Using Our Template

Download Templates from our templates download page. Please note where templates are saved on your hard drive.

Open Sharpdots' Template file in InDesign. Read specific instructions on template while creating your artwork. Do not alter page size or margins, as they are critical in the correct placement of your work.

InDesign Inspection Checklist

Verify All 7 Points Below Prior To Submitting

Provide one document
Provide one InDesign Document for Entire Job (i.e. submit Front + Back card as a 2 page document or 8 page catalog as one 8 page document, not 8 documents of one page each) - Only Use Our Supplied InDesign Templates
Remove all unused colors from the color palette
Go to Window > Color >Swatches. In swatches window, go to pull down menu > Select all unused. Once selected, click on trash can to delete these colors.
Convert all colors to CMYK
In swatches window, go to pull down menu > Ink Manager.

Convert all colors to process by clicking on the icon in the first column.

PLEASE NOTE: If your file has a Die Line from our template, DO NOT convert this color to process, as it will be used for guides only, and not print with your process colors.
Confirm all linked images are press-ready
- CMYK color mode. Any images left in RGB mode will be converted automatically by our servers, using our profiles, and may not match the conversion tables on your computer.

- 300-350dpi (scaling above 100% will cause problems – please see the resolutions section on our website)
Remove non-printing items
Remove all non-printing items by deleting all objects outside of the printed area
Layers
Go to Window > Layers. In Layers window, click on pull down menu, select “Delete Unused Layers.” Also remove any layers which contain elements not used in the final print job.

Click again on the layers pull down menu, select “Merge Layers.”
Fonts
To bypass submitting fonts, you can turn your fonts into vector graphics. First, select all objects. Then, go to Type menu > Create Outlines. This will make the text uneditable, but will also prevent delays in the case that an incomplete set of fonts are supplied. If you choose to supply fonts, please proceed below.

File Formats

SharpDots accepts the following file formats from InDesign

Please note: SharpDots accepts only InDesign 2.0 or greater.

InDesign Native File Format (.indd)
After you have proofread your text and finalized layout and linked images, collect your work for submission to Sharpdots.

First, Save your file. Then go to File > Package, then hit "Package" button. An instructions window will appear; enter any data which may be useful and click continue.

The Create Package Folder Window will appear. Name your folder, choose a location, check the first three options only, and click "Package." A folder will be created in the location you designated. This folder contains the files to be submitted to Sharpdots, please verify the contents.
PDF Submission

If this is your first PDF submission, be sure to first download Sharpdots’ InDesign PDF settings. Once you have our settings on your computer, go to File > Adobe PDF Presets > Define. Click on Load, locate Sharpdots’ settings file and click Open.

This will take you back to the “Adobe PDF Presets” window, note that Sharpdots’ settings are now on the list, click OK. These settings can now be used for future orders. To create your PDF, go to File > Adobe PDF Presets > [SD_InDesignCS]. Choose a location and click save. This PDF is ready for submission to Sharpdots.