Have you been wondering how you can take your print design materials to the next level? In this article, we give you ten great tips to take your design to print.
What Is Print Design?
Print design is a branch of the graphic design industry focusing on printed materials. That includes magazines, book covers, packaging, business cards, flyers, brochures, and anything that ends in a tangible printed product. Before starting a project, make sure you have all the necessary information you need. Will you be working from a template or are you creating the design from zero? Are there brand guidelines you need to follow? Are the images provided optimal for printing? Are there any color limits? Double and triple-check the page size and ask what the final deliverables will be. There are several basic key aspects to keep in mind when designing for print. Creating a file for printing has its own specific settings that, if not done properly, can have terrible consequences and result in wasted time and money. The basics are making sure that all print files have a CMYK format and are set at 300 DPI. Just as important is using appropriate bleeds and margins to ensure perfect printing.
Having a good relationship with your professional printer is a bonus—they are knowledgeable especially when it comes to packaging and custom sizes. Keep in communication with them as they can help you out when you can’t find an answer to your problem. As you send files to press, you can ask printers for proofs. These are great to make sure the design, color, and format are what you need. Proofs give you one last chance to change anything that might look off and to check the spelling. If you are working with heavy copy, have a second set of eyes or, even better, a copy editor to proofread the project. Print design covers a wide range of printed pieces. If you are new to InDesign, this article covers some great tips you can follow to create some awesome projects. If you are just getting started with InDesign and can’t quite figure it out yet, don’t stress! We’ve got amazing InDesign brochure templates and InDesign flyer templates over at Envato Elements and GraphicRiver. Go check them out!
1. Apply Grid Systems
Grid systems are one of the elements in design that go unnoticed because they are mostly behind the scenes. Whether you are designing one or hundreds of pages, a grid system is essential in developing a layout. Grids can help you position text and images so that the page will look polished and clean. The structure is made up of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines. It doesn’t end there—if you want to add complexity to your page, try adding angular or curved lines. There are no strict rules as to what is and what isn’t a grid. That’s the beauty of design—as a designer, you can create your own grid. As long as you follow it throughout a project, you will create clean pages. Take a look at the designs of Josef Müller-Brockmann for the ultimate inspiration. Or check out this template below. The designer created a four-column grid which they smartly used to lay out the elements on the poster.
2. Layer It Up
Gone are the days when layouts were simply flat. Print design has come a long way, and with the help of grids, we’ve started creating multi-layered layouts. We are not talking about the InDesign layers panel but the layered elements on a page. Images over colored backgrounds, type over images, graphics over type, etc. The juxtaposition of elements adds carefully measured playfulness. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself when creating a multi-layered document. If you happen to be working with heavy content, ask yourself if it’s legible. It all comes down to legibility, so if the copy is difficult to read, you might try choosing a lighter background like the one in the InDesign template below.
3. Back to Basics
Minimalism never goes out of style. You can’t go wrong with crisp, clean, and organized. This movement has influenced multiple fields, from print design to user interfaces, films, and architecture. Create visual harmony with a few elements—not just any, but the best you can find. Select high-quality fonts and images, a muted color palette, and a basic grid. Minimalism can seem stark due to the lack of color, but use the content and images as elements to add contrast. This magazine layout template uses the most essential elements to create an easygoing vibe on the pages. Use a mix of different font sizes to add visual interest to the page without creating clutter.
4. Play With Borders
This decorative element on the edge of the paper is not just an adornment. Borders can help you reinforce the theme of your project by stylising them. They can frame the page and create a strong delivery. This vintage style border uses intricate lines. With that alone, this element can bring the quality of your design to a higher level.
5. Use a Pattern
Patterns are extremely versatile and perfect for filling up empty space. If you’ve gone too far with minimalism and thought to yourself, “How can I make this special?”, patterns are the answer as they are flexible, functional, and visually effective. Not to mention that you can explore patterns for years—there are never two of the same. For some inspiration, check out the City of Melbourne branding by Landor Associates, which includes a plethora of geometric patterns. As in the business card below, you can keep it monochromatic, minimal, and clean. This is a discreet way to add something special to the back of business cards. Keep a sleek palette if your pattern gets intricate.
6. Invert It
Colors evoke different feelings in design. While we see logos and printed materials in many different colors, black still holds strong. Black translates into high-end, luxury, and elegance. This mysterious color is the new ‘white canvas.’ Paired with other colors, it brings out a contrast that can’t be compared to white. The play of light and dark lends a sharp contrast to the page. This InDesign template works beautifully with a black background. The subject’s clothing gets lost in the background, highlighting the subject herself. The white type acts as a middle ground between the black and yellow. The only yellow element is even more pronounced because of its color and how strongly it lights up against the black.
7. Brand Consistency
Turning a logo into a complete brand identity can be daunting. A professionally designed brand identity needs to be visually attractive and fresh. Aside from marketing, consumers will be looking at your branding to make sure you have a credible company. An identity package consists of business cards, letterheads, invoices, envelopes, and creative folders. There are other materials that can be included, but these are the essentials. These elements need to work together cohesively. So if you are applying a pattern to a business card, this needs to extend to the rest of the stationery. This graphic translation will help you create a quality brand that will stand out from the crowd. The consistency doesn’t stop after printing—make sure that the brand identity is applied across multiple media.
