There are steps that you can take, whether you are a professional designer or a novice to printing. A well-organized document can save you a lot of trouble later. These are our top 10 tips for getting your design printed.
1. Use CMYK and not RGB
Even if your file is set up to RGB, every screen displays colors differently. You can ensure that the color of your printouts is consistent regardless of which printer you use. Use a CMYK colour scheme to print a document instead of RGB. CMYK is Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. It’s also known as Key (an alternative name for black). These are the most popular ink cartridges. Using these values will give you the best print results. To ensure your design is exactly the right color, you can select certain Pantone(r), colors to get it. Consider whether your project will be printed digitally or offset. Offset printing works well for large projects and will closely match the exact color. Digital printing can be cheaper than offset, and it is more cost-effective for smaller projects.
2. Select the right resolution
There are two things that differ in size and resolution. A file may be 1000×1500 pixels in size. However, a 72 dpi resolution will allow it to print larger, but may make it look grainy. A file with 300 dpi will produce a smaller print, but a better quality. To get the perfect size print, consider both file size and resolution.
3. Double-check your images
Your file must be at the correct resolution. Scale down if you have to scale an image. To ensure that your image doesn’t look pixelated on the printed page, you can use professional photo editing software such as Photoshop. Make sure you check the file type for each image. TIFF files have a higher quality than JPGs and PNGs. A JPG image may work well for printing, but it can be less quality. While a TIFF file is larger than JPGs or PNGs, it can still be used for print. However, they will take up more memory on your computer.
4. Save your document as the right file type
You can save your file as a PDF if you are printing the file yourself. It is easier to save your work as a PDF file, since your file will not look different on different screen sizes than what happens often with.docx files. Another option is to save an InDesign package that contains both the.idd and the.pdf files. This gives your printer the freedom to work directly with the pdf or edit the final document to ensure everything is ready for printing.
5. You can add any Bleed, Slug or Crop Marks
Bleed refers to any space in a document beyond the intended size. It is used to ensure that the design extends to the edge of the page when printed. The bleed is usually cropped once the file has been printed. This happens under the guidance of the crop marks or printers marks. The bleed and markings prevent excess white from being created by the printer. Good bleed can vary depending on the size of your project. However, it should always be at least.125″ to 3mm.
6. Consider Paperweight/Finish
The printing company can help choose the right weight and finish for your project. Some projects may have limited options depending on how large the product will be. A glossy finish is great for posters and flyers, but it can be more costly than regular printer paper. A lighter paper is cheaper but a heavier paper can make your design stand out, especially if you plan to print a business card.
7. You can create your design based on the size of the print
After your project has been printed, you can’t zoom in on the type or adjust its size. Make sure that your design is the right size. Your design will not be printed if it is too large to be read from far away. It is equally important to consider the purpose of the print. If you are printing large-format material, ensure that the type can be read far away.
8. Get a proof
A test-print is often called a proof. This allows you to check the design. Although your proof does not have to be exactly the same quality as the final product, it will give you an idea about how your design will look on paper. A proof can be printed to help you catch errors in your text and save money.
