Tips For Successful Printing

Image Quality: When providing images whether they be print ready files, photos for a postcard design, or your company logo it is important to understand what will provide a quality final product.

“The image looks fine on my computer monitor so it must be just fine for printing.” This statement seems logical, but is wrong. Requirements for printing and your monitor are very different and for the highest quality of results in your printing it is important to adhere to printing standards.

When designing digital files intended for commercial printing, it is essential that all of the photographs and images in your in files are high resolution (300 DPI or Dots Per Inch). If you have ever seen printed material that contains blurry or blocky images which often provides a bad presentation, it was likely caused by incorporating low resolution images. Ensuring a high quality printed job is as simple as making sure all photos and images in your digital files are all high resolution.

Color mode is another factor important to printing. RGB is the ideal mode for the web, however, when printing it is ideal to have the full gamut of colors available through CMYK mode. If you are not sure how to convert your RGB image to CMYK this is something we can do for you.

Image Size: Aside from resolution, color mode, and image size how you save the file is also important. Ultimately any file that meets requirements as detailed above will work, however to improve the quality of your final product please note that logos are best as (.eps, .ai, .psd, or if you don’t have those formats available .jpg, .pdf) and photos are best saved as (.jpg or .pdf).

All layouts need to include a bleed in order to print properly. This means if you have a 4”x6” postcard the final print ready size should be 4.125”x6.125” in order t have the color go all the way to the edges.

If you have any questions about resolution, color mode, or image size don’t hesitate to ask. I am always glad to help because we want you to have the best final result possible.

*Unlike DPI image size will vary based on actual size and components of your image. Image size shown to illustrate the difference between the two.

The Year of Honeysuckle: 2011 Color of the Year

Pantone has selected the bold, reddish-pink Honeysuckle as its 2011 Color of the Year, calling it "a brave new color for a brave new world."

While Turquoise, 2010's Color of the Year, served as an escape of sorts, Honeysuckle confidently goes a step further to encourage and uplift, according to Pantone Color Guru Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman. It's a hue that's meant to scream, Recession be damned! We will prevail!

"In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits," said Eiseman. "Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues."

Fashion designer James Mischka, half of the famed Badgley Mischka duo, is already incorporating Honeysuckle into his spring collection and told the Associated Press he hopes it does, in fact, provide a sense of hope and renewal in the year ahead.

"It's a positive, strong, affirmative color, and I think that's what hopefully everyone's attitude is going into [2011]."

While Honeysuckle may help ward off the blues, it isn't trying to ward off the beautiful blue-green that is turquoise. Eiseman said turquoise isn't going anywhere anytime soon, just like Mimosa didn't suddenly disappear last year.

"As I always say to my students and audiences, the color of the year for this year does not fall off the ends of the earth at the end of the year — it is simply combined in with other colors where the 'newest' color of the year becomes more dominant," she said. " As I demonstrate in all of my books, there is a 'pecking' order of color: dominance, subordination and then accent or touch."

So turquoise becomes the subordinate to Honeysuckle, and yellow the accent.

Alone and paired with other colors, Honeysuckle has a bit of a retro vibe to it even as it inspires a new beginning.

"All colors travel in waves and cycles [and] there is truly nothing 'new' in color," said Eiseman, adding that it's all about how it's combined with other colors. " That seems fresh and new, but there is still a feel of nostalgia and retro that is somewhat reassuring to people in difficult times such as these."

Just as Turquoise enveloped the design world last year, from scarves and bar stools to product packaging and websites, expect to see Honeysuckle popping up vibrantly not only in fashion but also home décor, print ads and web design.

We talked to a couple of web designers who are currently using Honeysuckle in their designs about why they chose this particular shade of pink. Plus, a look at some of Badgley Mischka's Honeysuckle-inspired pieces for spring.

Read more from Lee Eiseman on her website www.colorexpert.com and her blog http://Eisemancolorblog.com.

New Years Resolution: Bringing My Work HOME ....

My resolution for the New Year .... Bring My Work Home!

Yep, you read that right. Now, let me clarify. As a project manager I have always had a very efficient system in place for work. Everything organized and done in a timely fashion. On the flip side, when I look at my life I see chaos and a bunch of open projects that don't get done ... at least not on time. So this year I decided to apply the same approach to my home & family life.

The first thing I had to do sounded simple, but I spent the better part of January 2nd making a schedule of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. I detailed out the time and days I would do just about everything ranging from things like cleaning the house and paying the bills to volunteering at my daughter's school and pedicures.

Then, I figured out my meal plan for the upcoming week. (This on my schedule for something I will do every Monday.) I have made meal plans in the past because it is a great way to save money, limit trips to the store, and eat healthier. . . If you have a healthy meal planned out and shopped for you really are less likely do opt for the quick/greasy fix.

As someone who works from home I found it was also important to schedule my work hours. I have threatened to do this for the past few years, but never really sat down and done it. Now with my schedule in place it will afford me the opportunity to have a better work life balance and not spend every night in the office on the computer. Yes, tonight was on the schedule!

I would love to hear about your resolutions for work & for home!