Graphic printing that brings your business to life

Have you ever submitted a print job, only to have the printer call an hour later saying, "Sorry, but I can't use any of these images." "What?" you answer, perplexed, "But I just printed them on my inkjet printer and they look fine." 

Welcome to the number-one problem that printers face every day – unprintable images submitted by clients who don't understand the basics of graphic printing.

The professional difference

"You should always bear in mind that getting a print job done on a press is different to printing on your inkjet printer at home," explains Joe Kowalewski from the Printing Industries Association of Australia.

He suggests sitting down with your printer and running through the basic graphic printing requirements first, to avoid costly and time-wasting corrections down the track.

Know your specifications

"Most printers will have a specifications sheet they can give you that tells you or your designer what's required to get the optimal printing job from them," explains Joe.

The typical 'specs' sheet for graphic printing includes information about: 

• Acceptable file formats: The most common are high-resolution PDF files, InDesign files, high-resolution TIFF files and Encapsulated Post-Script files (EPS).

• Optimum resolution: The minimum image resolution required for printing is usually 300 dots per inch (dpi) or higher, when viewed at 100 per cent, whereas most web images are only 72 dpi. Unfortunately, converting a lower resolution file to 300 dpi will not improve the image.

• Colour: All colour images and photos must be converted to CMYK format before printing. Generally, the digital images you view on your computer screen are in RGB format. Be aware that some RGB colours don't convert well to CMYK, and you may need to adjust them prior to printing.

• Fonts and typefaces: All fonts and typefaces must be 'embedded' in the files you send. If you don't embed the fonts they'll be substituted by others and your printed work won't look the same.

Learn more

According to Joe, if you are regularly involved in print buying, it might be worthwhile taking part in a print awareness course.

"Several large printers offer these courses to their major clients these days and we also offer one here at the Printing Industries Association of Australia," he says.

Courses usually run for a day and cover all the technical know-how you'll need to properly prepare your print job.

"This will make your relationship with your printer a whole lot easier and it could even mean discounts for you, because printers spend a lot of time trying to correct unsuitable files."

The right image

Ensuring your images are properly prepared before sending them off to the printer will save your business valuable time and money. Talk to a printer today about how they can help you become print savvy.