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1 Color Black Text vs CMYK Black Text
1 Color Black Text vs CMYK Black Text #000000 ≠ 100% K 1 color black vs CMYK or 4 color black is a frequent topic of conversation with clients and designers we work with. When it comes to commercial offset printing it is important to understand the difference between the colors and when one should be used over the…
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Process vs. Spot Color
Process vs. Spot Color Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black are the colors that make up Process Colors. In theory, we can make all the colors of the rainbow using these 4 colors. In reality, that’s not true. There are RGB colors that do not convert well to CMYK and there are some Pantone (PMS) colors that also…
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The Importance of Bleed
The Importance of Bleed When printing imagery that goes to the edge of the paper. It’s best to actually extend the image over the edge of the document at least 1/8”, to compensate for any small imperfections in the cutting process. Our machinery is state-of-the-art and very accurate, but cutting happens with a stack of…
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With Ink, Less is More
With Ink, Less is More Ink on paper going through the press is like water going on a sponge, and when you get too much ink, it doesn’t absorb properly into the paper. This is why we need to be mindful of how much ink is going on the paper. We also need to be…
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Design Considerations for Perfect Bound Books
Design Considerations for Perfect Bound Books Perfect bound books usually have more pages than their saddle-stitched counterparts. The cover includes a flat spine that is wide enough to accommodate all the pages of the book. When the bindery binds the book, they grind off the binding edge of the pages, roughening it up a little,…
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Low Resolution vs. High Resolution
Low Resolution vs. High Resolution In another post we spoke about vector vs. raster file formats. When dealing with raster files, you have to always consider resolution. In printing, we like to have HIGH RESOLUTION raster files, optimally saved at 300 pixels per inch (ppi). There are lots of factors that go into a quality image, so when…
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Vector vs. Raster
Vector vs. Raster Long story short: VECTOR is for text and logos, RASTER is for photos. In printing, everything that we digitally produce falls into 2 categories, VECTOR and RASTER formats. Both are important, but there are cases when one serves us better than the other. There are even cases when only one of these formats will do. A photo will…
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Packaging InDesign and Illustrator Documents
Packaging InDesign and Illustrator Documents The very last step before sending your design to the printer should be to PACKAGE your files. You want to be sure that you are supplying the printer with everything they need in order to produce your job in a correct and timely manner. If you are using Adobe InDesign…
