Content Updated Thursday, March 11 2010

Media File

 

Digital Ad Guidelines

Click here to download the PDF version of this page.

For any questions concerning ad production and submitting materials, please contact Patti Coleman or Nicole Guiliano, or call 1-800-847-8301.

The Reporter’s General Specifications

The American Oil & Gas Reporter is printed on a full web offset press and is perfect bound. For ad sizes, please reference the Ad Sizes & Display Samples page. For rates reference the Ad Rates page or contact your advertising sales representative at 1-800-847-8301.

  • Full page trim size: 8-1/4” x 10-7/8” (8.25” x 10.875")
  • Bleed: 1/8” (0.125") is trimmed off all four sides. Set standard trim, bleed and center marks to offset 12 pt (0.167") so registration marks don’t cross into the live image area.
  • Safety margins: For bleed ads keep essential material 1/4” (0.25’’) from the head, foot, face and gutter. Beyond this measurement, any image or type runs the risk of being trimmed in the binding process. Spreads that have crossover type should allow at least a 3/8” (0.375") pullout from the gutter on both pages.
  • Line screen: 150 lines per inch.
  • Maximum ink density: Total area density should not exceed 300%.
  • Resolution: Images should be 300 ppi and line art (bitmap) should be 1200 ppi. Note: Please do not use low resolution images (72 ppi) from your Web site. They are not acceptable for print production.
  • Color: Define all colors as CMYK. Convert all Pantone PMS spot colors to CMYK process colors. Do not save TIFF or EPS files with embedded color management profiles. RGB-, LAB-, and ICC-based colors are not allowed and will be converted to CMYK process colors.
  • Color accurate press proofs: Preferred color accurate proofs are Kodak Approval, Fuji FinalProofs and Polaroid Pola Proofs. All proofs must have the Standard GAFT Offset Color Bars/Exposure Scales and should be proofed to SWOP specifications. Color lasers or low-quality ink jet prints are not acceptable for color guidance.

Digital Ad File Specifications

The Reporter is produced in a PC format, PDF workflow. The preferred digital file format is a PDF X-1a high resolution PDF. Files should be press optimized with image resolution at 300 ppi and line art (bitmap) at 1200 ppi; all color needs to be converted to CMYK process unless using a specified Pantone PMS spot color; and all fonts should be embedded. Please include trim crop marks so we know how you want the ad to display on the publication page. Be sure the PDF includes and reveals the bleed. We accept both PC- and Mac-native QuarkXpress, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop files, or TIFF and EPS files. When sending native files, include all fonts and linked images. For more instructions and resources on producing high resolution PDFs from a variety of desktop programs and for working with accepted native files please reference Producing a High Resolution PDF and Working with Accepted Native Files sections on this page.

 

Submitting Digital Files

The Reporter accepts files through e-mail, uploads on our new FTP server, uploads from the AOGR Web site Upload page and on CDs and DVDs. Please include contact information, and indicate company name and the date for publication in the file name. Ad materials are due the 22nd (or previous business day) of the month preceding the month of publication.

When sending digital materials online please follow these instructions:

  • When providing a PDF X-1a high resolution PDF, send only the PDF. 
  • When sending native files, send all elements (images, graphics, fonts, etc.) and a low-resolution PDF proof of the advertisement like you expect to see it printed, so that we can verify file output.
  • Stuff or zip all files into one folder.

E-Mail: Send e-mails with attached PDFs, zipped or stuffed files to Patti Coleman at . When utilizing e-mail, file size cannot exceed 10 MB.

The AOGR FTP Site: Please contact Patti Coleman or Nicole Guiliano for FTP server and password information. When uploading files to the FTP site, upload PDFs, zipped or stuffed files only. To ensure privacy and security during uploading, you will not be able create a folder or see your files or any other files on the FTP server. After upload is complete please email Patti or call her at 1-800-847-8301 to confirm she has received the file.

Media Center Upload Area: When uploading files to the AOGR Web site Upload page, please follow the instructions on the page. You will recieve an e-mail when your file has uploaded successfully. If the file is over 40 MB, please use the aogr FTP site.

CD & DVD media: Label all media with your company name, ad title and publication date. Please note the following options and instructions:

  • When providing a PDF X-1a high resolution PDF, send only the PDF and a hard-copy proof.
  • When sending native files, send all elements (images, graphics, fonts, etc.) and a hard-copy proof of the digital ad file like you expect to see it printed so we can verify file output. Please provide the highest resolution color proof possible at 100% ad size with correct ad dimensions, and indicate any discrepancies between the digital ad file and the hard-copy proof provided.
  • Send hard-copy summary of CD/DVD contents (ad files and supporting files), the platform and the program used to create the ad.
  • Please pack CDs/DVDs with enough protective cushion so they do not break in transit.
    Please courier CDs/DVDs to:
    Patti Coleman - 316-788-6271
    The American Oil & Gas Reporter
    1326 E. 79th Street South
    Haysville, KS 67060-2217

 

Producing a High Resolution PDF

To produce a high resolution “Print Ready” PDF, use the PDF X-1a Job Option when exporting from your graphic design design software. Files should be press optimized with images at least 300 ppi and line art, bitmap, 1200 ppi, all color converted to CMYK process and have all fonts embedded. Please include trim crop marks so we know how you want the ad to display on the publication page. Be sure the PDF includes and reveals the bleed. Indicate your company name and the date for publication in the file name. 

 

Working With Accepted Native Files

Quark
Set layout dimensions for full page ads to Width 8.25" x Height 10.875". Add an extra .125'' on all sides that bleed. For spread ads, configure layout as two full pages with an extra .125'' on all sides that bleed, including the sides that fill the gutter. For fractional ads, set dimensions to actual size. Fractional bleed ads vary, so please contact your sales representative for correct ad size and bleed settings. Check the Colors in Use panel to ensure all colors are set up as CMYK. Convert any RGB and spot colors to CMYK process. Use Collect for Output to gather all fonts and images in the file. For linked EPS files, be sure to convert all fonts to curves or include fonts with other support files.

NOTE: Quark’s Collect for Output does not collect fonts from linked EPS files.

PDF NOTE: Often in Quark V7+ when type is wrapped around a drop shadow, or if it just flows near it, the type can appear fattened (“Fat” Type) or bold when the PDF is created. This is the result of transparency. When Quark writes the PostScript file, it must flatten all elements on the page into one layer. In doing this it can rasterize type that intersects the shadow even though this might not be apparent (it may intersect the part of the image that is not visible because it is outside of the picture box mask). The simple way to prevent this is to make sure that the type is "above" the image. To do this you can build your type on a layer above the image or select the type and choose "object – Arrange – Bring to Front".

InDesign
On the New Document panel, set Custom Page size for full page ads to Width 8.25" x Height 10.875". Add an extra .125'' on all sides that bleed. For spread ads, configure layout as two full pages with an extra .125'' on all sides that bleed, including the sides that fill the gutter. For fractional ads, set dimensions to actual size. Fractional bleed ads vary, so please contact your sales representative for correct ad size and bleed settings. Check the colors in use on the Swatch Panel to ensure all colors are set up as CMYK. Convert any RGB and spot colors to CMYK process. Use Package to gather all fonts and images in the file.

NOTE: Before outputting from InDesign CS2 & CS3, the default setting for Appearance of Black MUST be changed from the default setting. In Preferences change the setting for Printing/Exporting to Output All Blacks Accurately.

PDF Note: Often in InDesign when type is wrapped around an image, or if it just flows near it, the type can appear fattened (“Fat” Type) or bold when the PDF is created. This is the result of transparency. When InDesign writes the PostScript file, it must flatten all elements on the page into one layer. In doing this it can rasterize type that intersects an image even though this might not be apparent (it may intersect the part of the image that is not visible because it is outside of the picture box mask.) The simple way to prevent this is to make sure that the type is "above" the image. To do this you can build your type on a layer above the image or select the type and choose "Object – Arrange – Bring to Front". Another method is to "Outline" the affected text or linework while in InDesign.

Illustrator
To ensure bleed is included in the final PDF for full page bleed ads, on the New Document panel, set Custom Page size to Width 8.5" x Height 11.125". This includes the .125'' bleed area within the layout boundaries. Remember, live image safety is at .25'' from trim, so in Illustrator live image should be .375'' from page edge. For full page nonbleed ads, set the New Document dimensions to Width 8.25" x Height 10.875". For spread ad layout please contact Patti Coleman or Nicole Guiliano at 1-800-847-8301. For fractional ads set dimensions to actual size. Fractional bleed ads vary, so please contact your sales representative for correct ad size and bleed settings. Check the colors in use on the Swatch Panel to ensure all colors are set up as CMYK. Convert any RGB and spot colors to CMYK process. Gather all fonts and images linked to the file, or create outlines for fonts and embed all images.

NOTE: Before outputting from Illustrator CS2 & CS3, the default setting for Appearance of Black MUST be changed from the default setting. In Preferences change the setting for Printing/Exporting to Output All Blacks Accurately.

Photoshop
To ensure bleed is included in final PDF for full page bleed ads, on the New panel, set Width: 8.5"; Height 11.125"; Resolution: 300 pixels/inch; Color mode: CMYK, 8 bit. The layout size includes the bleed area within the layout boundaries. Remember, live image safety is at .25'' from trim, so in Photoshop live image should be .375'' from page edge. For full page nonbleed ads, set the New panel dimensions to Width: 8.25"; Height 10.875"; Resolution: 300 pixels/inch; Color mode: CMYK, 8 bit. For spread ad layout please contact Patti Coleman or Nicole Guiliano at 1-800-847-8301. For fractional ads set dimensions to actual size. Fractional bleed ads vary, so please contact your sales representative for correct ad size and bleed settings. Do not save file as JPEG, GIF or Pict files, and do not use JPEG or LZW compression. If saving as an EPS file, be sure to include fonts.