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File Submission Guidelines

These are the acceptable methods of sending us your completed ads.

Low-resolution, color mode, font, and transparency issues are the most common errors.

The following guidelines will help ensure that you send everything we need to reproduce your ad. These recommendations are given using the best knowledge that we have at this time. There are settings that have worked for our advertisers in the past, and may not cover all possible combinations of file formats. If your specific application is not listed, call the Production Department at (202) 296-3600.

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in loss of agency discount.

1. WHAT TO SEND

• PDF or native files according to the specifications below. Native application files must include all graphic support files, linked and updated; and the screen and printer fonts used in the layout file and support files.
• A proof of the ad. For black and white ads, send laser copy or a fax (202-785-1822). For color ads, send a contract proof or a color laser proof. (Faxes sent for color ads can be used for checking type accuracy only.) There may be an extra charge to make a color proof for ads submitted without a proof.

2. HOW TO SEND

• E-mail completed Washingtonian advertising files to readyads@washingtonian.com.
• E-mail completed Bride & Groom advertising files to bridegroom@washingtonian.com.
• FTP. Contact your Washingtonian sales representative for instructions to place your ad on our FTP site.
• For both FTP and e-mail submission, give the advertiser's name to your ad file or folder; do not call it "Washingtonian."
• A proof must be faxed (202-785-1822) or mailed when an ad is transmitted digitally to The Washingtonian. Please direct it to the attention of your sales representative. PDFs are unacceptable as proofs since they still require the magazine to output an accurate version.
• Deliver media. We accept CD-ROM disks, which will not be returned.

Send to:

Washingtonian Magazine
Attn: either your sales rep or Carolyn Harries
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

3. PDF SPECIFICATIONS

• PDFs must meet PDF/X-1a standards. Other PDF formats are unacceptable.
• We recommend using Adobe InDesign CS3 and Acrobat 8 to produce PDF files.
• For quality-control purposes, advertisers who submit PDF files may be required to supply native files.
• Click on the bulleted link to download a document that shows you the correct settings to create a PDF from your application. Adobe PDF pre-sets are available for most applications, and can be accessed from these documents. Be sure to open these documents with step-by-step instructions in Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Professional. Read Me

ADOBE INDESIGN

• Adobe InDesign CS3
• Adobe InDesign CS2
• Adobe InDesign CS

QUARKXPRESS

• QuarkXpress Version 7
• QuarkXpress Version 6 (Distiller)
• QuarkXpress Version 6 (Export)
• QuarkXpress Version 5
• QuarkXpress Version 4

ADOBE ACROBAT DISTILLER

• Adobe Acrobat Distiller (Version 8)
• Adobe Acrobat Distiller (Version 7)
• Adobe Acrobat Distiller (Version 6)

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

• Adobe Photoshop CS3
• Adobe Photoshop CS2
• Adobe Photoshop CS

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

• Adobe Illustrator CS3
• Adobe Illustrator CS2
• Adobe Illustrator CS

4. OTHER ACCEPTABLE FILE FORMATS

• Adobe InDesign
• QuarkXpress
• Adobe Photoshop (in order of preference)
  PDF: We prefer to receive Photoshop PDFs. In order to preserve font-quality type in your Photoshop PDF, you must use our PDF export settings from the Washingtonian web site.
  PSD or LAYERED TIFF: In order to preserve font-quality type in a PSD or layered TIFF, fonts must be supplied for output. If no fonts are supplied in a PSD or layered TIFF, the file will be flattened, compromising the type quality.
  TIFF and EPS: The type in flattened Photoshop files is of noticeably lower quality than other file formats. "Font-quality" type can only be preserved by submitting a PDF or layered TIFF with fonts (see above). If the file is already flattened, the TIFF should be at least 300 dpi; type-heavy ads should be 600 dpi.
  
• Adobe Illustrator (with type converted to outlines)
• EPS (non-Photoshop)

5. UNACCEPTABLE FILE FORMATS

• Adobe Pagemaker
• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Native Freehand
• Native CorelDRAW

It is highly recommended that a phone call be made to the Production Manager
(Cathy Dobos, 202-862-3505) to discuss compatibility before a Windows-format file is submitted.

6. IMAGES

• Images should have an effective resolution of 300 dpi. 72 dpi images, or images downloaded from a Web site, are of unacceptable quality for magazine printing. Please call the Production Manager to discuss specifics.
• TIFF, PSD, and EPS format files are preferable to JPG.
• CMYK or grayscale files are acceptable. RGB, Lab or Index color files are unacceptable. Do not embed an ICC color profile.
• Use or scale your images as close to to the actual reproduction size as possible; a 20% margin plus or minus is optimal. Please avoid sending unnecessarily large high-resolution images.

7. FONTS

• We prefer that you use PostScript Type 1 fonts or OpenType fonts.
• TrueType fonts may be used, however The Washingtonian reserves the right to substitute PostScript Type 1 fonts if problems arise.
• Multiple Master fonts are not recommended. They may not image properly in computer-to-plate printing.
• "Faux" type commands (for bold, italic, bold italic, etc...) should not be used. If italics are desired, then the italic version of the font should be used.
• We may have to substitute Mac fonts in files from Windows computers. If a perfect match cannot be found, the magazine will fax a proof for client approval.

8. NOTES

• All colors must be CMYK or grayscale. No RGB, Lab or Index color. Tints and color type in four-color ads must be produced in a CMYK equivalent.
• Whenever possible two- and three-color ads must be reproduced in a CMYK equivalent. If it is not possible to achieve a match in CMYK (e.g. a metallic color) call the Production Manager early so we may be aware of the need for a special-ink unit at the press.
• Do not submit color files for black and white ads.
• Black and white images and objects should be grayscale, not the black channel of CMYK.
• Be aware that type in Photoshop, TIFF and some EPS format files will be of noticeably lower quality than other file formats. For high-quality type in Photoshop (.psd) and layered TIFF files, you must include the fonts and never use the "Faux bold" and "Faux italic" options. Violation of these guidelines will result in lower-quality type. In order to preserve "font-quality" type in your Photoshop file, you should use the PDF export settings available on this Web site (see paragraph 3: PDF Specifications).

9. CONTACTS

• Fax Number: 202-785-1822.
• Cathy Dobos, Production Manager: 202-862-3505; cdobos@washingtonian.com.
• Paul Schlosser, Systems Manager: 202-862-3511.
• Paul Chernoff, Director of Information Technology: 202-862-3504.
• Questions for Advertising Dept: 202-296-1246; washads@washingtonian.com.

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