Bearing in mind our maximum printable size is 310mm x 430mm, we would prefer you to supply images no bigger than std A3 (420mm x 297mm) as we need to add crop marks for trimming.
The file type we require is PDF, the reason for this is that it will retain your vector data and raster data separately, meaning you will have super sharp text and vector objects. It also retains your ICC profiles within your document, so that your colour is accurate.
You must work in an ICC controlled program, and its best to work with our Indigo 5500 profile but SWOP coated V2 is your next best option, its the most accepted profile in the industry.
Bleed, please please please, supply at least 2.5mm of bleed to your document this will enable the cut to be accurate, it is especially necessary for business cards.
Rich Black? This seems to be a black art, getting black. You would think K only from a printer would be black enough but it isnt. This has something to do with standards being a little old, its all very complicated but the solution is to compose your black from a mixture of CMY and K. So try this, set your black as C=64 M=52 Y=51 K=100. On a screen both blacks would appear the same but in print they are vastly different in density. Try it, make 2 patches and print them out to see the difference.
There is one trick to get around all this complication, just send us an RGB PDF, I know this goes against everything you have been taught but in the age of Digital Press's we can do this, it also solves the black problem. The only thing to be aware of is that the document will come out slightly darker.