Content Updated Friday, May 9 2008

Media File

 

Digital Ad Guidelines

The Reporter's printer, RR Donnelley, provides guidelines for producing optimal files for various desktop software as well as supportive drivers. If you have any questions concerning these resources please contact Patti Coleman or Nicole Guiliano at 1-800-847-8301

Click here to download the PDF version of this page.

 

The Reporter’s General Specifications

For all ad sizes, please reference Rate Card #35 or contact your advertising sales representative at 1-800-847-8301.

The American Oil & Gas Reporter is printed on a full web offset press and perfect bound. For all ad sizes, please reference Rate Card #35 or contact your advertising sales representative at 1-800-847-8301. Ad materials are due the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication.

NOTE: When submitting materials, please include contact information and indicate company name and the date for publication in the file name.

Full-page bleed dimensions: 8-1/2” x 11-1/8” (8.50” x 11.125")
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.
Trim size: 8-1/4” x 10-7/8” (8.25” x 10.875")
Live image safety: 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” (.375") pullout from the gutter on both pages.
Linescreen: 150 lines per inch
Maximum ink density: Total area density should not exceed 300%.
Resolution: 300 ppi. Continuous-tone images (photographs) should be scanned to 2400 dpi; line art (bitmap) to 1200 ppi.
Color: Define all colors as CMYK unless the color will print as a spot color on press. 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.

 

Digital Ad File Specifications

The Reporter is produced in a PC format, PDF workflow. The preferred digital file is a “Press Ready” high resolution PDF. However, we do accept both PC- and Mac-native QuarkXpress or InDesign files, TIFF and EPS files. Please do not submit files created in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or CAD systems. All elements should be in CMYK or grayscale mode unless the ad is using a specific PMS spot color.

PDF
The most stable “Press Ready” high-resolution PDFs are produced from postscript files distilled with Acrobat Distiller’s PDF X-1a Job Option settings. When distilling a PDF, embed all fonts and ensure all images are at least 300 ppi and line art (bitmap) is 1200 ppi. Be sure the PDF includes and reveals the bleed. Convert all ICC, RGB, Index, and PMS spot colors to CMYK process unless a spot color is specified. Indicate your company name and the date for publication in the file name.

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, set up layout as two full pages with an extra .125’’ on all sides that bleed, including the sides that will 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 unless specifying a spot color. Make sure all references to a spot color use the same name. Use the 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 digital ad materials.

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

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, set up layout as two full pages with an extra .125’’ on all sides that bleed, including the sides that will 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 unless specifying a spot color. Make sure all references to a spot color use the same name. 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.

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 unless specifying a spot color. Make sure all references to a spot color use the same name. 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 the 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.

Please consider these tips when producing a PDF:

• Embed all fonts;
• Ensure all images are at least 300 dpi and line art is 1200 dpi;
• Be sure the PDF includes and reveals the bleed;
• Keep all printer marks at least 15 pts (0.209’’) from bleed area;
• Full 2 page spread ad PDFs should be two full pages. If ad bleeds, the PDF should include an additional 1/8’’ on all sides that bleed, including the sides that will fill the gutter;
• All RGB, Index and PMS spot colors are converted to CMYK process unless a spot color is specified; and
• Indicate your company name and the date for publication in file name.

 

Submitting Digital Files

The Reporter accepts files through e-mail, the AOGR Web site Upload page and on CDs and DVDs. Please include contact information and indicate the advertiser name and the date for publication in the file name. Ad materials are due by the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication.

E-mail
Send e-mail with attached PDFs, zipped or stuffed files to . File size cannot exceed 10 MB.

Uploading on AOGR’s Upload Page
To upload materials on the AOGR Web site go to the Upload Page and following the instrutions.

Media
We accept CDs and DVDs. Label all media with advertiser name, ad title and publication date.

Please note the following options and instructions:

  • When providing a “Press Ready” high resolution PDF, send only the PDF.
  • When sending native files, send all elements–images, graphics, fonts, etc.–and a hard-copy proof of each 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.