Specifications

TIME INC. DIGITAL ADVERTISING STANDARDS

With the arrival of a digital era in the graphic arts industry, a lack of agreeable standards hindered the progress of increasingly efficient methods for the creation and distribution of digital advertising. Thus, in collaboration with various industry groups such as Digital Ad Lab, SWOP and the former DDAP Association, Time Inc. advocated for the development and adherence of standards when creating digital advertising intended for print. It was decided upon that the specifications for PDF/X-1a compliant files would be suitable for all areas of the digital advertising process.

As of January 1, 2004, all ad files submitted to Time Inc. titles must be supplied in PDF/X-1a format.

Time Inc. will no longer accept native application files, such as QuarkXPress, PageMaker, etc.

AD SIZES

MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Ad Size	Trim	Bleed	Safety/Non-Bleed
Page	8” x 10-1/2”	8-1/4” x 10-3/4”	7-1/2” x 10”
Spread	16” x 10-1/2”	16-1/4” x 10-3/4”	15-1/2” x 10”
1/2 Page Vertical	4” x 10-1/2”	4-1/4” x 10-3/4”	3-1/2” x 10”
1/3 Page Vertical (One Column)	2-3/4” x 10-1/2”	3” x 10-3/4”	2-1/4” x 10”
2/3 Page Vertical (Two Columns)	5-1/8” x 10-1/2”	5-3/8” x 10-3/4”	4-5/8” x 10”
1/2 Page Horizontal	8” x 5-1/4”	8-1/4” x 5-1/2”	7-1/2” x 4-7/8”
1/2 Spread Horizontal	16” x 5-1/4”	16-1/4” x 5-1/2”	15-1/2” x 4-7/8”
1/3 Square	4-5/8” x 4-7/8”	n/a	4-5/8” x 4-7/8”

Build ads to trim size and extend bleed 1/8” beyond trom on all sides. Supply spreads as spread, all other ads as single pages.

*Allow 1/4” safety on both sides of gutter for spreads.

ISSUE & CONTACT

	Contact	Phone Number	E-Mail
Material Extensions	Theresa Mazzola	205-445-6300	theresa_mazzola@timeinc.com
Production Questions	Andy Estill	205-445-5803	andy_estill@timeinc.com
PTechnical Questions	Tara Hardee	205-445-6300	tara_hardee@timeinc.com

Issue / Edition	Regional Ad Close	National Ad Close	On Sale
January	N/A	Nov. 12	Dec. 29
February	N/A	Dec. 1	Jan. 22
March	N/A	Jan. 4	Feb. 19
April	N/A	Feb. 1	March 26
May	N/A	March 1	April 23
June	N/A	April 1	May 21
July	April 26	May 3	June 25
August	May 25	June 1	Sept. 23
September	June 24	July 1	Aug. 20
October	July 26	Aug. 2	Sept. 24
November	Aug. 25	Sept. 1	Oct. 22
December	Sept. 27	Oct. 1	Nov. 19

FILE PREPARATION

Please adhere to the guidelines below when preparing files. Ensure that only one ad is included per PDF/X-1a file.

Images

• All high-resolution images must be included. Do not embed OPI information in files.
• Images are required to be SWOP TR 005 compliant.
• CMYK or Grayscale only. Convert any Spot colors not intended to print into CMYK.
• Minimum resolution of 200 dpi.
• Screening: 133 lpi for Body & Cover.
• Apply image trapping as needed.
• Do not nest EPS files within other EPS files.
• Save images in TIFF or EPS format, with no ICC profiles embedded.

Fonts

• Only use Type 1 or TrueType fonts.
• Text containing thin lines, serifs, or small lettering should be restricted to one color.
• Reverse lettering: For CMYK advertisements should be spread with the dominant color used for letter shapes, while subordinate colors are to be spread slightly, to minimize registration issues.
• Surpinting/Overprinting: When type is intended to surprint/overprint, the background should be no heavier than 30% in any color and a total of no more than 90% in all four colors.

Dimensions

• Maximum dimensions for file, inclusive of all marks, color bars and agency information:
  Single Page: 11” wide x 17” high
  Spread Page: 22” wide x 17” high

Marks & Positioning

• Include standard Trim, Bleed & Center marks for ALL separations placed .5” outside Trim area.
• Include a 6mm CMYK strip (included in Time Inc. - Advertiser Kit) with the following values:
  5% Cyan 25% Magenta 20% Yellow 100% Black
• File should be Right Reading, Portrait Mode, and sized at 100%, with no rotations applied.

Safety

• For Full Page Ads, all content intended to print must be kept at 3/8” from Bleed edge.
• For Spread Ads, all live content should be kept at 3/8” from gutter for each side, for a total 3/4” combined.
• For safety information on Partial Ads, please refer to the MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS chart above.

Creating PDF/X-1a File

• To create an acceptable PDF/X-1a file, please click on the PDF Guide link above to access specific instructions for your application.

GENERAL INFORMATION File Submission

Files must be submitted via the Time Inc. Ad Portal. Please click on the Ad Portal Guide link above to access step-by-step instructions on how to submit a file.

Proofs

Southernl Living is presently using Virtual Proofing at its printing plants and is no longer accepting hard proofs from advertisers. Please click on the Virtual Proofing Guide link above to access information on submitting a Virtual Proof compliant file.

Binding

SOUTHERN LIVING magazine is perfect-bound.