7 Things to know about print

Colour Modes

CMYK RGB Hexachrome Spot Colour PMS (pantone matching system)

Formats

Standard ISO Tabloid
Broadsheet
Berliner (in between the size of broadsheet and tabloid)
Envelope 'C' Sizes

 

The difference between A ad SRA ...

The 'A' format is the standard paper size used through out the world it is common and used almost every where, it is standardised therefore perfect for mass disstribution on a small or large scale this makes it perfect when thinking about print.

SRA is a larger version of the 'A' size it is the actual paper printers use, when printing a document the printers cannot print to the edge of the paper, it is simply impossible. But some print jobs require a completly printed surface, thus SRA. This paper size is generally 12mm by 15mm bigger than standard A size paper this accounts for what is known as the bleed which allows the printer to effectivly print over the full A sized area and then you can tim the excess.

 

 

Stock

Stock weight is mesured in GSM grams per square meter, therefore the weight of the paper is deturminded by the weight of one square meter.

These are examples of different kinds of stock:

Finish - gloss / silk / matte / coated / uncoated  Laid or Wove - is the way that paper is created Boards and Carton - carton is when one side is grey and the other is plain white. Plastics and Acetate - this can create some more experimental ways of designing.

Artwork

Document set up (CMYK)
File format and fonts 
Spellcheck 
Colour specification 
Print marks
Mock ups 
Proof, when working for comercial print your printer should make you a digital version the proof this will either be high or low resolution depending on the kind of quality required, the idea of the proof it to make any corrections and to highlight any wrong colours of anything else that is incorrect with the artwork.

All the Print Processes

Lithography  Gravure
Screen Print
Flexography
Pad Print
Six Colour Process
Laminate - Gloss / Matte
Foil Blocking 
Emboss / De-boss
Spot UV Varnish 

 

Cost

 
 

Costing will vary from printer to printer it is essential to obtain multipul like for like quotes to get the best price available but at the hightest quality. prices will vary depending on the amount you order long print runs will generally cost less than short ones, as there is always going to be a charge for setting up the plates.  Its is also important to get your quotes before talking to your client as they will ask 'How much?' and you would look rather silly not knowing. another aspect that must be remembered is that any alterations after the proof has been ok'd will be chharged extra so it pays to be thorough and make sure your client is happy. 

Pantone Swatch Book 

There are several Pantone books solid coated, solid uncoated... etc. They all refer to different colours and the different books refer to the different stocks and finishes of the paper. the pantone book will never look the same as the image on screen even if they are infact the same swatch colour this is why it is handy to have a swatch book for referance to the actual colour that will be printed and what it will look like.

Binding

There are many types of binding mehtdos some cheap some expensive and all used for different purposes, low end printing for cheap or free books, to highend printing and binding for more expensive books like hard back novels or somthing of that nature.


Case Binding 
Otter Binding 
Cui Binding 
Pur Binding 
Swiss Binding 
Flexi Binding
Thread Binding
Burst Binding
Case Binding
Purfect Binding