CD MANUFACTURING: GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

SUPPLYING YOUR OWN ARTWORK

If you supply your own artwork, we'll check the files or film to make sure that it meets industry specifications. Find out more about the graphics specifications we'll need to complete your job.

Please note: All of your artwork for the disc cover, booklet, trayliner, etc. is usually referred to collectively as "graphics".

General Tips

• It’s best to find an experienced graphic designer to make your music look great!
• Make sure you or your designer read & follow our graphic specifications (below).
• Please download & use the MMS templates available on our website. If the template you need is not available for download on our website please contact your MMS Customer Service Representative. Do not embed the templates in your file. Place them on their own layer so that can be turned on and off or removed. Embedded lines WILL appear in your final print.
• Please fill out the MMS Graphics Form to submit with your artwork.

GRAPHICS SPECIFICATIONS

Formats
Software Programs
Resolution
Color Format
Bleed
Text Safety
Disc Label Art
Free Bar Code (UPC)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo
Graphics Checklist


Formats
You can submit your electronic files to MMS in one of the following formats:
• CD-R
• DVD-R
• Email (files less than 5MB in size only)
• FTP the artwork using the information provided on our EASI (Electronic Artwork Submission and Inspection) page.

Color Format
Use CMYK color mode unless otherwise specified (ie. when you are using spot colors). If you submit RGB graphics, they will be converted to CMYK format - which may affect the color in your final print.

Bleed
Your graphic files should include 1/8” bleed beyond all cut/trim lines

Text Safety
When creating your graphics you must ensure that all text is placed 1/8” inside all cut/trim & fold lines. This allows for any possible shifting on press, and ensures that none of your text will be cut or caught in a fold.

Disc Label Art
Your disc label can be designed in any number of PANTONE SOLID COATED colors, or in CMYK or GRAYSCALE. RGB files are not acceptable. We always recommend that a white background be included as one of your colors so that the silver surface of the CD doesn’t alter the appearance of your colours. It is, however, possible to knock out areas of your design so that the silver surface of the disc appears as part of your design. Please be sure that your colours separate properly. Just because it looks like there are 3 colours on screen, does not mean that it will actually print 3 colors.

Free Bar Code (UPC)
If you plan to sell your CD in retail stores, you must have a bar code or UPC (Universal Product Code) included on your package so that the sales of your product can be tracked within their inventory systems.

If you require a UPC number, and have placed your order with MMS, we can generate one for you free of charge to be included in your graphics. If you require a UPC but do not wish to have it included in your graphics, MMS can also supply barcodes on stickers to be applied to the shrink wrap on your package.

If you already have a UPC number MMS can generate & insert a barcode based on a supplied number as well.

If you are inserting your own UPC code in your graphics, please follow the guideline listed below to ensure that your barcode is scannable by retailers:
• If you are going to resize your barcode, do not decrease it to any less than 80% of its total original size. If you're cropping, leave all of the bars and numbers showing, and only reduce the height by 1/2 or less.
• Approximate sixe of your barcode box should be 1.25”w x 0.5”h.
• Always place your barcode on a white background box. Bars must be 100% BLACK.
• Always generate your barcode in vector format (ie. Use an EPS file). If your barcode is embedded in a Photoshop or tif file it will separate into CMYK colour format - this means the bars may not print as crisply, which affects its scannability.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo

All standard MMS folders and booklets are printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved papers. FSC papers are made from forest products harvested with high standards for ecologically and socially responsible forest use. By using FSC papers for your project, you support responsible forest management.

You can include the FSC logo in your artwork at no extra cost. Simply indicate on your artwork where it should be placed, notify your MMS rep, and MMS will do the rest. Unfortunately we can’t actually give you the FSC logo art, because it’s a closely protected mark. For more details about the use of this logo, click here or ask your MMS rep.

For more information about MMS’ commitment to the environment and its Green CD program, click here.


Graphics Checklist
Save yourself time & money by asking that your graphic designer use the following checklist when submitting the graphics for your project.
• MMS template used but not embedded in file
• Completed MMS Graphics Form included
• 1/8” bleed allowed beyond all trims
• Text & logos placed 1/8” inside all trims
• All images saved in CMYK or Grayscale colour format (unless using spot colours)
• Resolution for all CMYK and/or grayscale images is at least 300 dpi / 1200 dpi for bitmaps
• Printout of graphics included (for layout reference only)
• All required image files & fonts have been collected & included on disc or in upload file

When preparing graphics:
• DO NOT USE TEXT STYLE BUTTONS IN QUARK – THEY WILL NOT PRINT. Use the actual bold/italics versions of the fonts that you apply to your file.
• DO NOT EMBED THE TEMPLATES IN YOUR GRAPHICS.
• DO NOT USE IMAGES FROM WEB PAGES OR INEXPENSIVE DIGITAL CAMERAS. The resolution is only 72 dpi and your images will be blurry when printed.
• DO NOT USE SOFTWARE THAT IS NOT CREATED FOR PRODUCTION QUALITY GRAPHICS ie. Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, CD Creator, Neato Disk Software, Clarisworks, or Adobe PhotoDeluxe. MMS DOES NOT ACCEPT GRAPHICS CREATED IN THESE PROGRAMS.
• When the MMS design department receives your files, we check to ensure sizing, bleed & trapping are correct before your project gets to the costly Direct-to-Plate & printing stages, HOWEVER, we expect you to have checked for other errors such as correct names, spelling, track names & order, etc.

*PROOF YOUR GRAPHICS BEFORE SENDING THEM TO US TO AVOID INCURRING ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS