The New York Times - Advertising - Color Submission Checklist

Home > Newspaper > Ad Specs > Creating Color Ads

Submission Checklist for Color Newspaper Ads

Ads should be submitted on deadline and ready for processing. Ads that are incomplete or problematic may miss the desired publication/edition.

Ads should be submitted in digital format. Industry standard PDF files are strongly recommended and preferred.

An insertion order must be prepared by the advertiser/agency for each advertisement, and should include the following:

Reservation number
Contract number and name of advertiser (and agency, if applicable)
Billing address
Day and date of insertion
Section or position request
Size and cost of ad
Description (i.e., headline) of ad
Contact name and phone number
Any changes or substitutions to previously reserved ads or materials must be accompanied by a new insertion order and a phone call into COF for B/W ads (212-556-7777) or the Color Services Department for Color ads (212-556-7729).

All files should be submitted with a photocopy or printout of the ad.

Photos or scans should be converted from RGB to CMYK. (You may download the ICC profile of our presses to assist in the conversion.)

Pantone color should be converted to CMYK to simulate newsprint colors and not to publication (SWOP) standards.

Make sure page size is large enough for your Postscript file.

Make sure to set page orientation to "portrait" regardless of the dimensions of the ad.

Scan and save halftone (screened) images as EPS at 100% size with at least 40 pixels/mm or 1,016 lines/inch of resolution.

The Times does not accept spot colors: pre-mixed or specialty inks such as PMS colors, neons and metallics.