I need help with my first commisioned design--URGENT please HELP

[dubji34]

So, i have my post card i have designed for a winery which plans on printing hundreds of by next weekend.
The printing company they use is over night prints
www.overnightprints.com

here are the specs i need to make for my postcard which i have already finished, but need to size it to these specifications.

http://www.overnightprints.com/main.php?A=uploader&new=1&p=pc55x85

incase that link didnt work, its:

Resolution 300dpi
Bleed size 1/16"
Image Size 5.627" x 8.627"
1688px x 2588px
You may upload a number of different file types, .TIF, .PDF, .JPG .EPS, and .AI (Version 8 or lower). Just make sure you follow the specs for layout.

I created my postcard using Photoshop Elements 6.0 since it was very simple.

On my computer i also have Corel Painter X and Microsoft Picture it! If those are needed to resize.
If some one could walk me through all the steps to check, change, check again, and triple check that everything is correct before i submit this to the website.
because if i get it wrong, i will be in a deep pile of....

Thanks you, i will be checking back very often every day, and replying to your responses.

[DSillustration]

Well, I don't know what features PS Elements includes (or doesn't include), but I assume you'd be able to do this.

Just open your image in PS.
Click on the "image" tab up top, then scroll down to "image size".
This will show you the dimensions in inches and pixels and resolution.
Make sure it's all OK.
If not, you can just change the individual boxes.
Provided your image isn't a completely different size ratio, the change won't be that noticeable.

[mickeymao]

What Dan said. Hopefully your image is large enough in pixel dimensions, though. If you scale it *up*, edges may get noticeably blurry.

[Grief]

overnightprints is a good company, i have used them several times in the past and they have always produced top notch work. if your initial design was larger than the specified size, scaling down won't result in any quality loss, so follow Dan's steps and you won't have anything to worry about.

[Baron Impossible]

If you've created a canvas that's the dimensions specified, then as mentioned, just double-check the pixel dimensions and DPI. Make sure you check DPI as well because DPI isn't dependant on canvas size and it's easy to miss (I've done it a couple of times).

If your pixel size is correct but the DPI is not, alter the DPI but make sure you turn off the checkbox that links it with image size (can't say what this is because I don't know what software you'll be using). Your pixel size should stay the same.

If the pixel dimensions are larger than required but in the correct aspect ratio then all is OK, simpy resize your canvas to the new pixel dimensions. Make sure that the checkbox that links horizontal with vertical dimensions is checked (usually called 'maintain aspect ratio'). Aspect ratio is just your image width as relates to its height, e.g. 2500px X 5000px has an aspect ratio of 1:2.

If your pixel dimensions are larger but your aspect ratio is wrong, or (horror of horrors) are smaller then you'll need to get in there and correct it manually - there's no way around that.

I always use a canvas that's bigger than required for printing - but with the
same aspect ratio - and resize down for submission. I find it helps detail quality and is useful if you need to print at larger sizes in the future. It's easy to resize down but impossible to resize up (and still maintain quality).