Have you ever been in a situation where you made the perfect design, only to turn out worse than expected once you printed it? To prevent this issue, start incorporating a prepress process before publishing in large quantities.
As the name suggests, the prepress process happens before printing. It helps ensure your designs are error-free and print-ready. Since you may encounter numerous difficulties before you make the ideal design, this option is an excellent way to save time and money.
If you’re new to the prepress process, follow our guide below. We will give you pointers to follow to ensure a smooth printing process.
Choosing the file format and resolution
Before you lay out your designs on paper, choosing the best digital format for printing is essential. For example, if you use the .jpg or image format, your final products may appear pixelated. Therefore, the best format for printing is PDF. It will make your designs perfect once you transfer them to paper.
Another crucial pointer is the resolution of your designs. To ensure a high-quality printing process with no errors, smudges, or pixelization, choose a format over 300 dots per inch. If you don’t select the proper resolution, your prints will again be pixelated.
Selecting the right colors
Using the proper color mode to get the perfect color transfer and avoid mismatched designs is vital. Although many people use the RGB (red, green, and blue) mode, your arrangements may appear different from the design you see on the screen.
You can use the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and key) mode to avoid this problem. This mode offers various colors that best resemble your on-screen designs. With CMYK, you can avoid using inappropriate colors and print designs with the most complex color wheels. Thus, opting for CMYK rather than RGB for printing would be best.
Proofing
Once you create a sample and print a few copies, you can send them for proofing. If you are printing for a client, you can send the sample and ask for feedback on your design. The client can tell you whether they like it, if you’ve met their expectations, or if you should adjust some elements.
On the other hand, if you’re printing business cards or other materials for yourself, you can ask your family and friends for their opinion. Since you may be subjective regarding your work, you can ask for honest feedback and see whether you should fix something before printing.
Using the right paper
Every printing technique requires different paper types. For example, if you’re printing business cards, you must use heavyweight cards. On the other hand, if you’re printing flyers, you can use bond, silk, pulp, or gloss paper. Choose the most suitable paper type for your designs.
Before printing your final products, sample several paper types to determine the best one. Choosing the perfect ink according to the paper type will ensure your products look visually pleasing and last long.
Choosing the perfect layout
Sometimes, you might select the print option on your computer without previously previewing and adjusting your design. In such cases, your final product may come out crooked, cropped, or tilted and be low-quality. To avoid such mistakes, consider the layout during the prepress process.
Carefully select where to place your prints on the paper before you click the print option. This way, you will ensure everything is in place and can focus on other aspects of your designs. Although it may seem insignificant, many people make layout mistakes, so this part is integral in the prepress process.
Conclusion
If you are in the printing industry or like to create your designs, you should always include the prepress process before making the final products. You will ensure they are perfect and ready for the market without wasting time, energy, and materials perfecting your prints.
The pointers above will lead to a smooth printing process, so don’t forget about them during your next printing project.
