Moorpark College Graphic Design

Making final preparations for a business card that prints properly are wholly dependent on the precise printing process that is to be used. Before final file preparations begin, it is critical to talk to the printer and find out their criteria for the files you are submitting.

The determining factors include:

• Color – how many colors in your card — black only, spot color(s), process color, process plus spot, UV or varnish. Proper color specification is critical for the job to print properly
• Press size/run style – Big presses equal big sheets of paper, and more cards print on a large sheet. A card running along with other jobs is referred to as “gang printing.” The advantage of gang printing is cheaper printing. A small press takes a smaller sheet and therefore, a different setup. Some printers will print a single card on a …other small printers print up to eight cards on an 8.5″x11″ sheet
• Bleeds – if your card bleeds, it may require different setup
• File types accepted – printer will specify accepted formats and file types

Most online printers have prolific instructions and will answer most of your questions in the FAQ section of their sites. The link included here is for Glendale’s 4Over, digital printers founded in 2001.

Today we will review the correct techniques for file preparation:

• Communicating with printers
• InDesign’s “Step and Repeat” feature
• Rulers, guides and crop marks
• Measuring and placement using the transform palette
• Creating the PDF file

Filed under: GRM24 Publishing and Prepress |