by shutterangela | April 14, 2009
Here is a quick checklist of what you need to know to get your design job printed.
Starting a design project can be pretty exciting. Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the design process that you might overlook the important details that are involved in the production process. Listed below is a quick checklist of some things to keep in mind so that you can produce your design without hitting any snags.
Discuss with your printer
- Tell your printer about your project and work with them on delivery dates.
- Discuss options for special effects that you’d like to apply to your designs. (i.e., varnish, embossing or foil-stamping).
- Have an ongoing dialog with your printer so they are aware of production issues that arise and can offer valuable and time-saving solutions.
Paper choices
- Determine the kind of paper you’d like to use.
- Request paper samples that vary in coating, finish and texture to explore different paper options for your job.
- Similarly request various samples of collateral that utilize different kinds of effects such as die-cuts, letterpress, etc.
Colors
- Printing presses run cyan, magenta, yellow, black and spot colors, so remember to convert all of your images and files to those colors.
Use hi-res images
- When adding imagery to your design, be sure your image has a resolution of at least 300dpi.
- If you don’t have images of your own, use Shutterstock to find the perfect hi-res image to complete your design.
Use swatch books
- Monitors don’t reflect the true color of your design so compare your color choices to a swatch book.
- Materials printed on coated paper and uncoated paper will vary in appearance so reference a swatch book to get an accurate sample of the final product.
Use true fonts and programs
- To design the most efficiently, use programs such as InDesign to layout your work.
- If you want to use a bolded font, choose a font that is actually bold rather than applying a bold attribute to your text. You run the risk of losing the attribute once the job is printed.
Remember to include bleeds
- During the trimming phase of the printing process, fast-operating machines are used to trim the paper down to the final size. Because the paper often shifts, a bleed of at least 0.125” is recommended so you don’t end up with unsightly white lines at the edge of the paper.
Preflight and Proofs
- Double check all of your files to ensure that aspects including colors, bleeds, resolution are correct.
- Receive a digital and printed proof from the printer for final review.
Now that your checklist is complete, you can sit back and await the arrival of your design.
source: http://www.shutterstock.com/tips-tricks ... t-310.html
