Customer Service: Design Tips

In This Section

Introduction: Prepare Problem-Free Electronic Files for Printing

Fonts and Page Layout Issues

Scans and Graphic File Formats

Color, Trapping and Bleeding

Checklist for Submitting Digital Files

File Transfers and Downloads

Price Quote Request Forms

Color, Trapping, and Bleeding

Choose colors wisely by using a Pantone Process Color swatch book. Unfortunately, different programs separate color using their own tint values, but using the process color guide will act as a reliable reference. NEVER rely on your monitor to choose a color. Color varies from monitor to monitor and it WILL look different when printed. You will see the difference if you compare several Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors on your monitor with a printed Pantone guide.

Be specific if you are using spot colors or 4-color process. If you are using 4-color process, use a Pantone Process Color Imaging Guide, work in CMYK mode, and edit your colors appropriately. All four-color process files to be placed in the page layout program should be CMYK, not RGB. If you are designing a piece with a black background, make sure to add undercolor in order to avoid specks and create the illusion of a flawless, uniform, dense black. A combination of 60 percent cyan, 40 magenta, 30 yellow and 100 black works great.

There may be times when you will want to use both 4-color process and a spot color. For instance, if you would like a warm gray background with accurate 4-color photographs: a large 4-color screen tint of gray cannot print with the same result as a single pre-mixed PMS color; and you cannot simply use gray paper, or the color in the photos will not be correct. Another reason you will need to run a fifth color is if you want to print a lot of small and/or delicate type in a color. NEVER make small body copy (text) out of a screen mix of process colors, process colors may not register at such a critical small scale on press. Furthermore, some PMS colors are out of gamut, they cannot be matched by 4-color process, so if you must have that fluorescent fuscia, you will be running a fifth color. You may also want to use a metalic ink for impact, and the only way to get the reflective quality of metalic color is to run a spot metalic ink. In any case, always design your job with all the final colors in place. Use CMYK mode for any 4-color elements, and specify the PMS color for your fifth and sixth colors, we will separate the colors here at ProGraphics. Spot colors must be indicated on your laser proof to make sure we output the special color correctly and not as a screen mix.

Trapping and Bleeding

Trapping is affected by many factors such as line screen, paper, ink, and printing priorities and is therefore a task better left to us here at ProGraphics. We trap every day and most likely have a solution for every situation. However, to avoid a potential problem, try not to let two gradients or vignettes of contrasting colors butt up next to each other without a keyline or space between them.

Bleeding, on the other hand, is simply a matter of knowing what the printer needs. Make sure all elements (photos and graphics) that run off the edge of the page have enough image bleed. Here at ProGraphics we like bleeds to extend at least 1/8 inch beyond the final trim size of the document. Some jobs may need even more bleed, depending upon the steps involved to produce the final product, such as litho labels which are laminated to corrugated board and then diecut. Use your judgement, more bleed won't hurt.