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MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS


How to Send Your Digital Material...


E-Mail Your Ad:

Please e-mail your ad to: webtraffic@pennwell.com. Include advertiser name, publication name and issue date. Please send 3 days prior to launch date.

Issuance & Closing Dates

Issuance – Published monthly.

Closing Dates – Space reservations close is the first of the month one month prior to publication date. See Editorial Calendar for exact dates. Ad materials are due no later than two business days after space reservation deadline.

Cancellations – No cancellations or changes will be accepted after space closing date. Notifications of cancellations prior to closing date must be in writing.



Any guidelines or formats not followed in these specifications may cause an advertising file to NOT reproduce correctly, and may cause delays and/or additional charges. PennWell will not be held responsible for ads that do not comply with these specifications.


PennWell prefers ad material supplied as PDFs with PDF/X1-A format option.  We also accept ads built in these programs:

InDesign – Version 2.x; CS; CS2. Run InDesign’s “Package” command to collect file. This is PennWell’s preferred page layout software program.

QuarkXpress – File format version 4.x; 5.x; 6.x. Use the Collect for Output function to extract your document and artwork. Note: Collect for Output DOES NOT collect fonts.

PageMaker – Version 6.x; 7.x.

Adobe Illustrator – Version 8.x-10.x, CS.

Freehand – Version 8.x; 9.x; or MX

Photoshop – Photoshop files should be saved in EPS format. Use CMYK colors at 254 or 300 dpi with preview of 8 bits/pixel and binary encoding.

PDF – Advertisers wishing to send a PDF file should send a test file to verify the PDF format meets PennWell specifications. We prefer PDF/X1a verified PDF files.

If PDF/X1a files cannot be supplied, send “Press Optimized” files from the PDF Distiller.

Specifications to follow:

  • File names should ONLY consist of the following characters:

  • Any alpha or numeric

  • Space(s) or period

  • Hyphen               

  • Underscore

  • Images should NOT be enlarged or reduced more than 10% in the page layout program.

  • Document size should be created to the final trim size of the page/ad.

  • Use 9 points of bleed off of the page.

  • Do NOT use Font Styles from the Style menu in page layout program other than: All Caps, Small Caps, Superscript, Subscript and Superior. Use the appropriate Type 1 or TrueType font for styles such as italic or bold.

  • We do NOT accept TIFF/IT or JPEG files.

  • No RGB images. All images should be CMYK and/or Pantone if needed.

    • Fonts

    Please include all fonts when sending your documents for output. With Macintosh fonts, provide screen and printer fonts. With Windows fonts, provide PFM and PFB fonts. Use of TrueType or Type 3 fonts is NOT recommended, and Multiple Master fonts are not supported. If you use TrueType or Type 3 fonts in your document, desired results cannot be guaranteed and delays could result.

    Color Proof

    Send a high-resolution color proof of the ad. If one is not provided, then a laser proof must be provided (however, this is NOT preferred). If a high-resolution color proof is not supplied, one will be created for advertiser approval at an extra charge. If you require more information regarding any of the above specifications, please contact your sales representative.

    Special Handling Charges

    Contact the publisher for rates regarding design and typesetting of advertisements, color separations, stripping in key changes on film, converting two-page spread film to one-page units, converting camera-ready art to film and otherwise altering advertisements. Special handling charges are non-commissionable.