Preparing material for printing used to be a specialised field, these days technology makes it possible for the average person to do their own graphic design and layouts on their home PC and have these printed. There are important issues to be aware of, to ensure that your prints look exactly as you intended, especially when you require high quality prints.
Professional designers have been trained in the use of sophisticated graphics software packages, created especially to prepare Print-ready material. The pointers below are for ordinary home-designers using basic software such as MS Word who are in need of prints of a high standard.
Guidelines for preparing quality printing material
Design, Colour & Text:
- A bold, simple, uncluttered design is always best, especially for beginners.
- If using black text over a background image, make sure this is not too dark and overpowering, which may render the wording illegible.
- Be equally cautious when using light text against a dark background, as this may also be difficult to read as it can be straining on the eyes.
- Beware of using visually jarring or clashing colours such as red and blue, red and green, or orange and blue together.
- Avoid colours that are too bright for text. The way colours are produced by your monitor is not the same as the colour components used in the printing process. As a result, the printed colours may not look the same as those in your design.
Typefaces/Fonts:
- When selecting a typeface for your text, stick to something that is not too elaborate or trendy - unless that is the image you want to convey.
- Choose a standard font or you may find that your print shop is unable to match the one you selected.
Image Resolution:
If using photographs or pictures from a digital camera, scanner or the internet, bear in mind that the images you see on screen may appear pixelated in print when enlarged. The resolution of your picture must be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch).
Margins:
Like a photograph, a printed page has a border. It is important to leave a safe margin of about 3–5 mm between the area you want printed (i.e. design and text) and the edge of the page to prevent any text or images from getting cut off.
Proof-reading
Before you take your document to a printer, check the text thoroughly for spelling and grammatical errors. Do not rely on your PC spell-checker, as incorrectly-used words do slip through undetected. If in doubt, get a professional proof-reader/editor to scan through the copy. Remember, an embarrassing typing error can damage your business’s reputation.
File formats
Before you take your work to a print shop, inquire if they have a preferred file format. Most printers accept documents in PDF, but depending on the printer they may have other requirements or preferences.
Minuteman Press is an award-winning international printing company with several outlets in South Africa. Whatever your level of expertise, individual printing requirements or budget, we can assist you every step of the way.
If design isn’t your strong point, our in-house designers can assist you in creating quality personalised printed material, according to your own unique specifications. Contact Minuteman Press in Pinetown for all your printing needs
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