Print Parade 2018 Revisited
Print Parade 2018: Revisited
A few weeks back, Celina posted a series on ordering a printed product in the easiest way possible. Outlining every step in detail, the Print Parade 2018 is meant to be a helpful guide to anyone who wants to ensure that their print comes out looking the best that it can.
Of course, this was written with the help of the Celina art department, and the issue one comes across when working with those “in the know” is that sometime we can overlook what may be important issues and questions that a common non-print-oriented person may come across. And that brings us to today’s entry- Print Parade 2018 Part II: The Return! We’ve culled the minor issues and problems that we’ve come across and compiled this addendum to help our customers out with navigating custom printing.
File Creation vs. Conversion
We state a lot when it comes to the files we’d like to see. One thing that’s important to note is that file types/extensions – asking for Illustrator (.ai), PDF’s, or .eps files is a way to ensure that the files we get are the proper format to create the best print. The blog going into more detail can be found here.
HOWEVER.
If you start with a small JPEG or Photoshop file, opening the file in Illustrator and saving it as an .ai file does not change the file, and doesn’t fix the issue. This doesn’t convert the image to vector format, doesn’t change the size, or give us the necessary attributes to create even a mediocre print. Files should be created (or, if need be, redrawn) in vector format for the best outcome.
Images vs. Logos
If you have an image such as a JPEG or PNG, these can be exceptionally hard to adapt into larger prints. This is because of the raster and vector info contained in the file setup information – photos that you take are going to be a set of pixels or shapes that are going to pixelate as they are blown up larger. Logos are easy to redraw into vector format, but this isn’t an ability that most photos have.
Locating your File
Many business owners have their logos crafted for them unless they have an in-house designer or design team to create the files. This file should be in vector format, and should be stored in a safe place for use on stationary, in marketing, and so on.
When you are looking for an image to use on your design, NEVER SAVE AN IMAGE FROM THE INTERNET, EVER. DON’T DO IT. It’s tempting because they are so easy to find, but in 99% of cases images from the web are going to be far too small and poor quality for any use. Not only are the images probably poor, there are legal ramifications to taking images that are just out and about – it’s difficult to know which are protected by copyright and which aren’t. Play it safe – use your own images, and get decent images made.
While there is a larger amount of work in creating and maintaining the proper style and quality of a logo or graphic, this simplifies its usage ten-fold as it expands to more and more uses across your business. From marketing swag to stationary, web use to printed branding, making sure you’re getting the most from your images is the best investment you can make.
Need to contact us about a prospective order? Give us a call at (844) 803-9444 or email Art@CelinaTent.com for more info
Visit our other Print Parade articles:
Print Parade 2018: Is My Image a Good Image?
Print Parade 2018: How and Where Do I Send my Artwork?