What to keep in mind when preparing files and how to avoid extra costs when placing print orders.
In our daily work, we encounter all kinds of errors in print files that waste both the customer’s and the printer’s time and energy. Most of these mistakes are typical and repeat day after day.
Bleed
The most common mistake when submitting a print layout is the lack of bleeds. Printed products are produced on large sheets and then cut in stacks, which can result in slight misalignment on the sheet. To avoid getting white edges, you need what are known as “bleeds.” This means that every colored element of the layout must extend 3 mm beyond the edge of the product, so that the cutting line passes through the printed area. This is especially important for background images.
Tip 1: When preparing a file for print, set the bleed dimensions right from the start.
Text in the Layout
Important elements such as text, contact details, and logos should be kept at a distance from the edges (this does not apply to background images) to ensure the design does not look cluttered and remains easy to read. For example, the recommended margin for a flyer is 5–8 mm from the edge. Avoid placing thin borders along the trim edge, especially when double-sided printing is involved!
Tip 2: Position the informative parts of your layout away from the edges. Give it some breathing room!
Photos from the internet
If you are unsure whether an image or photo is of sufficient quality for print, you can determine this visually. Set your software view scale to 100% at the desired physical dimensions and look closely at the details. If the image looks sharp on screen, it will look sharp in print. However, if you notice pixels, or if the image looks blurry and fuzzy, the file is not suitable.
Tip 3: Visually check the image quality before sending it to print.
Vector Files
Another important point concerns the preparation of print materials in vector software. It is best to prepare logos, business cards, and flyers in a vector graphic editor like Adobe Illustrator. No matter how much you zoom in on a vector image, you will never see pixels, meaning your logo will look high-quality on both a business card and a large banner. Adobe Photoshop is the most popular raster graphics editor, and it is primarily designed for creating high-quality photorealistic images, digital paintings, and photographs.
Tip 4: Before ordering a brand identity design, ensure you are provided with vector files so that quality is not lost when scaling.
Color
Color distortion: The printed image differs from what we see on the screen. It is important to understand that color reproduction on a monitor (RGB color model) and on paper (CMYK color model) uses different systems. The RGB color gamut is wider than CMYK, allowing for more saturated and vibrant tones. Furthermore, color reproduction on a print medium is influenced by paper type, whiteness levels, and lamination. Another important factor is the design itself: using very light, saturated tones or high-contrast adjacent colors can increase the risk of color shifting.
Tip 5: Use the CMYK color mode when creating files and always request a physical proof before printing the full run.
You can find the full list of technical requirements for preparing files for print at this link.
Happy printing!