Five Tips For Creating Successful Design Documents

Graphic design packages (inDesign, Quark, Illustrator) give users unprecedented control over page layout, graphics and photos. The programs have become so popular that many clients design their own work and send it to Print Tech for printing only.

However, there are times when, by inexperience or mistake, we receive files that are not correctly set up for print. Here are the top five mistakes to avoid:

1. Don’t Get Your Graphics Off the Web
Many inexperienced designers will pull a logo or graphic off the web and place it into their document. This creates two problems: first, the resolution is too low and secondly, the web graphic is RGB (Red,Green,Blue) instead of CYMK (Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Black).

2. Don't Use Low Resolution
The resolution is measured in DPI (dots per inch). A web graphic is considered low resolution because it is usually at 72 dpi. A printed piece is usually considered high resolution because it is created at 300 dpi. This means that the print graphic is roughly four times the size of the web graphic.

Web Graphic 4 inches @ 72 DPI = 288 pixels

Print Graphic 4 inches @ 300 DPI = 1200 pixels

Pasting the small web graphic into a printed piece would give you a pixilated, fuzzy result. On the other hand, if you placed a high resolution print graphic into a web site, what you thought was going to be a small insert would actually stretch across the entire computer screen.

3. Don't Use RGB Graphics and Photos
Our TV's, cameras and computer screens all use the RGB color space. It is known as an additive color and it works by visually mixing the primary colors. When red, green and blue are added equally at their highest intensity, we get the color white on our screens.

The printing process uses CMYK and is known as a subtractive color space. This works by the printer laying down inks, from light to dark, on a substrate. As more colors overlay each other they get denser.

Simply put, the difference is that with RGB, white is the presence of all color and with CMYK, white is the absence of all color.

For more information on color and printing, visit our blog posts from May of 2010.

4. Supply All Fonts and Graphics
When sending a file to a printer, you should always supply the fonts and graphics that you have used in your document. Without doing this you may end up missing graphics in the final print or the printer's graphic program may substitute a font, giving you something you didn’t expect or want.

5. Create a Great PDF
The most important steps in creating a successful PDF are:

1. Make sure the fonts are embedded


2. Graphics and photos are in the CMYK color space


3. The resolution is 300 dpi


4. Choose “High Quality” PDF when saving

Print Tech examines every file that comes in for printing. If you need help or tips on how to better prepare your artwork, call our pre-press department, they will be happy to assist you.

Direct Mail Sells Baby Boomers

The rise of the internet, e-mail and social media, contrasted by the rising cost of stamps and the constant news of the U.S. Post Office losing millions, cause many to feel that mail is dead.

But, compared to all the other marketing methods available, direct mail is still the most effective in targeting, reaching and getting a response, This is especially true of the most powerful buyer...the Baby Boomers.

Mail Gets Baby Boomers’ Attention:

95% immediately sort through their mail

79% open their mail the day it is delivered

Mail Gets Baby Boomers’ Business:

56% of Boomers shop directly from catalogs

12% of them follow up with on-line orders

59% of them follow up with store purchases

As you can see, direct mail is targeted, and powerful!

Print Tech Is Moving To A New Location

Print Tech is in the process of moving their corporate headquarters and production facility from the current Mountainside, NJ location to 49 Fadem Road, Springfield, NJ 07081. The move is being made to better service the Print Tech customer base and will be completed on February 14, 2011.

“We are always looking for ways to provide additional opportunities for the success of our clients,” said Production Manager Enrico DiNardo. “We feel that by combining the latest building technologies, our talented team and a more efficient floor plan, we can maximize our resources and provide an unmatched customer service experience.”

Print Tech’s proofreader Fran Angiola agrees. “We currently employ a state-of-the-art tracking system to follow every phase of a job from start to finish. The new plant layout will give us more control over the QC process and our plan to cluster departments like graphic design, IT and customer service together will result in speedier service and greater customer satisfaction.”

The move has begun with some services already located at the new building. “We expect to be completely moved into the Fadem Road facility by February 14, with little or no service interruption,” said Keith Knox, Print Tech’s Printing Production Manager. “The main reason for this move is to enhance customer service. Our Print Tech team is determined not to let anything fall through the cracks during our move and so far, nothing has.”