- Panel Sizes that
are all the same width.
Design multi-panel brochures with different sized panels.
(Each highlighted brochure type is linked to a graphic with
dimensions.)
The most common brochure is the tri-fold, which has three panels and
folds letter style. The inside panel that is folded in first should be
a 1/16" to 1/8" smaller than the other two. This allows the smaller
panel to fold in and lie flat. If it were not shorter, the brochure
would buckle.
A roll fold brochure has four or more panels on each side with each
panel folding into the next. The cover panel and the panel right next
to the cover are usually the same size. These will be the biggest
panels. Each panel after that should get incrementally smaller by
1/16".
Some other types of folds that require different panel sizes are gate
folds, double parallel folds, double gate fold, and Z-folds. For other
types of brochures, call for the correct specifications. Building your
brochure to the proper size is easier than going in to adjust the size
after the job is completed.
- Stylized
type - bold, italic, shadows, outlines
Graphics programs make it easy to change the look of a font
by using the style attributes such as italic and bold. These styles
may revert to plain when sending the file through a high-end RIP
(raster image processor) used by printers and service providers. This
happens if the stylized font does not have a printer font in that
family to support the style.
Check inside the font suitcase or font navigator for the style types
available. When making a word bold, select the bold font instead of
clicking on the bold attribute.
The other style problems are shadows and outlines. Text with these
attributes will not trap, ultimately causing problems on press.
The best way to apply shadows is by layering the same text box with a
slight offset to produce a shadow or by creating the shadows in a
drawing program. Outlined type should also be created in a drawing
program or select a font that is already outlined.
- Misnamed or extra colors
in files
Inconsistently named Spot colors differently named from one
program to another. For example, the spelling for the color Pantone
185 is different from Illustrator to Quark to Photoshop so you end up
with three different names for one color. When separations are
printed, each of these names produces a different plate.
To avoid this, edit the color names in each application so the
spellings are the same in supporting graphics and in the page layout
program. Always print separations of your project so you can double
check the color break and number of plates. Preflight software such as
FlightCheck or preparing for the service bureau in Corel Draw will
flag these problems for you.
- RGB Images
Scanners use the RGB color mode (red, blue and green.) It
is necessary to convert scans to CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and
black) before the separating the files. CMYK is the color gamut used
in commercial printing.
RGB is a broader color spectrum so the colors you see in the original
scan will look different once converted. Usually scans get darker when
converted from RGB to CMYK. Have your designer do the conversion so
they can witness the color shift and necessary adjustments made.
Leaving images in RGB mode when sent to the printer means the file
will take longer to prep and possible dissatisfaction with the
outcome.
- Missing Bleed
Apply bleed. When objects extend the edge of the paper by
1/8” to ¼” it is called a bleed. For example, if a page has a
background color of black, the black area should hang over the trim
marks instead of stopping at the edge. Without bleed, slight shifts in
the cutting equipment result in paper showing at the edges where ink
is supposed to be. To have a neat appearance with color going to the
edge of the trimmed paper, a bleed is necessary
Adding bleed is usually not difficult. The problem occurs when the
object that needs to bleed off the edge of the page is a graphic such
as a Photoshop file. If the file doesn't contain enough image to
extend another 1/8" to ¼” once it’s reached the printer, it is
difficult and costly for them to create it. Design images that require
a bleed with this in mind. Adding 1/8" to ¼” to a complicated
Photoshop file before it reaches the printer’s prepress department
will save you time and money.
- No folding sample
provided to printer
Making a folding dummy serves two purposes.
a) It allows you to check your design and panel sizes in a folded down
piece. Thisis an opportunity to focus on mailing specs and placement of
design elements.
b) It is a safeguard. There is no confusion for the printer as to the
type of fold you want. Even though the fold may be obvious to you based on the
design, it might not be apparent to the printer. Printers see a variety of
folding pieces from many different designers. Always document any information when
communicating with the printer.
- Photoshop files created
without trap
Building Photoshop files with text and other placed images
is getting easier due to upgrade improvements. However, when creating
files entirely in Photoshop or some other pixel-based program results
in losing the ability to easily trap your files. American's Rampage
automated trap system will trap almost anything including two separate
Photoshop files that are touching. Like other trap systems, it cannot
trap a file that is one continuous tone. To trap effectively in
Photoshop, you or your designer must manually trap while the creating
the file. Adding a trap afterwards is extremely difficult.
For example, if you place blue type on top of a yellow background in
Photoshop, you need to slightly extend the yellow into the blue type.
This is what would happen if the trap software could go in and trap
that area. Without this overlap, the slight shifting that naturally
occurs on press between colors will cause a white halo to appear
around one side of the type. This is the paper showing through.
Apply a trap to all objects that don't have any colors in common. Dark
blue type on a light blue background would be OK because these objects
would have cyan in common. When in doubt, apply a trap.
Trapping is a complicated process, which is why printers invest in
sophisticated equipment to take care of it. If you are unsure of how
to manually trap a Photoshop file, talk to one of our Technical
Representatives. Also, build as much of your design as possible in a
page layout program or drawing program such as Corel Draw, Adobe
Illustrator, Adobe InDesign or Quark. These files are trapped with the
automated trapping equipment.
- Low resolutions scans
Prepress output devices print at very high resolutions.
American's CTP platesetter can go as high as 4,000 dpi; the standard
is 2400 dpi for a 150-line screen (300 dpi). The general rule is the
pixels per inch in a scan should be 1.5 to 2 times the line screen. It
is better to error on the high side; so 300 ppi (300 dpi) would be
appropriate for 150-line screen.
Low-resolution scans will print grainy or pixilated when output to
high-end devices. Resizing scans up will also reduce the resolution. A
scan placed at 200% has half the resolution of the original.
Monitors and laser printers are generally not a good way to judge
image quality. Monitors are only 72 or 96 dpi and most laser printers
range from 300 to 600 dpi, well below the 2400 dpi in an image setter.
Pay attention to the image size information and if possible, use a
preflight program to warn of low-resolution files.
Note: Scanning at resolutions higher then 2 times the line screen
doesn't improve the quality of your scan, it just makes the file size
bigger and adds unnecessary processing time when the file is RIPing.
Do this only if you are unsure of the size needed or if you will be
re-using the scan in other projects.
- Incorrect mail pieces
It is extremely important to check with the US
Post Office Web site for correct size and data specifications for
your mailer. This is a useful tool if you are unsure about mail
regulations. Some common errors include indicia and bar codes in the
wrong spot, post cards that are too small or mailers that have the
folds on the wrong end.
Know what the rules are before designing your mailer and don't
hesitate to talk directly to the Post Office. They are very willing to
help you plan your project and may find ways for you to save money.
- Using low-end proofs
for color matching
Low-end color proofs do not show accurate color. The best
way to judge color is to calibrate your equipment, use Pantone
swatches and four color swatches and expect the high-end color proof
from the printer to look different from your color lasers. Ask your
printer to produce color scatter proofs of your scans if you want to
see accurate color before the assembling the scans.
When showing color lasers to customers, designers should explain the
variance in colors between the different equipment. This prevents
surprises when delivering the contract proof or printed piece to the
client. Remember, color changes from printer to printer, from RGB to
CMYK to Pantone Process Colors. Exact color matching is very difficult
and you should allow for slight variances in color.
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PRODUCTION
Dies & Templates
Page Layout Guides
Fraction Conversion
GUIDES
10 Common DTP Errors
Prepress Pocket Guide
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USEFUL INFO
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Graphic Design, Legal
& Other Information
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