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.
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