understanding designs for print 1

[funkymonk]

Hi all,

I have just been asked to get a design down to 4 colours.

I have been told that the image (a business card) is going to need 6 colour printing because of the font colour I have used. There is a photographic image on there that I thought would be the 'crunch' (for want of a better word) in the cost side of it.

Will it work if I take a colour from the photo image and use that for the text? Can it be that easy?

Thanx

If you need more info then just ask.... funkymonk B-)
rod@sameplanet.co.uk

 

[Greg25]

If it's going to four color process
It could be converted to process
Colors by the prepress dept.
Greg

K & G Design
kgdesign@warwick.net

 

[funkymonk]

OK, but does that mean that I lose some control over the final copy?

Also, I would like to learn more about this side of the process anyway. Until now I've just created stuff that looks nice. This side, printing and understanding colour is a bit of a mystery.... Do you (or anyone) recommend a good source, either book (best for me) or web...?
funkymonk B-)
rod@sameplanet.co.uk

http://www.sameplanet.co.uk

 

[askIllustrator]

Oddly enough, the photoshop manual covers a lot of the basics of printing when explaining what certain features are for. Here are some key words to look up and read about.
Four Color Process (4c proc)
Spot Colors
5th and 6th colors
resolution
printing type
prepress
CMYK
bleed
trapping
spreading

 

[funkymonk]

Of course it would!

******Doh******!

Thanx JAQUAN, I'll have a look through..... funkymonk B-)

rod@sameplanet.co.uk

http://www.sameplanet.co.uk

[un-finished - still]

********************

 

[funkymonk]

Oh, one other thing (I don't have the book with me, it's at home). I have instructions from the printers as to how they want a business card done. I get all the instuctions but one.

They want me to render the text at 600dpi.....

does this just mean that I have to create the whole design at 600dpi.....?

I'm guessing it does as I've never seen an option to render at a certain dpi etc... funkymonk B-)

rod@sameplanet.co.uk

http://www.sameplanet.co.uk

[un-finished - still]

********************

 

[askIllustrator]

illustrator is a vector based application but mathematically it works out to about 800 dpi. You will notice in the Printing & Export section of the Document Setup that the output resolution defaults to 800 dpi, I have never had to change that setting in all my eight years using AI. Any art you build in illustrator will be more than enough resolution for your printer. Just make sure they get the .eps or the .ai and not a rasterized version (.psd, .tif, jpg...) of the file.

 

[funkymonk]

I'm not using and don't have Ilustrator.... I'm using Photoshop. Does this information carry over...? funkymonk B-)

rod@sameplanet.co.uk

http://www.sameplanet.co.uk

[un-finished - still]

********************

 

[askIllustrator]

my appologies, I travel back and forth between the two forums so much I forget where I am sometimes.

They have done some nice things with type in PS6 but to be honest im not sure if it behaves the way it does in AI. I've noticed the type layers always have clean text no matter the resolution of the document but what I dont know is, is the type only as high res as my documents resolution, or does PS know how to print postscript fonts along with any resolution document. No matter though, your printer wants a flattened .tif probably in which case I know your doc has to be built at at least 600 dpi if the type in it is to be printed at 600 dpi.

 

[funkymonk]

Yeah, thats what I thought - create the document at 600dpi. They actually want the .psd file without being flattened.

Also, my companies just gone cheap on me, were getting these business cards done at aound 500 for £25. Now I can't wait to see what these are gonna look like...... They'll be getting me to go down the shopping centre next for some of those print-your-own business cards! heheh

Thanks for your help.... funkymonk B-)

rod@sameplanet.co.uk

http://www.sameplanet.co.uk

[un-finished - still]

********************

 

[askIllustrator]

the fact that they knew enought to ask for a .psd should give you some confidence... although the majority of files sent out for printing are prepared in a layout app like Quark or Pagemaker which use that 800dpi thing i was talking about earlier.

 

[funkymonk]

Ahhh, yeah, I'm trying to get my company to get me a page layout tool. I put a question here a while ago trying to find the best one. They still won't get me anything though, they say I have PS and Word so that should be enough.... huh!

Thanx for all the help Jaquan funkymonk B-)

rod@sameplanet.co.uk

http://www.sameplanet.co.uk

[un-finished - still]

********************

 

[askIllustrator]

I just love it when your client/supervisor knows way more than you, knows how long it will take, knows how much it will cost, and knows what you need to do it... yet still needs you to do it for some reason.

 

[funkymonk]

Hahahah, yeah, just like that! funkymonk B-)

rod@sameplanet.co.uk

http://www.sameplanet.co.uk

[un-finished - still]

********************