Designing for print is a bit like packing for a flight—if you realize you forgot your passport while standing at the gate, it’s going to be an expensive and stressful day. In the world of “Pre-flighting,” we ensure your digital files are structurally sound before they hit the press.
Here is your essential checklist to avoid “turbulence” at the print shop.
1. Color Space: CMYK vs. RGB
Computer screens display color using light (RGB), but printers use ink (CMYK).
- The Check: Ensure your document and all linked images are converted to CMYK.
- The Risk: If you leave files in RGB, your vibrant neon blues and greens will look dull and muddy once printed.
2. Resolution: The 300 DPI Rule
Web images are usually 72 DPI (Dots Per Inch), which looks crisp on a screen but blurry when printed.
- The Check: All raster images (photos) should be 300 DPI at their final physical size.
- Pro-Tip: Don’t just “upscale” a small image in Photoshop; you can’t create data that isn’t there. It will just look “crunchy.”
3. Bleeds and Slug
Printers can’t print right to the very edge of a sheet of paper. Instead, they print on a larger sheet and trim it down.
- Bleed: Extend your background colors or images at least 3mm (1/8 inch) past the trim line.
- Safe Zone: Keep all important text and logos at least 3mm inside the trim line to avoid them being accidentally clipped.
4. Font Management
If the printer doesn’t have your specific boutique font installed, their system will replace it with something generic like Courier or Arial.
- The Check: Either package your file (which gathers the font files into a folder) or convert text to outlines/curves.
- Note: Once you convert to outlines, the text is no longer editable, so save a “live” version first!
5. Effective Ink Coverage (Rich Black)
Using “100% Black” ($K=100$) can sometimes look like a dark charcoal gray on large surfaces.
- The Solution: Use a Rich Black (a mix of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) for deep, saturated solids.
- Warning: Check with your printer for their specific “Total Area Coverage” (TAC) limit so the paper doesn’t get too soggy with ink.