File Specifications: Web-to-Print®

Belmark Knowledge Center | Graphic Services Specifications

Web-to-Print® Specifications Preferred Software for Artwork

High-Resolution Illustrator PDF is the preferred file type for artwork being sent to
General file specifications for Web-to-Print®
Web-to-Print®. Web-to-Print® will also accept Adobe InDesign and Photoshop
Images - file formats. However, additional cost may apply due to the preferred file format
Must be embedded in art file not being supplied. Customers will be billed for conversion work that must be
300 dpi, CMYK color mode, EPS or TIFF format completed if a file format other than Adobe Illustrator is provided. All files are
converted to a High-Resolution Illustrator PDF.
White Ink -
Indicated by a color swatch named “HPI-White ” Images
Placed on a separate layer Images should be embedded into the art file BEFORE submitting the art file to
Web-to-Print®. Images will be printed out of the Web-to-Print® CMYK color gamut
Metallic Ink - as supplied by the customer. Images should be a minimum 300dpi and CMYK
Indicated by a color swatch named “metallic ink” color space BEFORE they are embedded into the art file.

Clear Areas - Fonts

Indicated by a color swatch named “clear area” Fonts should be included along with the art. Belmark can not ensure the same
type flow without access to the original font set used. Fonts may be converted to
Varnish Plates / Dual Finish -
outlines prior to sending art to Belmark. However, type changes for outlined fonts
Indicated by a color swatch named “overprint
will require additional proof assembly time and will be billed accordingly.
varnish”; Identify Gloss or Matte when applicable

Rules -
PDFs
Please include a PDF of each submitted file to be used for art, type and placement
Minimum Reverse = 1 pt (.0139”)
verification purposes.
Minimum Positive = 1 pt (.0139”)
Customer supplied PDFs being used for pixel-to-pixel proof comparisons must
Type -
Minimum Reverse = 4 pt (.056”)(Non-condensed Bold) be supplied per the following requirements:
Minimum Positive =4 pt (.056”)(Exclude TM’s and ®’s) • A layered or color separated PDF
• 600 DPI Resolution
UPC - • Die line must be a solid, monochromatic color
Size = 100% to 60% Minimum - Pressure Sensitive • Die line minimum width must be at least 0.25mm
Size = 100% to 70% Minimum - Flexible Packaging • Die line must be a closed loop
& Folded Carton • Die line created as a spot color or placed on a separate layer from the art
Color = Ideal is 100% black on a white background • All PDF formats are acceptable
BWR = .0025”
Quiet Zone = .125” from last bar (for UPC A) Choosing Colors
The Web-to-Print® presses print using four color process inks (Cyan, Magenta,
Color Capability - Yellow and Black). The four color process equivalent of a spot or Pantone® color
4 Color Process = Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black may vary in appearance from the actual spot or Pantone® color.
White Ink
Web-To-Print® Color Book Files being submitted to Belmark’s Web-to-Print® Service MUST be designed
using Pantone+ Solid Coated® ink swatches. Please DO NOT ALTER the
Bleed - Pantone® ink swatch name within the file. All Pantone® colors within a file will be
Bleed should extend .125” in all directions around converted to Belmark’s Web-to-Print® four color process equivalent build when
the label printed on press.

Government Regulations -
Customers are responsible for the legality of their
art file and should have professional government
experts or legal advisors approve designs before
print production.
Art files submitted using process builds will be printed as supplied. Customer
specific spot ink swatches (non-Pantone® inks) will be printed out of process.
The customer MUST communicate if an item requires color matching to a specific
color target when submitting the art file. To avoid unexpected results regarding color,
it is best to utilize the Web-to-Print® Color Book or request a contract color proof.

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 Belmark Knowledge Center | Graphic Services Specifications
Web-to-Print® Color Book
The Web-to-Print® Color Book represents the closest achievable
color gamut for Pantone+ Solid Coated® colors printed out of
four color process based on color profiles established from color
work completed on the Web-to-Print® digital presses. The Web-
to-Print® Color Book is the recommended way for customers to
select colors for use in files that will be printed via Belmark’s Web-
to-Print® service. The color book provides a visual representation
of the color that will be printed. The color book swatch pages
are NOT coated. The application of a varnish, over-laminate or
a decorative finish may alter the appearance of the color once it
has been applied to the specified material.
The Web-to-Print® Color Book may be used for color selection for
art files that will print on WHITE Gloss and Semi-Gloss Papers,
Tags and Film. Selecting colors from the Web-to- Print® Color
Book eliminates the need for a contract color proof in these
substrate categories.
Selection of Web-to-Print® Colors to be printed on non-white
substrates will yield results reflective of the base material
properties. If custom color matching on non-white materials is a
concern, a contract color proof will be required.
Once colors have been selected from the Web-to-Print® Color
Book, apply the corresponding Pantone+ Solid Coated® ink
swatch to all applicable art elements. Please DO NOT ALTER the
Pantone® ink swatch name.
Special Color Considerations - Metallics
Web-to-Print® offers two options for achieving a metallic
appearance. Options are dependant on the Pressure Sensitive,
Folded Carton and Flexible Packaging substrates. Please contact
Web-to-Print® directly for more information on how to achieve a
metallic appearance on your labels.
Design Requirements
Following the art file specifications and design requirements will
help ensure that a customer’s design will print as desired.
Templates / Die Layouts
Templates / Die Layouts, including crop marks, print area and
dimensions should be built on a separate layer labeled “Does
Not Print”. The Template / Die Layout should also be designated
a color that is not used elsewhere in the design. Inquire with your
Belmark Sales Representative or Customer Service for template
or die layouts before designing labels, flexible packaging or
folded cartons.
Barcodes
Barcodes need a “quiet zone” on each side of the last bar to
ensure the scanner does not mis-read the code. In most cases,
the quiet zone should be 10 times the width of the narrowest
bar on either side of the code. On UPC A codes a quiet zone
of .125” will work. On other codes the rule of 10 times the
narrowest bar should be used. www.gs1.org/standards
600 Heritage Road  P.O. Box 5310  De Pere, WI 54115
Bleed
Extend color/backgrounds throughout all panels to end at any
cutoff or fold. Areas requiring bleed should extend 0.125”
beyond the die or cut lines.
Tolerance
Text and art elements not intended to bleed off the label should
be placed a minimum of 0.0625” in from the dieline or template
to allow for equipment tolerances in the production process.
Gusset / Fold Areas
Design per template layout. Maintain a minimum clearance of
0.125” from gussets and all fold lines.
Impression Gaps
Web-to-Print® defaults to creating impression gaps for all flexible
packaging items. The artwork is pulled in 1/32” from the template
edge to create a gap between impressions. This gap allows for
a consistent look on the finished package. Impression Gaps are
design dependent and may not be necessary for designs with
continual color coverage between impressions. Web-to-Print®
Impression Gaps are similar to Plate Gaps in Flexo printing.
Belmark offers additional solutions for Impression Gaps, speak
with your Sales Representative for further details and pricing.
Eye Mark Track Lanes
Eye mark tracking lane should be clear of any color or design
elements OR consist of a solid contrasting color between the
background and eye mark to allow for optimal readability.
White Ink
If the design requires white ink, the art file must include an
additional layer specified as the ‘white ink’ layer. Add a new color
swatch named ‘HPI-White’ to the swatch palette. Create a copy
of any elements/text/shapes in the art file that are to print with
white ink or be backed with white ink and apply the ‘HPI-White’
ink to those elements in the ‘white ink’ layer.
Metallic Inks
Metallic inks should be identified using a swatch named ‘metallic ink’.
Clear Areas
Clear areas should be identified using a swatch named “clear area”.
Rich Black
The process build of Cyan=40% / Magenta=30% / Process
Yellow=30% / Black=100% must be used for all instances of Rich
Black within a design. Please identify the swatch as “Rich Black”
within the art file. Rich Black should be utilized for significant
areas of black coverage. Rich Black should not be used for text.
Varnish Plates / Dual Finish
Designate where a varnish will be applied by using a swatch
named ‘overprint varnish’. Identify Gloss or Matte when
applicable. Web-to-Print® will evaluate the design and determine
applicable pullback or extension of varnish or dual finishes. Dual
Finish application is design dependent.
WTPFileSpecs 6/9/20
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 Belmark Knowledge Center | Graphic Services Specifications
Fine Lines
Both positive and reversed fine lines in some colors may appear to
have a scalloped edge instead of a crisp, straight edge. This ‘roping’
effect can be minimized by increasing the point size of the line, adding
a keyline in a different color, or changing the color completely.
Variable Print
Variable print text, alpha-numeric codes, barcodes and
images can be printed via Web-to-Print®. Contact your Sales
Representative or Account Service Representative for more
information on variable print and file requirements.
Rewind Chart
A rewind chart is available to help customers visualize which
rewind direction is needed. Rewind direction is determined
based on the principal display panel of the art work. Please
inquire with Sales or Customer Service for a rewind chart.
Concerns for Complex Graphics
Current design applications allow designers to use tools and
filters to create overprints, blurs, drop shadows, transparencies
and other unique graphic looks. These tools create unique
and dynamic graphics, but they do not always print properly.
Belmark’s Web-to-Print® may need to flatten or rasterize such
artwork to enable it to print.
Unpredictable results: Unpredictable fixes
The more complex the file is to create, the more unpredictable
it can be to process. There are multiple ways to create various
effects in modern design applications. Not all files will process as
intended within current workflow systems. The solution typically
requires a thorough evaluation of the design and determining
a different way to create the desired effect. Unfortunately, this
does not always work the first time and through trial and error,
we can establish the best way to recreate a design. This is not
to say that all complex files will yield undesirable results. There
are many times a design may work as is. Here are a few ideas
to keep in mind when designing an art file:
• Try to limit the amount of filters and transparencies applied in a
single area of the design.
• Instead of a transparency, use a screen of an existing color to
achieve similar affects.
• When applying effects to type, it may be best to outline the type first.
This will help ensure font problems won’t interfere with the design.
• Do not use compound paths to create fine text/art elements.
• Simplifying the way a design is built will increase the potential for it
to process without additional work.
Proof Types
The preferred proof type for Web-to-Print® is a pdf proof via
Belmark’s CheckMark website. Customers may also receive
pdf proofs via e-mail. PDF proofs are for content and element
placement review only, NOT color. For art files in which color
matching is requested by the customer, a contract proof will be
required.
600 Heritage Road  P.O. Box 5310  De Pere, WI 54115
Contract Proofs
A contract proof is a color accurate proof ouput off of color
managed equipment within Web-to-Print®. Contract proofs
utilize color profiles to ensure accurate, repeatable color. A
contract proof is REQUIRED if the customer provides a sample
to match to. For example: a previously printed label, film
package, carton, a plastic bottle, a color swatch, etc.
A contract proof may also be used to review colors for items
that will print on a substrate in which a Web-to-Print® Color
Book is not available for.
NOTE: A customer may decline purchasing a contract
proof to evaluate color matches. However, if the customer
declines the contract proof, they are agreeing to accept
printed product, regardless of color. Belmark will not
be held liable for color issues and the customer will be
responsible for all associated costs.
Contract proofs are output once the proof assembly is
complete.
Saving & Sending Files to Web-to-Print®
How to Save Art Files for Web-to-Print®
1. When saving your completed art file, confirm that all images
have been embedded.
2. Supply all fonts with the art file or convert the fonts to outlines.
3. Ink swatches that need to match to a Web-to-Print® Color
must be left as spot colors in the swatch palette. Use equivalent
colors from the Pantone+ Solid Coated® color book to represent
the Web-to-Print® Colors.
4. Set the overall document size to include both the label size
and the required 0.125” bleed in all directions where needed.
How to Send Art Files to Web-to-Print®
1. Utilize the Web-to-Print® Art Submission Checklist to
complete a final preflight of your file before submitting it to
Belmark. (See next page for checklist)
2. Send art files directly to your Belmark Customer Service
Representative.
3. Reference an existing label for size and material.
4. Indicate the final rewind direction.
5. Include the Adobe Illustrator file with all embedded images,
fonts and layers.
Questions???
Submitting art files that follow the specifications and
requirements in this document will enable files to move
through the preproduction process quickly and efficiently.
Please contact Corey Berkers via phone at 1-800-367-4536 or
via email at coreyb@belmark.com with any questions.
WTPFileSpecs 6/9/20
P 920.336.2848 F 920.336.4577 www.belmark.com
 Web-to-Print®:
Art Submission Info & Checklist
Belmark Knowledge Center | Graphic Services Specifications

Software Art Submission Checklist

Supported Software
• Adobe Illustrator MAC or PC PREFERRED SOFTWARE Reviewing and completing this checklist prior to
• Adobe Photoshop MAC or PC (only if formatted in exact size, with bleed, submitting files to Web-to-Print® will enable an art file to
ink call outs, 300dpi or greater) move through the preproduction process quickly and
• Adobe InDesign MAC or PC (only if formatted in exact size, with bleed, efficiently.
ink call outs, 300dpi or greater) GENERAL FILE SPECIFICATIONS for file set up are
• Adobe Acrobat (only if formatted in exact size, bleed, ink call outs, listed on page 1 of this document.
300dpi or greater)
Final Die Cut or Template Size: ________” x ________”
Unsupported Software & File Formats
• Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® PowerPoint, Microsoft® Excel, Microsoft® Is the artwork set up in a Belmark template or dieline?
Paint, Microsoft® Publisher, CorelDRAW® QuarkXpress®, bitmap images
Are placed images embedded in the art file?
File Formats Have fonts been outlined or included?
• Vector Art PREFERRED FILE FORMAT - EXPEDITES PROOF TURN AROUND
- High-Resolution Illustrator PDF, Illustrator EPS, Illustrator AI Has a 1/16” tolerance been maintained from the inside
- Build file using Pantone® swatches Preferred Color Format edge of the die line?
- Outlined fonts are acceptable; if fonts are not outlined, provide all fonts
- Embed images (300dpi +) Has a 1/8” bleed been included in the artwork?
- Save file in CMYK color mode, not RGB color mode
Has a 1/8” tolerance been maintained from the edge of
the template guides, fold lines, or gusset?
• Raster Art
- Photoshop PSD, Photoshop TIFF, Photoshop EPS Background appearance of material
- Build file using Pantone® swatches Preferred Color Format • White (opaque)
- Outlined fonts are acceptable; if fonts are not outlined, provide all fonts
- Embed raster images • Clear
- 300dpi MINIMUM resolution at final size; must include 1/8” bleed - Is white ink placement shown via ‘white ink’
- Save LAYERED file in CMYK color mode, not RGB color mode swatch on a separate layer?
- Are clear areas shown via a ‘clear area’ swatch?
***Do not build art files using RGB or web-only colors***
• Metallic
- Is metallic ink placement identified via a
‘metallic substrate’ swatch?
Saving Files - Is white ink placement identified via a ‘white ink’
1. When saving your completed art file, confirm that all images have been swatch on a separate layer?
embedded.
Varnish location
2. Supply all fonts with the art file or convert the fonts to outlines. • Is overprint varnish placement shown via ‘overprint
varnish’ swatch?
3. Ink swatches that need to match to a Web-to-Print® Color must be left as
• If dual finish is required are ‘gloss’ and ‘matte’
spot colors in the swatch palette. Use equivalent colors from the Pantone+ swatches used?
Solid Coated® color book to represent the Web-to-Print® Colors.
Is the artwork saved in the preferred file format?
4. Set the overall document size to include both the label size and the re-
quired 0.125” bleed in all directions where needed. ---------- Special Considerations ----------

Is an Impression Gap/Plate Gap needed for flexible

Questions??? packaging items? Yes or No
• OK to pull art in 1/32” on each side?
Please contact Corey Berkers via phone at 1-800-367-4536 or via email at
• Leave art as is?
coreyb@belmark.com with any questions.
WTPFileSpecs 6/9/20
600 Heritage Road  P.O. Box 5310  De Pere, WI 54115 P 920.336.2848 F 920.336.4577 www.belmark.com