Skip to main content

Preparing Files for Print



If you design your own marketing materials, successfully preparing your files for print production can not only save you time and money, but will also ensure your final product is exactly what you envision.


Here are a few tips on how to prepare your files for print:

  • Include a listing of all contents used in your file, such as fonts and images.

  • Save your files with explicit, useful names.

  • Include high resolution (300 dpi) images and make sure the images are linked to the images used in the document.

  • Modify images in a photo editing program before placing them in a layout file. For example, if you rotate an image, rotate it in Photoshop before you place it in Quark or InDesign.

  • Check your printout for text flow issues and bad text breaks.

  • Include all font styles (bold, italic, etc.) for every typeface used in the project, not just the individual font.

  • Use exact measurements and guidelines to ensure accuracy.

  • Include registration marks for bleed trims.

  • Define the size of the document to make sure it is the correct size for the final output.

  • Delete empty pages that aren’t necessary.

  • Clean up your file – deleting extra picture boxes, guides, and old data on areas that won't be printed (the pasteboard).

  • Spell check and proof to ensure your text is final.

  • Double check that pagination is correct.

  • Provide a mock-up of the final printed piece for quick reference, and mark up any special instructions such as bleeds, knockouts, color breaks, or overprints.

  • Note any special finishing techniques, such as die-cutting, perforating, special folds, or embossing.

  • Include contact information with phone number and e-mail in case questions arise.

If you have questions or need help preparing files for print production, you're not alone. We know this is a lot of information to wrap your mind around, but we're here to help! Our expert printing team is available to answer any of your questions and walk you through every step of the way. You can trust us to help you create printed products you're proud of!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JPEG or TIFF

The JPEG file format has gained prominence over the past few years, in large part due to its ability to provide a fairly high-quality image at a fraction of the size of other formats, such as TIFF. Of course, that benefit comes at a cost. JPEGs save disk space by eliminating some of the subtle color changes not readily apparent to the human eye. At a minimal compression setting, those changes are fairly hard to see. The higher the compression, however, the more of those changes are lost, and the blurrier the image becomes. Here are some tips to remember when working with JPEG images: • Start at the top. If you’re taking your own digital photos, set your camera to its highest-quality JPEG setting. The images will come out larger, but the quality will look sharp. For photos when print quality is especially important, set the camera to save images as TIFF files, if that option is available. • When editing an image, consider saving it as a TIFF, instead of a JPEG file. TIFF files are large
Post a Comment
Read more

Pack Extra Meaning into Your Message with Strategic Color Combinations

Of all the elements of design, color is probably the most challenging to understand.  Color originates from a light source that is viewed directly or seen as reflected light. While colors can be displayed in spectrums, prisms, or contrasts, the power of colors is not only in their arrangement, but in the way we perceive them. Want to add depth to your message? The colors you choose can add an extra layer of meaning. Colors Prompt a Specific Response According to Sally Augustin from Psychology Today, research shows that particular colors can prompt measurable responses . Here are the impacts of five particular colors, and how you can use them to your advantage: Green Seeing the color green has been linked to more creative thinking—so greens are good options for pieces featuring innovation, creativity, artistic specialties, or proactive growth. Red People featured in front of red backgrounds are generally seen as more attractive when silhouetted against other colors, so reds are great fo
Post a Comment
Read more