Side Door Studio: CD Artwork Specs

THE DISC

Outer edge of the Physical Disc: 120mm
Outer limit of the Printable Area: 116mm
Outer edge of Mirror Band: 45.5mm
Inner edge of Mirror Band: 38mm
Stacking Ring (w/3.25 pts.): 35mm
Inner limit of Printable Area: 20mm
Actual hole of the Physical Disc: 15mm

FILM OUTPUT

There must be, at least, a corresponding center registration mark appearing on each film layer of a particular project.
Do not include printable lines representing the outer edge or inner edge (the hole) of the disc. Only leave the elements you want printed.
The center hole area (20mm, diameter) must be knocked out, therefore meaning, no image can appear (or bleed) inward, beyond this 20mm circle. The actual hole opening is 15mm.
If the art must extend inward, somewhere beyond the mirror band area, a "stacking ring" must be knocked out on all final film seps. This stacking ring exists as a 35mm circle with a line thickness of 3.25 points.
No art can bled, outward, beyond a 116mm diameter circle (the outer edge of the physical disc is 120mm, diameter).
All halftones are to be screened at 100 lpi.
Trapping should be stipulated at 0.35 points.

DIGITAL FILES

Be absolutely sure that all placed image files, all screen fonts, and all printer fonts are included on your disk along with your application files.
Include composite laser proofs of all files needing output.
Include a laser print of the complete contents list of your submitted disk.
Be sure you've followed all measurement and placement specifications mentioned on this page.
Be sure you've followed all instructions as to the correct knockouts and masks as it applies to center hole, stacking ring, and edge printing limit.
Include the name and telephone number of the actual person who created the contents of the disk.

ARTWORK

If supplying film seps, we need Film Positives, Emulsion Side Up, and Right Reading.
We need one film positive for each PANTONE color or Process color being printed.
We do not accept traditional camera-ready reflective art. We can accept electronic files on a floppy, Zip disk, Jaz Disk, or CD-R.
Include a color proof with your order. This can exist as a Colorkey, a Matchprint (for CMYK process jobs only), a dye sublimation print, a good quality color inkjet proof, or a color laser copy. Do not submit a proof from a dot matrix printer.
Most colors will change when printed over another so, it is often necessary for artwork and type to have their "under-color" knocked out before laying in your trapped artwork or type. Colors will be more accurate when printed over a base-coat of white. Black, however, can overprint without the need for a knockout.

TYPE

Try to avoid using any typeface smaller than 6 points.
A serif font, like Times or Garamond, is difficult to print if less than 7 points. A less delicate font like Helvetica or Univers works better at small point sizes.
Any type reversing out of a color should not be less than 7 points.
Type reversing out of the four process colors should not be less than 8 points.
If you are building type out of the four process colors, go no smaller than 10 points.

HALFTONES

All screened areas of the disc are printed using 100 lpi screen.
A white base-coat will be printed first for all Full-Color Process discs unless otherwise indicated.
A Matchprint proof is required for Duotone or Full-Color Process jobs. If a proof is not submitted with the job, we will produce one at an additional charge while incurring a production delay.

REMEMBER: Failure to follow guidelines will undoubtedly result in production delays and additional costs!