Mechanical Specifications

Ad Space or Border

All advertisements smaller than a full page must have a border, or must use a background that establishes the exact ad space. Otherwise, Auto Auction Shopper/Used Car News will place a one point black border around the ad before publication.

Display Ad Sizing and Layout

Format your document to a "page size" that is the same as the final ad size to be printed. (Do not, for instance, set up a quarter-page ad on an 8.5 X 11 inch electronic sheet size. Instead, create a final PDF at exactly 5.062 X 7.688 inches.) Crop marks, registration marks and color bars are unnecessary and not used with correctly sized ads (see "Inserts" below).

Poorly sized ads which cannot be corrected by the advertiser may be rejected.

Printing and Color Guidelines

Auto Auction Shopper/Used Car News is printed by non-heatset web press on 30 lb. newsprint. Specifications for Newsprint Advertising Production (SNAP) standards should be followed. Standard Newsprint SWOP color values apply.

All spot colors must be converted to CMYK equivalents. Pantone colors will not convert well for newsprint. Although a "Pantone process guide uncoated" may be useful for estimating solid color areas, color matching cannot be guaranteed at any time.

When preparing CMYK continuous tone photos/art for the layout, create files with maximum 240–250% ink density and maximum 93% black. The printing process will result in a midtone dot gain of 25–30%. Highlight areas should not contain less than 5–7% dot. In shadow areas, a maximum 80–85% dot is recommended (ink densities greater than 85% may print solid).

A rich black, when desired for large areas, should be defined with values of 40C-30M-30Y-90K.

Type reversing from a single ink should be sans serif and no smaller than 10 points. Type reversing from two or more inks should be sans serif and no smaller than 14 points. Reverse type should only be used in areas having a tonal value of 30% or more. Type should not reverse from yellow ink.

For additional guidance or more information, please call the Production Manager at 1-800-794-0760.

Inserts

Advertisers may provide inserts ready to be dropped into the final folded publication. Size and material guidelines are given below.

Advertisers may also submit digital files for UCN printing and finishing. See printing and layout information below

If you have further questions, please call the Production Manager at 800-794-0760.

Insert Sizes and Materials

Insert pieces may range in size from 3.5–7.5 inches wide and from 5.5–10 inches long.

Printed pieces under 5 inches wide or under 6.5 inches long should be on card or cover stock.

Pieces may be folded, but may not exceed 0.125 inches in folded thickness.

Insert Layout and File Prep

In Quark XPress or InDesign, it is usually easier and simpler to format your document to a layout size that is the same as the final insert size to be trimmed and folded. (easier, for instance, than to set up a 7.5 inch X 10 inch flyer on an 8.5 x 11 inch or 11 x 17 inch layout and then draw crop marks manually.) Have the page layout program create trim marks and bleed on a larger "sheet" or space at the time of print/export. If bleed is required, extend graphics over the layout's edge (beyond the trim) at least .125 inch.

Insert Printing and Color Guidelines

Inserts produced by Auto Auction Shopper/Used Car News from digital files are normally printed using coated stock on a sheet-fed or web press. This printing process will result in a dot gain of 7-10%. In general, Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) standards should be followed, and SWOP Coated color values apply.

Solid spot colors must be identified as a numbered Pantone¨ color. CMYK spot colors should use standard Pantone process formulas for best results.

When preparing CMYK continuous tone photos/art for the layout, create files with no more than 300% ink density.

A Rich Black, when desired for large areas, should be defined with values of 60C-40M-40Y-100K.