Do You Have a Question?
• Letterpress printing, also called Relief printing, or Typographic printing, is a process by which many copies of an image are produced by “pressing” ink on a
raised surface against sheets of paper.
• Offset printing uses plates, usually made from aluminum, which is used to transfer an image onto a rubber “blanket”, and then rolling that image onto a sheet of paper with ink. It’s called offset because the ink is not transferred directly onto the paper.
• Digital printing uses toner and fusers to electrostatically fuse the powder (toner) to the sheet, typically the most cost-effective and convenient form of printing.
• Large Format printing is another form of digital printing, just on a larger scale. Depending on the intention of your job request, various kinds of ink will be used on various types of materials. For example, vinyl adhesives for exterior window treatments require different types of ink than posters or rigid foam core for indoor displays.
What’s the best method for your job? That boils down to cost, quantity and the intended result you are aiming for. Ask us what method is best suited to your job requirements.
C = Cyan, M = Magenta, Y = Yellow, K = Black. Combining these four “process” colours using both offset and digital print methods creates what we see as a full-colour image. If you look closely at any printed image you will see these four colours combined. It is the industry standard for most print requirements
Much like paint swatches, you are able to pinpoint the exact colour you wish from a large variety of swatches while only using one specific ink. This a great way to achieve consistent brand colour and identity. Pantones are typically used for offset printing, however, they are still beneficial with digital printing and will require CMYK toner to produce your desired Pantone.
R = Red, G = Green, B = Blue. RGB is the colour scheme that is associated with digital displays like your computer monitor or television. The print industry primarily uses CMYK to achieve the finished product but the advent of digital printing allows the use of RGB and can achieve more vibrant colours.
Something to note, however, if your job is required to be printed offset, it will have to be converted to CMYK which could possibly change your colours in conversion.
Simply put, does the image fall past the finished size of your job? That’s a bleed! When we print a file that bleeds, the image is printed beyond the cut marks to ensure no white from the paper is visible after cutting.
If you are supplying us with a print-ready file we require you to supply the file with bleeds. Not sure how? Just ask!
A margin is a space between the image or text and the edge of the printed material. Margins are important because they prevent the image or text on your material from being cut off. Depending on your design there are certain measurements to keep in mind for margins, whether it’s text or graphics.
There are many factors to account for when it comes to image quality. To keep it simple, it’s a matter of knowledge, what design program is being used and the quality of images (resolution). Here is a list of terms:
What are pixels? – The word “pixel” means a picture element. Every photograph, in digital form, is made up of pixels. They are the smallest unit of information that makes up a picture and are directly correlated with resolution and the overall clarity of an image (the higher the pixel count, the better quality image). If you are asking the question, “why is my image blurry or pixelated?”, it’s related to either the original image quality is too low or you have mistakenly downsized your file when saving it for print.
What is DPI? – “Dots per inch” The more dots of ink, the better quality the final product will be. However, too many dots can start to fill in and become a blob of ink. The capabilities of the machine will dictate what that threshold is. 300dpi is typically the minimum in the print industry for best results.
What is a vector? – Vector files are images that are built by mathematical formulas that establish points on a grid. These are not images, rather, manipulatable graphics that are created with points and have no resolution making them clear and crisp at any size. Most logo designs are made as vectors.
Pagination is the sequence of pages required for any type of book. The type of pagination required for your job is related to the type of book you are printing. A typical saddle-stitched book, eg. a magazine, requires a different and more complex sequence than a coiled book. It’s a tricky one, and if you are inexperienced you may need to ask us how to paginate your book.
A print-ready file is supplied and prepared by the client or graphic designer without any changes or manipulation required by the print facility.
The expectations of a print-ready file are to include:
• Supplied file in CMYK format (RGB is ok if you know for sure it will be printed on a digital press, best to be safe and supply it CMYK)
• Supply bleed if it’s part of your design
• Supply font styles used or outline the font (convert the font into a vector). Not a requirement if you are confident your file is absolutely print-ready.
• Visual cut marks to indicate the finished size
• Proper margins
• No linked images
• Highest resolution images possible
• Save your file as a PDF to include the list above.
As we have a wide variety of paper types to choose from, these can directly impact how your job looks when completed. Coated and uncoated stocks can produce a very different look and dramatically change the vibrancy of your colours. Typically colour vibrancy is more of an issue on an offset ink press as digital presses can manage vivid colour better on uncoated stock and therefore is less of an issue. The obvious difference will be the “sheen”.
High gloss stock is just that, high gloss! While an uncoated or book stock is very matte and porous. Ask us which paper stock is best suited for your job request.
The proof is your last chance to make sure the job is correct before we print. You are not required to see a proof, however, it is strongly suggested you do, so you are not held accountable for any mistakes thereafter. It is essentially your last chance to catch any mistakes on our end or yours. It is important to note that Paramount Printers Ltd. is not responsible for errors on the final print after you have approved your last proof.
Simply put, all of the questions we answered above are taken care of! Not only can we provide you with amazing quality designs, but we also have the knowledge and tools required to make sure your job turns out better than you expected. Best of all, you don’t have to do anything!
Navigate the “get a quote” tab, and find the “upload your file” tab to supply us with your print-ready file, sample image or elements pertaining to your jobs like photos, logos and graphics.