! If such circles are design component, note in remarks, that these circles should be printed.
20. Don't block layers and separate elements in makeup file (blocked elements are marked with lock icon). If blocks present in makeup, we cannot guarantee, that certain makeup elements wouldn't "run".
21. Minimal layout line width - 0.1 mm (black on white) and 0.15 mm (white on black). Attention!!! If very small text is included into image, make sure, that minimal width of dark areas is 0.1 mm, and light areas - 0.15 mm, otherwise letters might merge or decompose.
22. Attention!!! Overprint control is Your responsibility! If overprints present in layout, You should discuss them particularly. Otherwise printing result is almost unpredictable.

General requirements to layout, regardless of the chosen disk printing technology

• We advise You to read our remarks, concerning color rendering, before disk printing. On default we make disk painting probe for more than 10000 copies printed. You should assert it and sign the probe. However, if Your copies quantity is lesser, You should provide color testing, witnessed by authorized person signature. Otherwise ANY complaints on color rendering correctness and disk painting quality would not be accepted.
• White under-printing would be printed on disk surface on default. If You do not want it and You want directed under-printing (under-printing with notches), OBLIGATORY discuss it particularly when placing order and write about it in remarks to layout, near image. Use "disk mirror" term instead of "silver", for under this word we mean special paint (PANTONE 877 C). Remember, that when printing without under-printing, color rendering get unpredictably corrupted.
• Keep in mind, that transitional zones from pure plastic to metallization go inside 41 mm diameter circle on disk, that's why disk is visually heterogeneous in this place. Take this into account while designing. On CD-business card format compact disks almost all CD surface would be visually heterogeneous.
• If You need printing on disk with directed under-printing, that is white under-printing with notches, through which disk mirror is seen, prepare particular layout for under-printing, in which mark places, where white paint should be, with BLACK color, and places without paint(that is where disk mirror would be seen) with white color. Remember, that only offset and silk-screen printing support directed under-printing.
• Process groove is situated on disk between 33 mm and 34 mm diameter circles. Printing on groove is impossible or result would be significantly distorted. Don't cut image on this groove, only take into account, that important elements (text, logotypes and so on) shouldn't be placed on it.
• If compact disk would be packaged into paper envelope with transparent window, take into account, that diameter of transparent window is 108 mm, when designing.

Specific requirements for offset and photo quality technologies disk printing

• If exact color matching is exceedingly important for You, color testing presence or printing copy is OBLIGATORY, and if quantity of copies exceed 10 000, OBLIGATORY order disk painting probe. Compact disk printing has its own peculiarities, and result might differ from that printed on paper. There is no question of matching with colors, seen on monitor or printed on color printer!!! However, even color testing presence cannot guarantee matching of all colors. The matter is that disk printing technology is considerably more complicated than that on paper, and all printing equipment is built on the assumption of paradigm "disk is information medium, therefore data transfer quality is primary and exact color matching when painting is secondary". Having the color testing, you can specify certain color, whose matching is particularly important for You. However, You should not specify Pantone numbers, for offset printing technology do not presuppose Pantone matching. Considering this, in checkout process we would try to match this color exactly, but other colors might "run".
• All PANTONE colors, specified in layout, are ignored and printed by CMYK paints. And only CMYK values, written down in layout, are used, different CMYK and PANTONE lookup table values are simply ignored.
• Printing field of standard compact disk is limited by 17 and 118 mm diameter circles. Another standard variant is 35 and 188 mm.
• Printing field of mini-cd/dvd is limited by 17 and 78 mm diameter circles. Another standard variant is 35 and 78 mm.
• Printing field of rectangular CD-business card is limited by 83x58.5 mm rectangle and 17 mm diameter circle. Another standard variant is 35 and 83x58.5 mm.
• Files with image templates in Adobe Illustrator format can be downloaded here: CD template, miniCD template, CD-Business Card template.

Specific requirements for silk-screen disk printing

• Silk screen printing is divided onto two absolutely different (in the sense of layout preparation) methods. First method is printing without bitmap (without halftones), by PANTONE colors, not more than 5 colors (including white under-printing). Second method is bitmap printing (full-color, with halftones) by CMYK colors. In second method layout representation in bitmap format (TIFF, Adobe Photoshop, BMP and so on) is allowed. Whereas in first method layout should be designed EXACTLY in curves (Adobe Illustrator, AI or EPS files), and vector makeup file should not include bitmap elements (embedded TIFF images and so on). All colors should be performed exactly in PANTONE colors (in color palette in "Color Type" column "Spot Color" should be specified), and not CMYK colors. Also when printing in PANTONE colors number of color by PANTONE Solid Coated scale should be specified.
• Compact disk printing has its peculiarities and result might differ from that on paper. If exact color matching is exceedingly important for you, specify color number by PANTONE Solid Coated scale and particularly discuss importance of specific colors matching. Remember, that PANTONE colors by definition cannot be displayed correctly on monitor or be encoded by CMYK values. Use PANTONE Solid Coated fan for color selection. When printing in PANTONE colors slight difference with colors on original fan is possible. Difference in the range of halftone (and in certain cases of tone) isn't considered as rejection. If Your image is full-colored (CMYK color model), You should think about offset printing, for silk screen printing conveys full-color hues significantly less correctly, than offset.
• Printing field of standard compact disk is limited by 18 and 118 mm diameter circles. Another standard variant is 35 and 188 mm.
• Printing field of mini-cd/dvd is limited by 18 and 78 mm diameter circles. Another standard variant is 35 and 78 mm.
• Printing field of rectangular CD-business card is limited by 83x58.5 mm rectangle and 18 mm diameter circle. Another standard variant is 35 and 83x58.5 mm.
• Files with image templates in Adobe Illustrator format can be downloaded here: CD template, miniCD template, CD-Business Card template.

Requirements for CD recording source information

• Information for replication is accepted only on disks. It isn't accepted via e-mail, on flash drives, on floppy disks and so on. Write "MASTER" and replication name on master disk, and on master disk duplicates (if You bring them) write "MASTER(DUPLICATE)".
• Check Your information before supplying materials for printing!!! Remember, that our work is replication of the information, not its checking. We do not check if the files open correctly, if the programs execute correctly, if there are spelling errors in text and so on. It is Your task.
• Medium capacity: standard CD disk - 700Mb, Mini-CD - 185Mb, CD-business card (blank) - 50Mb, CD-business card (stamp) - 35Mb at standard business card sizes (at out-of-order sizes data capacity is estimated individually), DVD-5 - 4.7Gb, DVD-9 - 8.5Gb, DVD-10 - 9.4Gb.
• Bring master disk in final condition, that is with files, arranged at necessary order. We copy disks as a whole, not the data by every file, therefore, we cannot move files from folders, rename them, write files and folders selectively and so on. Create master disk with FINAL variant of data.
• Medium type for CD master disk: CD-R.
• Medium type for DVD master disk: DVD-R or DVD+R.
• We INSISTENTLY recommend using professional autoring-studio services for DVD creating. DVD creation process is ten times more complex than that of CD, professional programs for disk creating are not easy to learn, and cheap and easily accessible programs often create DVD-disks, which are not suitable for commercial replication.
• For highest possible compatibility of compact disk with data (Data CD) with different platforms and different reading machines when creating master disk use following settings: Single-session, ISO CD-ROM, Mode 1; DAO write mode (Disk-At-Once); write disk at one pass and close it for writing right away (Finalize); do not use burst writing programs like Win-on-CD-to-GO, DirectCD, InCD and similar (such programs propose using CD as usual hard disk).
• If Your master disk contains nonstandard ordering information (CD-Text, ISRC and so on) OBLIGATORY DISCUSS IT PARTICULARLY!!! Otherwise we cannot guarantee copying of this information.
• If Your master disk is Audio CD and it contains nonstandard subcodes (Karaoke-CD, and so on) OBLIGATORY DISCUSS IT PARTICULARLY!!! Otherwise we cannot guarantee copying of these subcodes.
• When recording blank CD/DVD, we close all copies for writing, so further writing on this disks is impossible.
• We do not return master disk with information.

Printing requirements

• If exact color matching is extremely important for You, order color testing. There is no question about exact matching with colors seen on monitor or printed on color printer.
• All printing, mentioned in price list, is performed in CMYK colors only!!! In certain cases printing in PANTONE colors is possible, but the price of such printing would be considerably higher.
• Attention!!! Images without cutting margin are not taken into work!!!
• Outside the limits of printing field place marks for cutting and folding and leave margin for cutting at least 2 mm width. All significant image elements should be placed not lesser than 2 mm from printing (cut) field boundaries.
• If You order Digi-Pack, take into account, that it is coated by matte or high-gloss coating, which changes color, so, even if printing was performed with color testing, color would distort after coating.
• For two-page and four-page folders and two-sides inlays name files so that it was clear, which side is inside, and which is outside, for example: booklet_outside.eps, booklet_inside.eps, inlay_outside.eps, inlay_inside.eps
• For multipage booklet prepare individual file for each PRINTING spread. Printing spread differs from paginal, because its pages are made up exactly in that order, in which they would be binded. Name Your files so, that correct pages numbers were in the end of name. For example, for eight-page booklet You should bring files with names: booklet_page8-page1.eps, booklet_page2-page7.eps, booklet_page6-page3.eps, booklet_page4-page5.eps
• Sizes of Slim-box inserts: 120x120 mm, front 1 page, long front 2 pages, long front 3 pages.
• Sizes of Jewel-box inserts: booklet - 120x120 mm, inlay - 151x118 mm(side folds - 7 mm), front, back.
• Mini-slim-box inserts sizes: booklet - 80x86 mm.
• DVD-box(Amarey) inserts sizes: 273x183 mm.

Peculiarities of Shape CD order placement

Major Shape CD peculiarity is the fact, that huge difference exist between Audio-CD and Data-CD formats, and many forms are intended only for CD-DA or Audio-CD format. Difference is that for Audio-CD playing 1x speed of disk drive-player is enough, at that time slowest to date CD-ROM drive plays CD on 24x speed. Hence if Shape-CD has complicated shape and less than 4 touches of 12 sm diameter circle - disk would be unbalanced - and sound, produced by CD-ROM drive, would remind of the doomsday of all reading drives. Therefore we advise to choose disk shape with particular thoroughness and listen to all our specialists' advices. And beforehand inform user about using disks only in consumer sound/video players, where maximal reading speed of 1x is maintained. We do not accept orders on Shape-DVD manufacturing - by the reason that owing to the physical structure Shape-DVD disks often split, and, taking into account plastic width there is no possibility of making guide ways on work side of the disk. We can manufacture such CD, but cannot guarantee even the most primitive shapes and prolonged functionality of it. The lesser is the disk - the lesser is data capacity, on the picture, seen on the right, dependency of data capacity, available for placing on CD, from size of the cut disk, is shown. For Shape-CD order placement it is not necessary for You to design the required shape by yourself and produce complex calculation regarding dynamic symmetry of the shape, it is enough to send us draft of the model or requirements specification on model designing with obligatory indication of information capacity, intended for recording on disk. You should remember, that Shape-CD user must be sufficiently educated - in order to know, how to use Shape-CD or DVD correctly, therefore we advise You to define for yourself, that it is important to create impressive, catchy product or hit in 100 per cent of users.