Artwork
This section is all about artwork when preparing your work for print, this consists of all typeographic elements, photography, and illustrations looking to make sure all are correctly detailed for print i have also researched into common mistakes that are made making sure that i will not be one of them.
Document Setup
When starting the digital design process it is a necessity to have a document that us set up in the correct way. this not only ensure that the document saves properly but also avoids any problems when the work is sent to printers. You must ensure that all documents should be set up in the correct sized art board at a print resolution of 300dpi that will be printed and ensure that the correct colour modes are selected for example CMYK or PMS and documents contain all the marks that are needed by the printers for example: Bleed and Slug and printer marks if necessary.
File Format and Fonts
There are two main image format types: Bitmap images and Vector images. Vector images are are created using a mathematical formula which enables them to not lose quality when pushed to any scale, vectors are commonly used within graphic design in the for of 2d imagery such as logo designs. Bitmap on the other hand are raster based which means that they are created by pixels that have a specific resolution so when scaling the image, image quality is lost.
Format
Sending work to be printed when doing this the printer will always ask for a specific file format that they work with, commonly printers will work will work with a PDF format, PDF's are created using creative software such as the adobe creative suit, The benefits of sending a file as a pdf is that the Images, Colour models, Fonts are all stored within a document, this means that the document is viewed the same no matter what software is in use on the computer. This means the view of the document is consistent and is as close to the original as possible this uses a high compression. Using PDF format makes sure the printer who is working on the job can open the file.
PSD files can be sent to the printers simply in PSD or just InDesign format, When the work is sent the printers you need to ensure that you send everything with this such as Fonts along with it. This is just incase the computer that the printer has opened the work in may not have the specific fonts downloaded to that specific computer. InDesign tools are provided that ensure that all the files that are needed are linked and are saved into a folder that can simply be sent to the printer.
Colour Specification
When a document is sent to print if the colours are picked from the CMYK colour pallet such as colours From PMS, these must be specified within the document and the printer needs to be notified before the file is saved and sent. Another element that needs to be taken into consideration is that pantone colours can be specified within the Adobe Suite by using the colour picker. Pantone colours that are used should be specified within the document, like colours are present with the swatch pallet as there is a possibility of black plates being produced which can this in turn means for a wasted production cost. If finishing techniques are being applied these must also be specified however Adobe software doesn't allow for Effects such as spot varnishes, and other effects to be specified, this means a colour is needed to be selected to represent where a varnish should be applied this should also be brought up with the printer.
Bleed, registration and trim
the responsibility for accurate reproduction is the printers job. the designer contributes to the reduction of errors and mistakes, by being aware of some of the common mistakes that occur and by creating designs that accommodate them.
Printing a four colour job:
When printing a simple four colour job the design needs to be printed with bleed this allows the design to be trimmed and not have a boarder of unprinted stock around the edge. this is generally a 3mm bleed however this can vary depending on the job or printing method, it is always a great idea to speak to the printer.
Registration black:
Registration black is a black colour that is obtained from 100% coverage of the four process colours Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black using registration colour for text and greyscale graphics instead of black is a common error as is not desirable. as elements are coloured appear on all colour separated films and printing plates rather than just the black film or plate, this means it will print in every colour. Registration black does have its uses, for instance when hand drawn crop marks are used to register printing plates.
Registration Problems
One colour printing doesnt present colour registration problems as there is nothing for a printing plate to register with. Registration problems sometimes occour as soon as more that once colour is sent to print.
Crop marks are small lines placed at the corners of the document to indicate where the page will be trimmed. They are required
because normally, paper can’t be printed to the edges. Slightly larger paper sizes are used then cropped to a standard size. This is where bleed is used.
Bleed is the area that overlaps the document’s borders. It gives the printers room for unavoidable errors in the cropping process. If bleed is not used, sometimes a thin white border can be seen on the edges of finished documents.
Proofing
I am now looking into a range of methods that are used in the industry at different stages of the print production process to ensure an accurate print reproduction. All of these methods stated below are used to make sure that the highest quality print is achieved. I have also stated what the advantages and disadvantages are.
Type of proof:
Soft or screen proof:
a proof used for layout and colour information control and to check screen structures of a print
Advantages
this is intended to eliminate moire, rosette and other effects that are undesireable.
Disadvantages
screening must be performed before a scren proof is printed as printing data contains no screen information.
Laser proof:
a black and white digital print
Advantages
shows photos, text and position, this is a cheaper alliterative to blue line
Disadvantages
low resoloution and may not reproduce at actual size
Pre press proof:
An analogue or digital proof that gives an approximate of what the finished piece will look like
advantages
the production is in expensive, in particular the digital proofs
disadvantages
Colour is not as accurate as press proof as does not use actual inks
Blueline:
a contact print produced from film, this shows the imposition, photos and text as it will appear when printed together with trim and binding edges
advantages
rapid as no processing is involved and pages can be folded trimmed and stitched to approximate the finished job
Disadvantages
one colour and this does not reflect paper stock or the true colour and the images printed fade with time
Scatter proof:
a proof of an individual photo of a group of photos that are not included as part of the page layout
advantages
this is used for checking colour before the final proof. many photos can be proofed at once to save time and maeterials
disadvantages
images are not shown in situ in the layout
Composite integral colour proof:
Very high quality proofs - such as match print or chromatin. produced using four sheers one for each colour laminated together in order
advantages
this is a very accurate colour proof that is produced from the coour speration film used to make the printing plates
disadvantage
this production is time consuming and labour intensiveas an additive proof takes around half an hour to produce
Press or machine proofs:
a proof that is produced using the actual plates ink and stock
advantages
realistic impression of the final print it can be produced on actual print stock
disadvantages
this process is costly as you have to set up the press, particullaly if there is another proof is required
Contract proof:
a colour proof used to create a contract between the printer between the printer and client the final proof before going to press
advantages
the representation of the print job is very accurate
no disadvabtages
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