Comments | graphicdesign: printing basics--where to start?

apekhutan in graphicdesign

printing basics--where to start?

Oct 14, 2008 01:55

i have a couple printing questions. i flipped through the memories/tags and wasn't able to find what i'm exactly looking for, which is just some really really basic printing information, or some points on where i could go to for that information. bear with me though! i really want to start learning these sort of things and figured here was the best ( Read more... )

beginners, printing & pre-press

Comments 5

feesvertes October 14 2008, 09:46:33 UTC

At my old job at a printing company, we required that all work was to be supplied as embedded pdfs with a minimum of 3mm external bleed, plus crop marks (filter>create>crop marks), all text to be at least 3mm away from the cropping edge (because there will be a fraction of movement and you don't want them accidentally chopped off), transparencies to be flattened, and everything as CMYK. Sometimes we got them to convert the fonts to outlines/curves depending on how the jobs are ganged up. Illustrator is fine, it's what I mainly use for setting up business cards ( ... )

aperfectend October 14 2008, 14:11:55 UTC

i got really excited about your post, and read "printing" as "painting" for almost the entire entry, until the second to last paragraph. the entire time i was really confused as to why you kept saying you were asking about painting but then about pantone colors and business cards and "where youd be taking it" and bleeds...

im in school right now too, majoring in graphic design AND painting, and i got really excited beacuse there arent many of people like me on campus and i just got overly excited...

i guess this just goes to show i shouldnt check lj at 10 in the morning. :(

shegetsby October 14 2008, 14:26:27 UTC

I have used overnightprints.com -- they're cheap, quick turnaround -- but some members of this comm have had problems with them. I haven't had any at all. They have a template on there that you can download and tweak your work to fit within the guides. If you want full bleed, you can have it. Doesn't cost extra. For about $50, incl shipping, you get 1000 cards.

zaydia October 14 2008, 15:25:42 UTC

I use jakprints.com for my business card needs. They're pretty good and quick turn around. Also cheap - $75 for 1000 cards.

To keep costs down you'll want to transform your pantone colors to process (or CMYK) colors. Pantone requires special ink and a separate press run so there is usually a good sized fee for it. 4 color work can be gang run with other jobs to cut down on money and time.

deejayqueue October 15 2008, 18:15:26 UTC

I've worked in a few different print shops over the years. Sometimes we farmed the work out (when we wanted raised printing) and sometimes we did it in-house ( ... )