Top Ten

things to know when designing for print

Number .1

document set up.When setting up a document for print you must remember set the document up in a CMYK format. Another important aspect while setting up your new document is to set a bleed, this is the area of artwork that is extended beyond the actual dimensions of the document. It is used to avoid strips of white paper showing on the edges of your print should the batch be misaligned when cut to size.

Bleed is usually a standard 3mm. This 3mm accounts for each of the four sides of the page, Therefore you should add 6mm to the width and height of the document. For example:

A4 Paper 210mm x 297mm // 210mm + 6mm 216mm // 297mm + 6mm 303mm

Total Document Size 216mm x 303mm

CMYK or Print

Number .2

paper size. The ‘A’ format is the standard paper size used through out the world it is common and used almost everywhere, it is standardised therefore perfect for mass Distribution, but also on small and large scale print jobs for example the home printing or large scale flyer distribution.

SRA is a larger version of the ‘A’ size it is the actual paper printers use, when printing a document the printers cannot print to the edge of the paper, it is simply impossible. But some print jobs require a completely printed surface, thus SRA. This paper size is generally 12mm by 15mm bigger than standard A size paper this accounts for what is known as the bleed which allows the printer to effectivly print over the full A sized area and then you can trim the excess.

Number .3

stock options.When considering a print quotation for a particular project, it is important to make sure the stock selected suits the proposed project. The key consideration should be the design and objective of the project, will a particular paper stock support or devalue the project. Your client will have an idea of how much they would like to spend on design and print, the aim is to achieve the highest quality design and print that is close to or within their budget. It is a good idea to coordinate a wide range of print options and permutations.

COATED Paper with a clay or other coating applied to one or both sides is coated paper. Coated papers are available in a gloss, silk (sometimes called satin) or matt finish and are used for projects requiring a fine finish, which is why coated paper is some times referred to as ‘art’ paper. Coated paper generally produces sharper, brighter images and has better reflectivity than uncoated paper. Coated paper is used to print brochures, leaflets & posters and a wide range of design for print formats, especially high volume print runs.

UNCOATED Paper that does not have any kind of coating applied is uncoated paper. Through not having a coating this stock is not as smooth as a coated page. Uncoated paper is available in many different finishes, colours, and weights and is generally more absorbent than coated paper. Premium quality uncoated paper is used for business stationery, and commonly used in laser printers. Uncoated stocks are also used as an alternative or in conjunction to coated stocks in a wide range of design for print disciplines.

Number .4

colour systems.CMYK DEFINITION: Stands for “Cyan Magenta Yellow Key Black.” These are the four basic colours used for printing colour images. Unlike RGB (red, green, blue), which is used for creating images on your computer screen,

CMYK Colours are “subtractive.” This means the colours get darker as you blend them together. Since RGB colours are used for light, not pigments, the colours grow brighter as you blend them or increase their intensity.

SPOT COLOUR Print technicians around the world use the term spot colour to mean any colour generated by a nonstandard offset ink; such as metallic, fluorescent, spot varnish, or custom hand-mixed inks. (as opposed to obtaining a colour by via mix of cmyk)

PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM (PMS)A colour matching system used by the printing industry to print spot colours. Most applications that support colour printing allow you to specify colours by indicating the Pantone name or number. This assures that you get the right colour when the file is printed, even though the colour may not look right when displayed on your monitor.

GREYSCALE One colour black and all the shades of grey through to white (black and white pho-tography is grey scale)

Number .5

monchrome, duotones and tints.MONOCHROME (mono)Monochromatic colours are all the colours of a single hue derived from one colour and extended using the shades,tones and tints of that colour.

DUOTONE (when a continuous tone image is printed in 2 or more spot colours this term is also generally used when describing tri and quadtones.

TINTS Tint is the opposite of shade. Tinting is combining white with a colour to make it lighter. A tint is a percentage of a colour, this can be used to good effect when working with minimal colours to cut costs.

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Number .6

print finishing.SPOT VARNISH A varnish is a liquid coating applied to a printed surface (for example the outside of a presentation folder) to add a clear glossy, matte, satin, or neutral finish. There are various kinds of varnish that can be applied to printing, but all share some common characteristics: A varnish increases colour absorption and speeds up the drying process. By ‘locking in’ in the ink under a protective coat, the varnish helps to prevent the ink rubbing off when the paper is subjected to handling. Varnishes are used most frequently, and successfully on coated papers.

FOIL BLOCKINGFoil blocking has been developed using the letterpress principle. A male block is produced using zinc, magnesium, copper or brass. These are process engraved.The block is heated on press and a metallic or coloured foil is branded on to the material. Foiled logos are incorporated into many corporate identities, used especially on corporate invitations, business cards, letter headings and compliment slips.

EMBOSSINGEmbossing is typically accomplished by applying heat and pressure with male and female dies, usually made of copper or brass, that fit together and squeeze the fibres of the substrate. The combination of pressure and heat raises the level of the image higher than the substrate, while “ironing” it to make it smooth. In printing this is accomplished on a letterpress. The most common machines are the Kluge Letterpress and the Heidelberg Letterpress.

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Number .7

file types.Ultimately your best option is to ask your printers how they like to receive their files. The likelihood is they will want PDFs. When we at The Media Collective work with Centre print we send almost all our files as PDFs. They have the latest kit to handle the latest PDFs.

However, sometimes we do send files in their native form. For example, the Print Handbook was sent as a PDF and a packaged InDesign folder. This tends to be how we work with them on more complicated jobs. It helps if anything needs tweaking their end.

If your printers do want a PDF, ask them what type or version. There are many different types of PDF and some printers will have issues with certain ones so just ask.

VECTORSYou are best off saving vector artwork (the sort of stuff from Illustrator) as an EPS, PDF or AI file. Even at 300dpi the TIFF and JPG don’t handle this vector graphic nearly so well. They have to convert it to pixels, and in this situation it shows.

BITMAPSTIFFs, JPEGs and even PSDs are what you should be saving your bitmap files as (the sort of things created in Photoshop).

Number .8

print methods.ROTARY PRINTINGIn this process the image printing plates are wrapped around a cylinder. This is an automated print process and the material to be printed can be sheet fed or on a roll.

OFFSET LITHOGRAPHY (LITHO)Etched aluminium plates wrapped around a cylinder transfer ink to an ‘offset’ rubber blanket roller and then to print surface. Sheet fed or Web fed.

ROTOGRAVURE (GRAVURE)Copper plates (with mirror image) transfer ink directly to print surface, usually on rolls. Advantage, plates are more durable and so are good for long print runs.

FLEXOGRAPHY (FLEXO)A positive, mirror image rubber polymer plate, on a cylinder, transfers ‘sticky’ ink directly to print surface. Usually roll feed.

DIGITAL PRINTINGThe reproduction of images by translating the digital code direct from a computer to a material without an intermediate physical process.

SCREEN PRINTA print making technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink blocking stencil!.

PAD PRINTINGA printing process that can transfer a 2-D image onto a 3-D object.!

Number .9

costings.Costing will vary from printer to printer it is essential to obtain multiple like for like quotes to get the best price available but at the hightest quality. Prices will vary depending on the amount you order long print runs will generally cost less than short ones, there is always going to be a charge for setting up the plates. Its is also important to get your quotes before talking to your client as they will ask ‘How much?’ and you would look rather silly not knowing. Another aspect that must be remembered is that any alterations after the proof has been ok’d will be charged extra so it pays to be thorough and make sure your client is happy.

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Number .10

spell check.You don’t want to look like a silly person now do you?

Dont worry I have checked this particular document.