UPDATED TOP 10 PRINT MANUAL

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

Top 10 Manual - Structure

CONTENTS

1.     COLOUR MODES

a.     RGB – for screen, reductive colour

b.     CMYK – for print, additive colour

c.      CMYK gourmet

d.     Converting to CMYK

2.     COLOUR MODES

a.     Grey Scale

b.     Monochrome

c.      Duochrome

d.     Hexochrome

e.     Spot Colour

f.      Halftone

3.     STOCK

a.     Gsm

b.     Coating / Properties

c.      Availability

d.     Price

4.     PAPER FORMAT

a.     ISO SIZES

b.     Box

c.      Poster

d.     Mailer

e.     Translucent

5.     PRINTER

a.     Rotogravure

b.     Flexogravure

c.      Lithogravure

d.     Digital

e.     Pad

f.      Screen Printing

g.     Letterpress

6.     PRINTERS

a.     Talking to a printer

b.     Price

c.      Finishing availabilities.

d.     Preparing for print

e.     Pre-flight

f.      Proofs

7.     FINISHES

a.     Emboss

b.     Deboss

c.      Matte lamination

d.     Gloss

e.     UV spot varnish

f.      All over varnish

g.     Hand finish

h.     Die cut

i.       Foil blocking

8.     BINDING & FOLDING

a.     Concertina fold

b.     French fold

c.      Hand sewn

d.     Japanese buind

e.     Perfect binding

f.      Spiral bound

Top 10 Manual // Working with Printers

SELECTING A PRINTER

You should have an idea about the quality and volume of the design you want to print because different printers will have different limiations.
Look for a wide net of suppliers who can meet a top 3 criteria for buying print
You should get a quote for your project from 3 different printers and then decide which of the printers you want to chose from that. Make sure that your specifications that you gave each of the printers are the same.
Talk to the printers and see what options as far as finishes, binding and extras they have - some printers will not have the facilities e.g. die-cut and binding.
Find a printer than you can talk to - someone that can work efficiently on your deadlines and who can advise you on the best materials and processes for your job

NEGOTIATING PRICES

You need to get quotes from 3 different printers before you decide which one to go with

You then need to quote this back to your client before you start the job

It is perfectly acceptable and expected to engage in a little negotiation before you settle on a price. But remember to be realistic.

Top 10 Manual // Print Considerations

MAIN OBJECTIVES

If you are working with a new client, find out as much as you can about their business and what they want to achieve with the design work they have commissioned.
Focus on the objectives of the project as early on as you possibly can, and if the client isn't thinking objectively then encourage them to.

CHOOSING & SPECIFYING PAPER

This is one of the most crucial decisions you can make. You should decide this as early on in the design process as possible, before you start designing the work.
Different paper and board stocks with vary in price by a large margin depending on their finish and quality.
Availability of stock is another area to consider, paper stocks need to be pre ordered from the manufacturer.
If the end design has to be sent to the client by mail, the client would also appreciate if if the weight of the design is kept to a minimum.
The choice of stock isn't just based on the price and availability, you should consider the durability and tactile qualities of paper stock will greatly influence the value and tone of the product.
You should build up a collection of swatch books which can often be given free by the manufacturer - this will improve your knowledge and make your choice easier and faster.

PAPER PROPERTIES

A bad choice of paper choice is an expensive mistake - TALK TO THE PRINTER before and listen to what they say. To a certain extent the choice of paper will point you in the right direction for your design.
EG; paper for use on offset lithography machines should ideally have a low moisture content to help with the drying process.
Gravure is best matched to paper stock with a very smooth surface with no small abrasions, so for a gloss or matte coated stock.

Design For Print Top 10 Tips - Rework

I have previously produced  a manual of my top 10 tips that you should consider when you are designing for print. I am now going to look back and I want to re-design and improve this manual and provide more information after completing my work for the Print Module.

AREAS TO CONSIDER

FORMATS

• Box
• Double hinge
• Fold out poster
• large-format poster
• gatefold CD
• inset pages
• Inserts
• mailers
• panoramic book
• pop-ups
• translucent
• ISO sizes

FOLDING / BINDING

• concertina fold
• french fold 
• roll-fold
• perforated fold
• burstbound
• trimmed flush
• cotton binding
• gilded edge
• half canadian binding
• japanese binding
• hand sewn
• saddle stictching
• singer sewn
• perfect binding
• sprial bound

STANDARD PRINTING

• Digital 
• Flexography
• Lithography
• Letterpress
• Monoprint
• Offset
• Silkscreen
• Screen printing
• single spot colour
• vegetable based inks
• water-based inks
• Rotogravure
• Pad Printing

FINISHING

• Die-cut
• Hand finishing
• foil blocking
• embossing
• matte lamination
• allover spot UV
• debossing
• varnish
• spot varnish

PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

• What are the main objectives of the Project
• Talk to the client and get to know exactly what they want
• Paper properties - chosing and specifying the paper - most important decision

WORKING WITH PRINTERS

• Chosing your printer
• Negotiating prices
• Preparing for print
• Proofs
• Special Finishes - talk to the printer and find out what they can do before you chose the printer.

PRINT / DESIGN AREAS TO CONSIDER

• RGB / CMYK
• spot colours
• monochrone
• duochrome
• hexachrome
• greyscale
• over printing
• halftone pattern
• seperations
• PMS - pantone matching system
• CYMK gaumet
• spot colour > CMYK conversions
• registration / linen testers
• ISO paper sizes
• Document setup
• File Formats & Fonts
• Print marks
• Mock ups and proofs
• Print marks
• Mock ups & proofs
• Format / Imposition

MATERIALS TO PRINT ON - making the medium the message.

• Paper base 
• Plastic Based
• Transparent surfaces
• other

SPECIALITIES AND COATING

• foil stamping
• thermography

BINDING, FASTENERS, CLOSURES

• options

FINISHES

• emboss
• engrave
• letter press
• Deboss

CUT WORK

• die-cut
• perforations
• kiss cuts

Obviously here there are many areas to consider so I will need to carefully select the areas which I want to talk about and consider them in order and how important they are. 

I want to start with talking about planning the printing e.g. talking to the printer, having an idea of what you want to get out of the design, paper considerations etc. 

GOOD IS // Examples of User Guide's Content

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iphone_user_guide.pdf

GOOD IS // Vouchers

Another area of print which I am looking into is the vouchers. One of these comes in the packaging with the product but the aim with these is to be similar to itunes and HMV vouchers - good for gifts and can be purchasable in most major stores.
Ill be looking at business cards for the inspiration for stock, finishes and designs.
I want the cards to be simple, and easily identifiable.

BACK OF GIFT CARD