Part 2 —–
To make your print project a success, there are several mistakes to avoid during the proofing process. Part 1 of this series featured a couple of key mistakes to consider in proofing. This next part features several more:
Mistake 3: Color Reproduction
Most companies, brands, and organizations feature unique or distinct color schemes that are consistent across many areas of their operation, from packaging, to print materials, to their website and social media. Unfortunately, color is rendered differently across mediums: computer and phone screens render color using RGB, whereas most printers use the CMYK system to print colors onto a specific medium.
To maintain a specific color that all mediums can match to, many companies rely on the Pantone color system. Print companies can thusly rely on a Pantone color chart or book to depict the intended color that their printed version of the color can match.
Another helpful tool to use to ensure successful color reproduction is to rely on physical print samples that were printed in the correct color. At Cascade Print Media, we keep a few sample copies from most projects that we print. This way, we always have a sample of the last print we have done using a specific color scheme and know what the target color is for the next project. Clients can breathe easily knowing their color will maintain consistency across print projects for years to come.
Mistake 4: Low Resolution Artwork
Resolution in artwork refers to the number of tiny bits of color that come together to create an image. With printing, the industry standard method for measuring resolution is by using dpi, which stands for dots per inch. Many images found on a phone, or the web have a resolution of 72 dpi. This causes an issue because when printed, such low-resolution images will appear blurry, fuzzy, or pixelated. To guarantee clear, crisp images in printed materials, a resolution of 300 dpi is required. This setting can be set in most types of design software.
Additionally, it is never a good idea to stretch images to fill a space in a design or layout. This is because by stretching an image, you lower its dpi and thus reduce its print quality. However, no issues are caused by making images smaller, as long as the proportion of the image is kept consistent. If there are any concerns with image quality, a full-sized sample can be printed which will accurately depict how an image will look on a printed piece.
Cascade Print Media is committed to delivering print products of the highest quality to all of our clients. Please reach out to learn more about how we can produce and deliver an outstanding project for you today!
