It can be confusing to design for print if you are new to this task. You must not only create a design that looks good on paper but also prepares it. You must also ensure that your project is ready for printing. This will help you avoid making the many mistakes that beginners make. It’s important to think about color profiles, resolutions, and sizing. You also need to consider which type of black you will use (yes, there is more than one!). Your application choice (e.g. Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. ), and of course, bleed or trim. This can all sound quite daunting, and there is a serious shortage of information to assist you in getting things done right.
Understanding RGB Vs. CMYK Colour Modes
You are familiar with designing digital objects (e.g. websites, blog post graphics, etc. You’ll most likely use the RGB color mode. This setting is the default for most graphic design programs (e.g. Photoshop). This is the default setting for most graphic design applications (e.g. Photoshop), so even though you may not have heard of it, you will probably have used it. You will almost always need to use the CMYK color mode when designing for print. Using RGB can cause untrue color reproduction in the printing process.
What are these color modes exactly? Let us explain:
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
RGB stands for the additive color system. All colors can be created from a variety of combinations of Red, Green, and Blue. The basic idea behind RGB is that light is used for mixing colors. As you add more light, the color will become lighter, brighter, and more vibrant. RGB gives you the ability to control exactly which color you choose. There are nearly 17 million (16.777.216 to be exact) RGB color variations.
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black)
CMYK, a subtractive color mode, creates all colors from different combinations of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (Key). You can create different hues by mixing inks. The darker the color, the more you use ink.
RGB can produce a wider range of colors than CMYK. You can ensure that your design will be printed in the CMYK mode. This allows you to limit the number of colors that are reproduced during professional printing.
CMYK for Professional Printing
Professional printing companies use CMYK processes. You need to make sure that your design is ready for print by changing the color mode to CMYK within any design software you are using. The most common error printing novices make is to design in RGB mode rather than CMYK.
Understanding Solutions (DPI + PiP)
You’ve probably seen a pixelated image or photo on your computer screen. This is a good indicator of how resolutions work, and why it’s important to design for print.
If you don’t know what I mean, we have all the details:
PPI (Pixels per Inch)
The PPI (Pixels per Inch) refers to how many tiny dots (pixels), make up an image on your computer screen. As long as the resolution of your computer monitor is high enough, the higher the PPI, you will see a better-quality image. This is because the image can contain more detail if it has more pixels (or tiny dots). This is how high-definition television works.
The image below shows you a great example of this.
The circle at 10 PPI doesn’t look like a circle. However, the circle at 20 PPI appears a lot more circular. You can see why HD modern displays, such as the Retina displays found on iPhones/iPads, have up to 250+ PPI.
DPI (Dots per Inch)
DPI is the same as PPI but it’s translated into real-world printing instead of digital computer screens. Every pixel of your digital design will be printed in tiny dots (using the CMYK printing method) when you send it off to your preferred printing company. It is important that your design’s PPI matches the DPI used by your printing company.
Printing companies typically print at 300 DPI. This means that 300 dots will fill every inch of the final printed design. Printing at 300 DPI is the norm. Any lower resolution would result in a poor-quality finished product.
Before you start your project, it is a good idea to check with the printing company. It’s better to assume 300 DPI if you are unable to get in touch.
Understanding Bleed and Trim
Although the terms “bleed” or “trim” may sound complicated, in reality, they are very simple to understand.
When designing for print, it is crucial to account for bleed/trim. Here’s an easy explanation:
Trim
The trim’s outer edge serves as the cutting line for the product when it is printed. The trim line should be the cut line. Anything beyond that will be removed and everything inside will stay. You should leave some trim to accommodate any slight deviations.
The purpose of the trim area is not to allow for any accidental removal of important content.
Bleed
It’s possible to have small differences in the trimming process that may affect the trim area slightly. However, it is also possible for these same discrepancies to go the opposite way. The actual trim line is slightly beyond the trim area. If you don’t have a bleed area, your finished product would be left with ugly white lines. To prevent your design from looking bad no matter what, the bleed area serves as an insurance policy.
While the exact amount of bleed varies among printing companies, it is usually around 3mm in Britain.
Safe Area
The safe zone is where all your design elements and important information should be located. Because it is safe, no matter what happens to your design elements and information, it’s called the “safe area”. All of the items within this safe area will be included in the final printed product. The safe area should not be extended beyond the background and the trim area.
The trim size varies from one printing company to another but is usually around 3mm in the UK.
InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator: How to Setup
Once you have a basic understanding of the design process, it is time to start setting things up. Although you can design almost any problem for print, the most popular are Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Although you might be familiar with these programs, it is important to know that the setup process for designing for print differs from the one for digital media.
It’s easy to change a few settings, so don’t be alarmed.
It is important to make sure your file is set up as follows:
Take into account bleed and trimming.
Here are the settings that will make it work.
Use the Templates
Use the templates offered by most printing companies to create your Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, or other graphic design applications. They will be set up with the right resolution, sizing, and color mode (CMYK), and of course, bleed areas and trim areas.
These are not available at your preferred printing company, but here’s how to set them up yourself.
