For production questions & extensions, please contact:

Kim Day @ 515.284.2447 (phone) 515.284.2709 (fax), or email at kim.day@meredith.com

Please send materials to:

Hudson Yards
Traditional Home (Issue/Date)
2501 McGavock Pike Suite 1702
Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: 615.367.9110

File Formats:

• Preferred format:
• PDF/X1A
• Acceptable format:
• PDF

OPEN APPLICATION FILES or file formats not listed under “file formats” will not be accepted.
Instructions and tools required to create a PDF are available – Please contact your Production Traffic Supervisor for details.

Resolution Requirements:

• Vector (PDF/X-1A, PDF)
• 300 dpi
• 2400 dpi for Line Work

Accepted Media:

• CD-Rom (created using ISO-9660)
• DVD (created using ISO-9660)
• Digital FTP (Please contact your Production Traffic Supervisor for FTP site instructions)

Proof Requirements: I understand that if I do not supply a SWOP certified color proof with color bars or if I supply a color laser proof that Meredith cannot guarantee a color match to the supplied proof and will print to my supplied file.

• Supply a minimum of TWO composite SWOP certified proof for color – American Baby require THREE
• Proofs must be made from supplied file
• Proofs must be 100% of size
• Proofs must be SWOP certified. 
• Color bars are required on all analog or digital halftone proofs.  Color bars should include:
• SWOP color bars at 100% size as found on SWOP website (above)
• A solid and 25%, 50% and 75% tints of each process color
• Solid overprints
• At least one gray balance patch (cyan-50%, magenta and yellow 39%)
• Two-color overprints at 25%, 50% and 75% are also recommended.
• The color bar can be a GCA/GATF Proof Comparator, or a GATF/SWOP Proofing Bar or digital equivalent.
• Proofs must indicate the proofing product or system used, prepress supplier contacts and information showing conformance to the manufacturer’s Application Data.
• Ad should be proofed on Publication grade stock except for More, Traditional Home and commercial work should be proofed on Commercial grade stock.
• Proofing systems requiring line screen – Publication Grade Stock use 133 line – Commercial Grade Stock use 150 line.

File Specifications/General Guidelines:

• Single page ads should be built to 100% trim size.  If ad bleeds, extend bleed a minimum of 1/8” beyond trim.
• Partial page ads should be built to 100% of their actual trim size.  If ad bleeds, extend bleed a minimum of 1/8” beyond trim.
• All non-bleed ads should be built to 100% of the non-bleed specs
• Standard trim, bleed and center marks should be included but not in “live” image area or “bleed” area.
• Spread ads: keep live matter ¼” away from each side of center or ½” across the gutter.  For spread ads with a headline crossing over the gutter, contact production department if the visual spacing between words or letter is critical.
• All elements must be placed at 100% of size.
• Do not apply style attributes to basic fonts.
• Include and/or embed all fonts, images/scans, logos and artwork.
• Font information should include manufacturer, font name and version.  Multiple Master fonts will not be accepted.  True Type fonts are not recommended and my cause unexpected reproduction problems on press.
• Do not nest EPS files in other EPS files
• Use of illegal characters in file names will not be accepted (example:  &, /, -, ~, %, (, ), #, ‘, $, etc or anything after the extension) Limit File Name to 24 characters INCLUDING the extension.
• On 4/C ads, Pantone colors, other spot colors, and non-cmyk elements must be converted to CMYK.
• Four color solids should not exceed SWOP density of 300%.
• 100% black or solid color elements should either be knocked out & trapped or overprint using 100% K and 60% C to create a rich black.
• Color type, reverse type and/or line art should not be less than .007 at the thinnest part of the character.  Single color type should be no less than .004 at the thinnest part of the character.
• To avoid low-res (soft type) or 4/C black type, type should be built in Quark, Indesign or Illustrator and not within photoshop.
• Reverse type should use a dominant color (usually 70% or more) for the shape of the letters.  Where practical and detrimental to the appearance of the job, make the type in the subordinate colors slightly larger to minimize register problems on the production press.
• All supplied materials intended for use in Meredith publications must be properly trapped and, when possible, image trapping should be represented in the accompany SWOP proofs.

If the above guidelines are not met, the color and quality of print reproduction may vary.  Proofs that are not SWOP compliant will be referenced for content only.  Meredith will try to achieve a reasonable match to the supplied proof.

Retention of Materials:
Materials for all processes will be held for one year then destroyed, unless otherwise notified.

Meredith Corporation is a member of the DDAP Association and subscribers to and supports all digital exchange standards developed by CGATS/SC6, the accredited graphic arts standards committee.

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