Design Specs

How to set up your files for flawless printing.

Please read these specs before submitting your art — failure to meet them may result in additional charges and delays. If you’ve never designed a CD, DVD, or vinyl project before, we strongly recommend hiring an experienced designer. Your files must be in final form: corrections after submission are billed at $85/hour with a $50 minimum.

File Formats

Standard submission (recommended): Supply your layout in its native format — Adobe InDesign or Illustrator — placed in our templates. Before submitting, use the Package feature (File → Package) to collect your layout, fonts, and linked images into a single folder — this ensures we have everything needed to output your project. Layered native files let us make small adjustments quickly, without the back-and-forth of resubmission.

A note on Photoshop: this is a bitmap-based program, ideal for image design, but you should use a vector program (Illustrator or InDesign) for text and template placement.

Print-ready PDF (for experienced designers): If you’re a professional designer comfortable with prepress, we accept print-ready PDFs — fonts embedded, CMYK, 300 dpi. Use our PDF export profile when saving your files.

Templates

Artwork must be placed in our official templates — download them here. Orders with artwork not placed in Groove House templates will incur an $85 prep charge and may delay your project. On each template, the outside line indicates bleed and the center line indicates cut or fold.

Color & Resolution

  • CMYK: All artwork in CMYK color mode. No RGB
  • Rich black: Don’t exceed C 60% / M 50% / Y 50% / K 100%, and keep total ink under 300% so fine details print cleanly. Use plain black (0/0/0/100) for small text. How to check your files
  • Resolution: Images at 300 dpi minimum
  • Note: on-disc printing cannot be perfectly represented by paper or PDF proofs — some variation between proof and disc face is normal and within industry standards

Proofs

You’ll receive a PDF proof for approval before production. PDF proofs are fast but not fully color-accurate due to variations between monitors, proofing, and press conditions — so PDF proof approval includes a color waiver, incorporated into the proof approval form. Printed color proofs are available on request for an additional charge.

More questions about our design specs? Check out our Artwork FAQs or give us a call at 1-888-GROOVE-8 — we’re happy to help.