Envelope Back Ads Workflow

Template Usage

Always use the official Money Mailer InDesign templates to ensure the best possible final printed product.

Please note that all standard template document setup sizes are larger than the final printed size. Ads will be reduced when printed to match the finished sizes shown on our spec sheets.

Back of envelope ads may be horizontal or vertical. You should use the appropriate template version for the desired orientation. Do not design a vertical ad on a horizontal template. All ads should be created "right-reading" meaning you should not have to turn your head to read the copy.

Back of envelope ads have a required white margin around the outside of the ad image. To see the pink margin guidelines on the Indesign template select "Show Guides" under the View > Grids & Guides submenu.

Design Notes

• All artwork must be built using CMYK process color types (spot color types are not supported and should be converted to process).
• Type smaller than 6 points is not recommended due to legibility with online content.
• Do not use the registration color (rich black) under any circumstances. These colors may look black on your display, but contain additional colors and will not print as expected.
• All non-original artwork such as photographs, logos, etc. must be licensed with legal permission for use. This may be in the form of a photo CD or online subscription license agreement, or model/property/image release form (available on the InfoCenter.) Proof of legal permission may be required at any time.

Flexography Printing Requirements

All Money Mailer envelopes are printed using the Flexography printing process at 120 lpi — this is different than the ads inside the envelope. Artwork for the back of the envelope MUST adhere to the following requirements. Money Mailer does not assume responsibility for unsatisfactory printing that is a result of the requirements not being followed.

• Images must be at least 300 ppi or dpi.
• Screen values below 3% will not print. All CMYK component values of photos, text and graphic elements must be either 0% or 3% and greater.
• Blends and gradients may not blend to white or any value below 3%.
• Photos must contain a 3% or greater white point, meaning the lightest area in the photo must be 3% or greater in all four CMYK components.
• You can simulate flexography printing by applying the Flexo Curves Preset in Photoshop. This preset may found in the "Other Downloads" section of the Downloads page.

For more detailed examples please download our Tips for the best quality Flexography output document. The Art Center can also review your proof for flexography compliance if submitted in advance of the order deadline.

File Naming

• PDF file names must be 64 characters or less in length.
• PDF file names must end with the ".pdf" extension (not case sensitive).
• PDF file names must contain a valid ad number immediately followed by a single character side indicator (i.e. Pizza Palace 013-00-5678E.pdf will match this PDF with the Pizza Palace back of envelope booking). The character indicates which side of the ad this PDF file will be used for (see list below). The indicator-character is not case sensitive.
• E = Back of Envelope artwork
• If a PDF is uploaded to an envelope booking without an E side indicator it will fail.
• Be careful with file naming, as mistakes can cause files to be overwritten accidentally.

PDF Exporting

Only PDF files are accepted and the official MM Standard PDF Export Setting must be used to create your final PDFs for EM products. The EP product and envelope flap products should use the MM Full Bleed PDF Export Setting instead. Instructions for installing the presets are included in the download file.

• Fonts must be embedded in the PDF.
• PDF files may not be edited. If a change is needed, edit the native file, and then export a new PDF file.
• PDF files may not be greater than 10 MB in size. Exceeding this limit is usually the result of poorly built or corrupt artwork, and may give unexpected results. Overly large PDFs can often be simplified by rasterizing complex vector components of the art.

Uploading and Verifying Final Art

Registered Money Mailer Independent Artists should upload final approved PDF files to Money Mailer production by uploading to the Art Status page of Money Mailer Online. If you are not a registered independent artist, please send your final files to the sales representative working on your account. Always carefully proof any PDF being delivered to Money Mailer production. This PDF is the sole source of reference used by Money Mailer production. Files are reviewed for technical compatibility with Money Mailer automated systems but not for content or accuracy.

PDF files must be uploaded into the correct order and named with an ad number that matches the booking or they will fail.

After uploading, it is necessary to verify all files have passed our automated PDF checking process.

All uploaded PDF files should also be visually proofed via Art Status once uploaded to verify art will print as expected. Also confirm the artwork is associated with the correct booking. Very important for versioned ads!

• On the Art Status page of MMO enter the order number in the search field and press the "Search" button.
• Click the order number line that appears below to expand the order and see a list of all the ads in that order.
• Click the "Upload Art Files" button in the upper right corner of the order section.
• A dialog box will appear that will allow you to upload your files either by dragging and dropping or clicking to select files from your computer.
• After the files have uploaded and processed, enable the "Show Ads with Passed/Approved Status" and "Show Thumbnails" checkboxes at the top of the page.
• Click on thumbnails to proof a full size image of each uploaded PDF.
• PDF files that pass our automated checking will show a green status of "PASSED" or "PROOF" in the "Art" column.
• PDF files that fail will show a red "FAILED" status in the "Art" column.
• Any failed files will show an error code number in the "Codes" column. Click the "Codes" column header for a list of descriptions of each error code.
• You will need to fix the issue, generate a new PDF and reupload until you get a green "PASSED" or "PROOF" status. Money Mailer will not accept or fix uploaded files that do not pass our automated processing.