Frequently

Asked Questions

Artwork questions

What’s ‘bleed’ and why do I need it?

It’s the section of your design that’s trimmed off when it’s cut to final size. It ensures your image reaches the very edge of the design and there are no white edges. At Mixam, we need a 1/8 of an inch bleed on all documents.

It’s best if you can add bleed before you upload your document. Some programs – like InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop – allow you to do this. But if you need any help, just give us a call.

If you can’t add bleed before uploading, we’ll do our best to add it for you. We’ll either expand the size of the document (but this will move the text closer to the edge), or mirror the image. But for the best results, we recommend adding it before uploading your documents.

What are trim lines, bleed and gutter margin?

Trim lines – are indicated by the green line on the file preview in the ‘Artwork’ tab of your order, this is where your document will be trimmed.

Bleed – indicated by the blue line on the file preview. Make sure your document extends to this line to avoid white edges when trimmed to size.

Gutter Margin – this is indicated by the vertical shaded area within the on the file preview. This highlights the part of the page that it likely to be hidden on a PUR perfect bound or casebound order when bound.

What should I look for when I’m checking my proofs?

Keep an eye out for garbled or missing text, and check that everything is in the right place. Make sure you thoroughly proof read and spellcheck your prints before you upload them.

What does your artwork check include?

Really low quality pictures (under 100dpi), items too close to the edge and missing fonts. A warning will flash up if our system detects any of these. We don't check for design, content or spelling errors.

What kind of font should I use?

You can use any font you like, as long as it’s embedded into the document.

What file types can I upload?

PDF, jpg, Postscript, MS Word, Publisher, PowerPoint, Lotus and Excel.

What binding options do you offer?

Saddle stitching (for magazines up to 64 pages): A popular binding method where two staples pass through the central fold of pages.

Perfect bound (for magazines with 40+ pages): The pages and cover are glued together to create a square spine. The other three sides of the magazine are then trimmed to create perfectly straight edges. The spine depth will show in your order description.

Strong PUR binding (for magazines over 116 pages): This is the same as perfect binding, but the glue is stronger to hold more pages. The spine depth will show in your order description.

How do I upload covers and the spine design?

Upload them as three separate documents – front cover, back cover and spine.

How can I make sure color prints the way I want it?

When creating your project, your software program may give you the choice of working in RGB (Red, Green and Blue) or CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black). We print using CMYK (as do all printers), so it’s best if you can work in CMYK before uploading your proofs. This prevents any color shift that can happen if we convert your document ourselves.

Color can look different on your screen compared to a printed page. This is because screens are backlit whereas a print reflects color. If color is critical, get in touch and we’ll do our best to get the result you want.

How do I make sure my prints are well defined?

We recommend using images that are between 150 – 300dpi (dots per inch). Anything less than 100dpi may appear pixelated.

Should I upload single pages or spreads?

Our system will accept either. Although you may find it easier to upload single pages.

I’m using perfect binding. How much space should I leave for the spine?

Up to 1/3 of an inch of the page is taken into the spine, so create a bigger margin on the spine edge.

Why are there white lines in my proof?

Don’t worry, they won’t print. They’re called stitching and they only appear on the screen.