DESIGNING FOR

PRINT ORANGE SPARKLE BALL

DON’T LET PRODUCTION BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT

sign

DESIGNER:

I designed this really

cool heart-shaped sign

for a valentine event.

I’m in a hurry but,

I only need one so it

should be cheap right?

PRINTER:

Well...I actually that shape

would need to be bleed

printed then die cut,

which is going to be very

expensive for just one piece...

and it won’t fit on our press.

if you are (EVER) going to have to print it,

think about how you are going to make that happen

DESIGN WITH INTENT

FAST/EASY

CHEAP/AFFORDABLE

HIGHQUALITY

REALITY = YOU CAN ONLY HAVE 2 OUT OF 3

THE IMPOSSIBLETRIANGLE

COMMON PRINTING METHODS

DIGITAL

OFFSET

THERMOGRAPHY

LETTERPRESS

ENGRAVING

EMBOSSING/DEBOSSING

FOIL STAMPING

COMMON PRINTING METHODS

DIGITAL

OFFSET

THERMOGRAPHY

LETTERPRESS

ENGRAVING

EMBOSSING/DEBOSSING

FOIL STAMPING

full color process: pigment is deposited directly on printingsurface and either absorbed or heat-fused (no plates)

images on metal plates are transferred/offset to rubber

blankets or rollers and then to the print media (1 plate per color)

the same process as offset with an additional step: a powder is

applied to the ink and then heated to make a raised texture

metal plates or wood type are made with image & text in relief,

ink is applied and then plates are pressed into print surface

metal plates are made with recessed image, ink is applied, then paper

is pressed to plate with 2 tons of pressure leaving a raised image

same process as engraving or letterpress but with NO ink,

or with only varnish

using metal plates and a colored film or foil, the image is heat

transferred onto the print surface

a.k.a inkjet, laser, giclee

a.k.a. lithography

a.k.a. raised printing

a.k.a. the OG of printing

a.k.a. bruises are good

a.k.a. blind stamping

a.k.a. hot stamping

COMMON PRINTING METHODS

DIGITAL

OFFSET

THERMOGRAPHY

LETTERPRESS

ENGRAVING

EMBOSSING/DEBOSSING

FOIL STAMPING

1 color =1 plate

higher qty= lower costper piece

COMMON PRINTING METHODS

DIGITAL

OFFSET

THERMOGRAPHY

LETTERPRESS

ENGRAVING

EMBOSSING/DEBOSSING

FOIL STAMPING

+ fast, full color (photos)- material limitations, color variation

+ true color, better for large runs, holds finer detail- translucent inks

+ imitates engraving - doesn’t hold fine detail well, can be cheap looking

+ premium appeal, thicker papers/materials - translucent inks, longer turnaround time

+ intricate detail, traditional/premium, metallic & opaque inks- longer turnaround, harder to find, not for 2-sided printing

+ unique textural effect- not great for all uses/materials

+ metallics, light colors on dark paper- can be cheap looking, not for 2-sided printing

COLOR VARIES WITH PROCESS & MATERIAL

DIGITAL

OFFSET

THERMOGRAPHY

LETTERPRESS

ENGRAVING

EMBOSSING/DEBOSSING

FOIL STAMPING(pretend this isdark gray paper)

WHAT ADDS

COMPLEXITY, TIME AND COST

FINISHING

die-cutting(anything not a rectangle)

folding

binding

duplexing

hand-assembly

MULTIPLE PROCESSES

order materials

- then -

offset print

- then -

letterpress

- then -

assemble

CHANGES

qty changes or

additional runs

file edits or

mistakes

what is your printing budget?

how many do you need? (explain economies of scale)

do you have a particular size or format in mind?

have you seen something similar that you are basing this on? May I see it?(check it out and see if it is comparable to what they are asking for: is itmore/less complicated or expensive?)

what is your deadline? (explain turnaround time)

please look over the proof carefully. It will be printed exactly as shown.

CLIENT COMMUNICATION CHECKLIST

PROOF for spelling, grammar and content

CMYK

outline all text and paths (save a separate un-outlined version in case of edits)

embed artwork (300 dpi at full scale)

output as press quality pdf

send native file along with pdf (most cases)

include trim marks and bleeds

.25 stroke weight minimum

use a separate layer for finishing instructions (drill holes, score marks, etc)

FILE CHECKLIST

ZOOM INTO

300%-400%

TO SEE A BETTER

IDEA OF PRINT

RESOLUTION ON

YOUR SCREEN

can I have a cost estimate?

what is the turnaround time?

do you have file type or setup preferences? (usually pdf, tif, eps, or .ai)

do you have spec templates or min./max. press or material restrictions?

do you offer proofing (hard or digital)?

attach all print specs with artwork: • qty • PMS colors or other color matching • size • finishing instructions • stock (bleeds, cutting, scoring, folding, assembly)

attach a mock-up or drawings as needed (paper dolls!)

specify deadline and delivery instructions

BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE

PRINTER COMMUNICATION CHECKLIST

WHAT CLIENT SEES vs. WHAT PRINTER SEES

Atlanta Area Printers

MATCH THE PROJECT TO THE PRINTER

MOO.COM

HENRY & CO.

LAWRENCE INK

BUSTER’S

ART LAMINATING

PRINT TIME

ALEE & PRESS

48HOURPRINT.COM

OVERNIGHTPRINTS.COM

GREENPRINTERONLINE.COM

QUESTIONS?