7 Important things to know about print

From Amber's workshop I have created lists and written notes on the different printing methods, this should help me when creating my info pack and research into print production, all the information was very helpful and has given me a small incite into printing. There are several different things which need to be considered when printing and so i have categorised them into different sections.

Colour models

• CMYK
• RGB
• Hexachrome - Made up of dots upclose
• Spot Colour
• PMS - Pantone Matching Systems

Based on a model for lithographic printing:

• Colour models
• Formats
• Art work
• Stock
• Processes
• Finishing
• Costing

Stock

• Weights (gs) 80-90 gsm is the office standard weight
• Finish - Gloss/silk/matt/coated/uncoated
• Laid wove
• Boards
• Variations
• Plastics + acetates

Artworking

• Preparing work for print, working in the correct manner
• Document set-up - packaging - fonts etc
• File formats & fonts - making sure fonts are supported by printers,
• Spellcheck
• Colour specification
• Printer marks - e.g. registrations, crop marks, plate/separations information
• Pre-flight check
• Mock-ups
• Proof
• Sign off

Processes

• Lithograph
• Gravure
• Screen-print
• Flexography
• Pad-printing
• Six colour
• Laminate - gloss/matte
• More on the presentation

Finishing

• Finishing could be done in-house, be in touch with the clients and printers to see what your limitations are in designing and processes, along with the budget
• Folding & creasing
• Die stamping/cutting/drilling
• A die cut, is the outside cut- the outside cut would be a die cut

Formats

• ISO Paper sizes
• A + SRA Sizes
• Imperial sizes (North America) & Metric (Rest of the world)
• Tabloid (compact) Broadsheet, Berliner - These are newspaper and magazine kind of sizes, Berliner is kind of an imperial sizes, going with North America's system
• Envelope 'C' sizes

Costing

• Quotes, get early on before starting the job, just so you know what kind of budget you're working with, whether it's a personal project, your own personal money or for a client.
• Specify an identical job, right down to the finishing to at least 3 different printers and compare quotes is a good way of working.
• Learn or have a rough idea of what different processes and finishes will cost so you can keep it in the back of your head while art-working and designing
• Understanding viable minimum quantities, a lot of printers may only do a minimum run.
• Extras/Authors connections
• Delivery?

Within my info pack I would like to cover most of these areas however there is too much to cover all, further research will be carried out in order to be more specific and accurate. I want to info pack to be easily understood so the information will be laid out simply, with limit text.