Graphic Design Printing

Graphic designing is the creative process of putting together a concept in a single artwork to visually communicate a message. It is most often used in printing marketing materials, from business cards to vinyl banners. Since it is a form of visual communication, having quality prints and materials is extremely important to more effectively communicate your brand, product, or service.



Here are some guidelines for graphic design printing:

Resolution – Aside from the resolution of your file itself, the resolution of the images you plan on using should also be high-quality. To make sure you have vibrant and crisp images, only use images with a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi). Doing otherwise may result to pixelated or blurry prints.

Color Format – Printers vary from one another, some printers print in four-color mode and others use pantone. Not calibrating the color format of your file to your printer may result to prints that don’t look the way you see it on your computer screen. If you’re printing at home, be sure to familiarize yourself with your home printer’s printing process which can be found in its manual. If you’re printing with a printing company, ask them what color format your file should be set to.

Bleeds – These are imaginary lines that indicate where your prints will be cut. If you’re printing with an online printing company, it is imperative that you strictly follow their bleed requirements. Not doing so may result to important information or designs trimmed off during the cutting process.

Proofing – This is the process of reviewing your file to know if it is print-ready or not. Some printing companies offer proofing done by experts completely free of charge. This is to make sure you don’t waste money on defective prints.

Materials – No matter how good your design is, it’s useless if printed on low-quality material. Ask your printing company about the paper/card stocks they use, inks, and printers and know the advantages to using them. Also, you should choose the appropriate card or paper stock and finishing for your artwork.

For a seamless graphic design printing, the only concrete solution is information. Be informed and learn the pros and cons in printing. This includes researching online and calling your printing company for more information on their print design services.