| Jinayon’s Guide to Preparing Print-Ready Board Game Files
As board games become increasingly popular, more people are launching their own brands. When designing a board game, having the correct design files is crucial to ensure accuracy at every stage of production; non-compliant files can lead to manufacturing errors or the high cost of redoing work. Below, we break down how to prepare the correct print files using the three most common software tools.
| Jinayon Recommends the Right Software – InDesign, Illustrator & Photoshop
First and foremost: all files must be submitted as PDFs. The three tools most commonly used to create these design files are Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop. Here is a brief overview of each:
① Adobe InDesign: Use InDesign for the final layout (particularly text placement) and PDF generation. You can download the PDF conversion plug-in from our website. We recommend using InDesign for multi-page documents, such as rulebooks, card decks, etc.
② Adobe Illustrator: Use Illustrator for creating vector illustrations.
③ Adobe Photoshop: Use Photoshop for creating raster illustrations. However, please note that Photoshop is not recommended for generating the final PDF file; using Photoshop to generate PDFs may require additional time for pre-press checks and revisions.
| Jinayon’s PDF Export Standards for Flawless Board Game Printing
PDF is the standard format in the printing industry. When saving your PDF files, please pay attention to the following:
① Your PDF should be compatible with Acrobat 7 (PDF 1.6) or higher.
② Your PDF should use the "U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2" color profile to match our factory's color calibration.
| Jinayon Offers Free PDF Export Profile for Easy File Preparation
To simplify the process, Jinayon offers a PDF export profile for Adobe products that automatically configures these settings and performs other useful tasks (such as converting RGB images to CMYK during export). You can find this profile on the Jinayon website: www.jinayon.com
FAQ
Q: What software does Jinayon recommend for creating print-ready board game files?
A: Jinayon recommends three Adobe tools: InDesign for final layout and multi-page documents (rulebooks, card decks), Illustrator for vector illustrations, and Photoshop for raster images. All files must be submitted as PDFs for production.
Q: What PDF export settings does Jinayon require for board game printing?
A: Jinayon requires PDFs compatible with Acrobat 7 (PDF 1.6) or higher, using the "U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2" color profile to match factory color calibration. Jinayon also offers a free PDF export profile on its website that automatically configures these settings.
Q: Why does Jinayon recommend using InDesign over Photoshop for final PDF generation?
A: InDesign is optimized for final layout and multi-page documents like rulebooks and card decks. Photoshop is not recommended for generating final PDFs as it may require additional pre-press checks and revisions, potentially delaying production.