COMMON DESIGN ERRORS:

Incorrect File Format - PDF or Jpeg are stable file formats for printing. Most reliable files are high res Jpeg and PDF files exported from graphics programs like Adobe Illustrator, Indesign or Photo- shop.

File Format

Transparency - If PNG files are used for example, transparency in the background can interfere with colour behind when printed. Rather use a Jpeg inside a clipping path to avoid this.

Transparency

Incorrect artwork size - E.g. Artwork supplied at A4 when printing an A2 poster. When that artwork needs to be scaled up to the correct size, image quality is often lost, resulting in poor print quality.

Incorrect Artwork Size

PowerPoint Artwork - Artwork created in MS PPT is by default 25,4cm x 19,05cm in size which does not correspond to the standard size ratios. Power- Point artwork will have an uneven white margin when scaled to the correct size.

Powerpoint Artwork

Low resolution - Images and text can look good on a phone or computer screen, but are not nec- essarily good enough quality for print.

Printers need more pixel or image information to put an image on paper than to display the same image on a screen. An image needs to be no less than 150dpi to print well.

When images are scaled up (enlarged) they lose resolution because their dpi (dots per inch) are spread over a larger area, thereby decreasing the quality.

Low Resolution Image

Text close to the edge - There should be a 3mm margin/space around the inside edge of the art- work.

This is required because there is 1mm play either side of the cutting line when the product is guillo- tined.

Any text closer than 3mm to the edge of the art- work will potentially be appear right on the edge or even get cut off the printed artwork.

Content Close To The Edge

Frames Putting any kind of frame or border around artwork results in poor print results.

All artwork is guillotine cut to final size. When there is 1mm of movement of artwork under the guillotine - it can translate to having a frame move 1mm closer to one side and 1mm away from the opposite side.

The margin between the frame and the edge that cut is uneven all the way round; an overall poor print result.

Frames