Color Correction in Digital Printing

In photography, exposure is controlled by way of number of things–the size of the lens opening, the film speed, and also the duration the lens remains open taking the picture. In digital photo editing, we can easily adjust exposure further, in the Brightness and Contrast controls.

Brightness, when the name implies, will be the amount of light here in the picture. The longer the lens was open as well as the wider the lens aperture, the brighter the resulting picture may possibly be. Every photo editing program are going to have Brightness control. Changing the brightness setting will adjust the colors of your pictures as if the photo was taken with a wider or narrower aperture.

However, increasing the brightness could cause the image to appear washed out. This is not the best thing for Gallery Digital C-Prints or for Giclee Prints. This is where Contrast is available in. Contrast is the of dark and light-weight here in the picture–the spectrum related to the darkest along with the brightest regions of the image. Changing the contrast will likely make the brights brighter and also the darks darker, that may counter-balance the changes produced by the Brightness control. Brightness and contrast some times applied in tandem for most photo editing projects when printing Giclee Art Prints or Digital C Prints.

Practically in most projects, it’s rare to have a photo that has to have overall brightness and contrast adjustments. What’s more common is to possess a picture that needs adjustments to small areas. For instance, a dark cityscape against a bright blue sky, or even a portrait with sunlight in the area of the subject, would likely be ruined by changing the complete brightness and contrast. These pictures need smaller, focused adjustments. Here in the old darkroom days, the only real choice the photographer had were to dodge or burn. With modern photo editing programs, however, he should use a Lasso selection set, and after that apply Burn, Dodge, Brightness, Contrast, or perhaps Levels and Curves adjustments, to only those areas of depiction that really want it.

List of Color Correction Terms

Aperture

The Aperture is the size of the opening in the camera lens at the moment a photo is taken. Aperture is measured in fractions, so the larger the number, the smaller the aperture opening. Shutter speed and aperture are the two primary controls for limiting the amount of light that hits the film or sensor.

Burning
Burning means darkening part of a photograph. In the darkroom, it’s done by blocking some of the light that would normally reach the rest of the photo. In digital photo editing, it’s usually a paintbrush-like tool built into the application.

CMYK
CMYK is an acronym for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black. These are the four colors used in the standard printing process. It’s also a color mode in photo editing programs.

Dodging
Dodging is making a section of a photo lighter. When this is done in the darkroom, it’s usually by blocking some of the light from reaching that part of the picture. In a photo editing program, it’s a paintbrush like tool that lightens instead of painting.

Grayscale
Technically speaking, a spectrum of gray shades from black to white. A grayscale picture is the digital equivalent of a black and white photo.

Highlights
The Highlights are the whitest part of a picture. Normally, they are a very small percentage of the picture, because it’s very easy to lose details in highlights.

Histogram
A Histogram is a chart that graphs all of the tones in a photo. Most programs will generate histograms, and most digital cameras can create them also.

Layers
Think of Layers as sheets of tracing paper or transparency film laid over top of your image. Graphic designers use layers to separate out elements of their project, so that they can work on individual pieces without damaging others. Adjustment Layers are a special kind of layer that shows the results of whatever color correction function is attached to that layer.

RAW
RAW is the internal format of a digital camera. Many cameras “pre-process” images. They will do JPG compression, white balancing, and a number of other adjustments. The RAW image is the starting point for all of these. Digital photographers prefer to start from the RAW file so that they can make their own changes to these items.

RGB
RGB is the standard color format for digital images. It stands for Red, Green, Blue. Each of the three colors is given an amount between 0 and 255, and the blend of the three produces all of the other colors. Three zeroes produce white, and three 255s produce black.

Saturation
Saturation is a measure of the richness of the colors in a photo. When a picture is desaturated, all of the color information has been removed, and what’s left is a grayscale or black and white picture.

Shadows
The shadows are the darkest part of an image, just as highlights are the brightest.

White Balance
White Balance is a camera setting used to compensate for changes in the color of light. Some artificial lights “tint” the color they project, so the camera’s white balance setting is used to balance this back to a more normal color cast. If the camera’s white balance was incorrect, then the photo editor has to account for this by changing the color scale. The program will use an area that was supposed to be white as the starting point, and will remap every other color in the picture accordingly.

Popular Digital Printing Processes: A Guide for New Photographers

Overview

Digital printmaking is a unique art that’s highly marketable to a variety of audiences. Creative individuals with an excellent eye for detail, as well as the ability to communicate their vision, have the potential to thrive in the fine arts industry, especially if they’re aware of how and where their work is accepted. Most importantly, willingness to evolve and keep an open mind are essential to the modern digital printmaker’s success.

Professionals in the industry must possess a solid work ethic, organization skills, and persistence to catch and maintain the attention of viewers. They’re required to make use of career-related supplies, such as papers, color management, ink types, and digital equipment on a regular basis in order to achieve desired results for digital prints. As with all artists, it’s proven that their diligence, multi-tasking and imagination eventually pays off.

Exemplary digital printmaking doesn’t happen overnight. Every individual who’s dedicated to the craft must nurture their skill and then identify which audience they wish to inspire. These responsibilities not only take time, but also extensive research in order to learn how to present work to sites that welcome your aesthetic.

There’s several art colleges that can assist in helping you market your work appropriately. Some individuals opt to attend traditional brick-and-mortar campuses while others are interested in having distance learning schools accommodate them. Online institutions, for instance, are among several virtual colleges in the country that are particularly attractive to full-time employees, stay-at-home parents, avid travelers, or disabled persons.

It’s crucial to begin reviewing your options in order to get your foot in the door and gain the trust of future clients, employers, and galleries. Here’s a sneak peak at some printing methods that may interest you.

Printing Techniques

1. Inkjet Prints

There’s various types of inkjet printing. However, Iris inkjet is the most common. This process requires printmakers to utilize four colors: black, yellow, magenta and cyan. Each ink is a water-based dye which enable the final product to endure moisture. Professionals have used Iris inkjet on several kinds of exotic surfaces, including Japanese rice papers, vinyl, canvas, and watercolor papers.

Other inkjet processes involve the use of six to eight different colors. The specific palette of ink colors is typically at the discretion of the artist and/or client(s). Individuals usually benefit from having more choices regarding the result of their work, as well as creating more mass appeal. Today, inkjet printers employing 8 to 12 inks are used for large format graphics on durable signage materials. This allows for an appealing look for different applications such as outdoor signage, window displays and digital wallpaper.

2. Giclee Prints

The term ‘giclee’, (pronounced ‘zhee-clay’), was invented in 1991 and means ‘a spray of color or liquid’. The word’s roots derives from the French term ‘gicluer’ which translates to ‘nozzle’. Similar to the word used to describe it, the process requires printmakers to use nozzles in order to transfer images onto a substrate.

Giclee is revered as a printmaking process that offers the best color accuracy of all techniques in the industry. The process’s finely tuned colors are known to outlive those in Iris prints and able to resist fading for at least 10 years longer. For these reasons, many high-profile private art collectors, museums, art galleries and photographic galleries, request the work of artists who use giclee printing. Simultaneously, the technique is adored by artists for the soft quality in its colors, as well as its speed and cost effectiveness. Those who opt to produce work as needed, or on-demand, are more likely to use this process.

3. Digital C Prints

This type of printing technique requires the use of a darkroom in which a professional uses a fine laser to illuminate Type-C photographic paper. Images are typically taken from raster and vector files. Digital C is a method that’s often respected for its longevity, as Lambda is known to last at least 60 years on without deteriorating. The lifespan is what gives digital C prints an edge over giclee prints which are typically given a life expectancy of about 25 years.

There’s several types of C Prints that can be produced. Metallic digital C prints provide powerful, direct hues that are give off a unique, metallic look to lure viewers in. Matte digital C prints involve a dull pearl-like surface that displays mostly neutral and earthy tones while deep matte digital C prints display softer pastel images. Glossy digital C prints, on the other hand, enhances the richness of colors by covering it with a glossy surface.

Other Key Points

1. Digital printing has helped revolutionize photography, as it enables professionals in the industry to retouch, size, crop, and correct coloring on products.

2. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, photographic processing machine operators typically work directly with digital photographs. Professional skill sets may be acquired through post-secondary schooling, although many individuals obtain on-the-job training. Employment opportunities in this field are expected to decline as more inventions begin to meet the technical needs of consumers.

3. The use of computerized features, such as Photoshop and Dreamweaver, make it possible for beginners in the digital printmaking world to learn secrets of the craft at their own pace. As self-service applications continue to materialize, the demand for professional services is expected to dissolve.

4. Seasoned digital printmakers in the fine arts sector must often balance their time between developing prints and networking to uncover new places that will help them sell their work effectively.

5. Many digital printmakers collaborate with various artists in other genres, such as photographers, painters, and sculptors, to help them expand their craft and invent new forms of products.

6. In digital printmaking, images are archived on a CD-ROM until individuals are prepared to use them. Reproduction materials, such as inks, sizes, and tables, are also properly stored.

Exploring new boundaries is almost every artist’s dream. This ideal doesn’t exclude digital printmakers. For more information on how to break into digital printing professions, it’s useful to review computer classes or relate institutions in your area.

Color Management for Digital Prints

Overview

Digital prints are an integral segment of the printmaking world. The process is becoming increasingly popular in the media and the workforce, as well as in the privacy of consumers’ homes. However, printmaking is a practice that involves more than transferring images to various surfaces. It also focuses on enhancement techniques, particularly color management. Learning how to balance colors in digital printing gives images an extra edge and boosts the aesthetic quality. Professionals who are able to manage this feature effectively typically know how to market their craft better which establishes them as artists in a competitive industry.

In contrast, those who aren’t familiar with color coordination methods in printmaking risk feeling considerable confusion and frustration. They also may get negative responses from the audience they’re trying to capture. To prevent entering the field on the wrong foot, many individuals choose to enroll in accredited graphic design colleges or institutions that offer a range of digital imaging courses. Alternatively, some are given a wealth of informal training that develops their understanding of how colors influence the quality of digital prints.

10 Color Management Terms Specifically For Digital Printing

Giclee prints are one of the leading inkjet print processes in the printmaking industry. The high-quality art form is especially popular among artists who showcase their work in prestigious art galleries, exhibitions, and museums because of their durability, and sophistication, as well as the ability to reproduced identical images multiple times. Most importantly, the eye-catching colors involved in this process are favorable.

1. RAW

This term defines all untouched images that are generated by cameras or scanners. The files are untouched at the beginning of the capture before any conversion or color enhancement is performed.

2. RGB

In digital printing, RGB stands for red, green, and blue. These 3 primary colors establish the basis for all digital capture processes. After files are set to RGB, they may converted to other preferable forms.

3. Black and White

All giclee inks are striking, light-fast and resistant to UV rays. Many individuals and galleries desire black and white prints in this process. These kinds of images are also referred to as grayscale or monochromatic files.

Individuals who are involved in generating prints are often encouraged to shoot images with their camera in a regular format, rather than black and white mode. Afterward, files may be converted to monochromatic images via specified black and white conversion software, such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or Nik Silver Efex Pro.

4. Toning

Many professionals tone digital images to improve the quality of color. Prints are often toned in specialized chemical trays to produce selenium or sepia hues.

5. Saturation

Saturation refers to the strength, or intensity, of a color in digital imaging. Powerful tones are higher in saturation than dull tones and is made of a considerably narrow wavelength range. Tones that are less saturated are the result of combining the wavelengths of too many colors.

6. Sharpening

The color management’s sharpening process balances enhancement features that soften colors and exaggerates the edges of digital images through the application of local contrast. However, individuals are advised to be mindful of overdoing the sharpening effect, as too much of this feature can ultimately ruin digital prints.

7. White Balance

This feature defines the temperature of color in the light source. Artists often utilize white balance to make black, white, and gray digital prints appear in neutral tones.

8. Luminance

Many digital photographers increase the luminance on prints to broaden the strength of light being reflected.

9. Hue

Individuals can change the appearance of a color without modifying its saturation or brightness. Professionals may manipulate the tone of their digital images by simply altering the hue which is measured on a scale between 0 and 360 degrees.

10. Contrast

Several artists describe digital images by their contrast, or difference of coloring from lightest point to darkest point. Images that reflect dark objects or overcast weather tend to be low in contrast whereas scenes with bright hues or setting are high in contrast.

For more details concerning color management techniques for digital prints, it’s crucial to take advantage of courses that focus on the craft of this form printmaking. Various locations offer classes that prepare individuals for lucrative, fulfilling careers in the industry. Art schools in Florida, for instance, are among the post-secondary institutions in the country that provide the necessary skill sets to enter a digital printmaking profession.

More Key Details

1. Besides digital imaging, color management is also utilized in offset presses, television screens, film printers, and corresponding media features. The different industries tend to make use of different approaches to color transformation systems, such as ICC profiles and 3D LUTs.

2. Several web browsers acknowledge color management profiles, such as Firefox Mozilla, Safari, and specified versions of Internet Explorer.

3. Color management is designed to be compressed into the work flow of digital imaging and effectively melded into artists’ work.

Digital Cameras

Defining Digital Photography

Digital photography is a modern and popular form of digital imaging that involves the manipulation of digital photos. The process involves focusing a lens to capture an image brought on by a wide host of light sensitive sensors, rather than light sensitive film. The captured images, or digital prints, are then able to be altered with image enhancing software which performs cropping, sizing, and color correction. Afterward, photos may be viewed, stored into an archive until further notice, or printed for immediate use.

The photos that are generated from digital photography are produced by scanning an original image, capturing a video’s frame, or by using a digital camera. This process is ideal for individuals who desire on-demand, low-resolution images that will be uploaded on the web or downloaded quickly.

An Overview of the Digital Camera

Often referred to as a digicam, this device is the primary instrument used in digital photography. The camera records images with an electronic image sensor which enables it to take still photos or video pictures. Unlike film cameras, these instruments can show images on a screen immediately after they’re recorded, store numerous photos in its automated memory system, and remove unwanted pictures to provide extra storage space. There’s several additional features that are offered, depending on the type of digital camera that’s used.

Several attempts to build filmless cameras occurred in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s. However, the first digital camera was created and introduced by a Kodak engineer in 1975. The 8-pound device solely recorded black-and-white images onto a cassette tape, using specialized image sensor chips. Taking nearly 30 seconds to capture its initial image, the camera only possessed about 10,000 pixels and was only intended to be part of a temporary exercise within the company. Analog electronic handheld cameras were then invented in 1981 but didn’t appear on the market until 1986. Similar to then-new televisions, this instrument specialized in recording video-like images to video floppy disks. At this time, the use of digital cameras were still reserved for mostly media coverage and government use, producing images with low resolution and questionable quality.

After the emergence of several other analog electronic cameras throughout the mid-1980′s, the first contemporary digital camera arrived and was marketed in the United States in 1990. The original devices were similar to today’s products in that they were low resolution and stored images that were able to be downloaded onto computers. However, it wasn’t until 1997 that digital cameras possessed megapixels and were able to record video clips. Digital cameras are now available in PDAs, as well as cellular phones and automobiles.

Digital Camera Types

1. Compact

Commonly known as point-and-shoot cameras, these pocket-sized devices are mobile and come in various models, depending on each consumer’s preference. Some compact cameras, for instance, are waterproof and/or for outside use only. Most of them are also fairly easy to operate with retractable lens. Caps to cover the lens protect the instruments from being scratched or damaged by other objects. The majority of compact cameras have built-in flash systems, zoom lenses, motion picture functionality and other specialized features. Because of the simplicity and small size, they cost less and enables better focusing ability, as well as a larger degree of range.

2. Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens

Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras were developed in 2008. These machines aren’t as complex as DSLRs, but also aren’t as simple as compact cameras. The components inside are able to couple live-preview systems with large sensors and interchangeable lens.

3. Line-scan Camera Systems

This instrument possesses a line-scan image sensor chip and is typically utilized in industrial environments because of its ability to capture a series of simultaneous movement of equipment. Line-scan camera devices use single rows of pixel sensors, rather than a matrix of them that make up the video camera. Images are usually produced into two-dimensional forms on a computer for industrial use.

4. Bridge

Bridge cameras are complex instruments, emulating many advanced features on DSLRs. However, they’re also similar to compacts since they contain smaller sensors and live preview settings. The name ‘bridge’ was intended to represent how these devices helped create a bridge between traditional costly electronic cameras from earlier times and inexpensive, modernized compact cameras.

Online art classes are offered by a wide range of schools for individuals with a keen interests in making digital prints for a living. Check out curriculum schedules for further details.

History of Digital Printing

Overview of Traditional Printing

The process of printing has deep historical roots and is an integral part of the publishing world. The traditional practice reconstructs text or images through a variety of processes, such as letterpress, phototypesetting, typography, screen printing and mimeographing. Some commonly used supplies include, paper, ink, marble, glass, and metal.

Ancient Chinese empires are credited for founding conventional forms of the practice, such as woodblock printing. Afterwards, Egyptian and European civilizations followed Asia’s lead and helped popularize printing in new regions. Printing presses eventually emerged in the 15th century, although more sophisticated versions weren’t invented until the 1800′s.

Today, the process of printing continues to expand with over 30,000 printing companies solely in the United States. Print positions make up a large percentage in the country’s job market. Offset printing and gravure printing, two of the most common printing processes in the industry are mainly used in the production of books, magazines, mail-order catalogues, newspapers, packaging, and wallpaper. Other goods include: business forms, financial documents, checks, maps, and company memo pads.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the printing business is prominent in many urban cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washing D.C., and Philadelphia. Though employment opportunities are expected to decrease as computerization continues to gain popularity.

Digital Printing 101

A contemporary type of printing process is known as digital printing. Also referred to as variable data printing, this practice is one of the newest and fastest growing segments in the printing field. It involves a reliance on digital sources, such as media-related material via inkjet prints, electrostatic printers, laser printers, scanners, and digital cameras. Copying, duplicating, and specialty printing are the primary purposes of professional use.

Digital printing mainly differs from traditional printing practices in that there’s no use of printing plates which helps to inexpensively speed up the process. While the cost per page is higher in digital printing, the process is advantageous in that other technical steps and supplies that are needed in offset printing are eliminated. Hence, pricing for digital printing is considered more cost-effective. In addition, this modernized process has a shorter turn-around rate, produces real-time images and allows for changes to be made more effectively.

How It All Began

Digital printing began in the early 1990′s and quickly rose to prominence because of its tendency to be less time-consuming and less costly. Much of its success and abrupt introduction to society is due to the rise of the information age also birthed computers, cell phones, and other complex, technical gadgets. Reputable companies in the printing industry, such as Xerox, helped the process to rapidly evolve into the mega-leader that it is today. Technological advancements make it possible to access digital images all over the world and continue to produce new features that enable users to preview products, such as layouts for books or magazines, before distribution.

How It Works

In digital printing, an image is produced by a process called digitizing. This calls for pixels, or a series of dots, to be captured and put into a pattern. Then, the pixels are digitally manipulated by ink and/or electromagnetic energies that duplicate the image.

Computers follow algorithms, or a distinct series of instructions, in order to finalize the digital prints. A sequence of mathematical formulas enable the consolidation of data. The colors of an image are also controlled by a specialized system to maintain the correct shade of an image regardless of where it’s viewed or printed. Afterward, the image can be transferred to a wide host of features, such as paper, photos, fabrics, or film.

More Key Facts

1. Digital printing jobs make up 4.1 percent of employment in the printing industry and possess about 5.8 percent of establishments in the field.

2. Although many professionals enter the printing industry after informal training, there are several online graphic design schools that prepare individuals for employment as digital printing operators, graphic designers, and desktop publishers. Others become familiar with digital printing and may use the process regularly in jobs as sales representatives, customer support associates, or administrative specialists at printing companies.

3. Salary.com reports that the annual income of desktop publishing operators ranges between $40,753 and $47,571 yearly. Document imaging operators typically earn about $28,117 yearly while graphic designers may make between $47,709 and $59,041 yearly.

4. Those who aspire to obtain supervisory and management roles typically need a bachelor’s degree unless they began as a helper and worked their way up the corporate ladder through time. There’s also the opportunity to earn diplomas, certificates, or associates degrees from notable career-specific institutions that offer computer repair training and/or digital imaging course.

5. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)  accredits several art schools that offer an education in digital imaging.

6. A common result of digital printing is the generation of signage that’s displayed for large audiences and creates mass appeal. This often involves the use of print on billboards or large flyers.

7. Most printing degree programs provide a variety of courses that influences students’ understanding of the industry. Typical classes include, but aren’t limited to, desktop publishing, digital images, business management, cost estimate, production management, offset press, color management, and printing supervision.

8. Many professionals in digital printing are members of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), an organization that’s committed to advancing the design industry and providing a wealth of resources to craftsmen in the field.

9.  A popular technique in digital printing is a process that involves creating giclee prints, the production of detailed prints via high-quality 8-color or 12-color inkjet printers. The process helps individuals transfer their images onto fragile or difficult surfaces, such as photo-base paper and canvas.

10. Professional terminology for workers in the digital printing field include the use of digital c-prints,  direct-to-print (DTP), photobook, dots per inch (DPI), pixels per inch (PPI), black and white fiber printing, and full frame prints.

Additional Sources

A 15-Year History of Digital Printing Technology. (2006). Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc.

Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2011). US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Salary.com. (2011).

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). (2011).

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). (2011).

It’s almost September, which means here in NYC, my kids are heading back to school. WooHoo! (Shhh! You didn’t just hear my squeal in delight. The teens would kill me.) This means there’s me time coming and I wanted to share the 6 NYC Photo Exhibits I’m dreaming of checking out. If you have any to suggest, please do so in the comments section. I’d appreciate it.

NYC Photo Exhibitions September 2011

1. Aftermath
Joel Meyerowitz
NYU Open House, 528 LaGuardia Place
August 20 – October 13

http://www.nyu.edu/life/events-traditions/10th-anniversary-of-911.html

2. Remembering 9/11
Organized by ICP Curator Carol Squiers and ICP Associate Curator Kristen Lubben
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street
September 9, 2011 – January 8, 2012

http://www.icp.org/museum/exhibitions/upcoming

3. Faces of Ground Zero (really looking forward to this one – Joe McNally’s Blog is just awesome)
Joe McNally
Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle
August 24, 2011 – September 12, 2011
http://events.nydailynews.com/new-york-ny/events/show/201140605-faces-of-ground-zero-on-display-at-time-warner-center-824-912-in-new-york-city

4. Bamboo
Choi Byungkwan
August 31 – October 1, 2011
The gallery is located 3 blocks south of Canal Street
between Avenue of the Americas and West Broadway,
across from the Tribeca Grand Hotel.

http://www.sohophoto.com/downloads/sep_2011_press_release.pdf

5. Salon Noir
Zipora Fried
7 Sept 2011 to 23 Oct 201
On Stellar Rays
133 Orchard Street
New York, NY
NY 10002

http://www.re-title.com/exhibitions/onstellarrays.asp

6. PIIOTOS_WTC: In Recognition of 10th Anniversary of 9/11
Photos of Twin Towers
Photographers: Victor Andrade, Ignacio Aronovich, Rogerio Assis, Claudio Elisabetsky, Mario
Fontes, Paulo Fridman, Lufe Gomes, Ali Karakas, Roberto Linsker, German
Lorca, Angelo Maciel, Walter Nicolau Junior, Marcelo Pallotta, Cristiano
Quintino, Tuca Reines, Gui von Schmidt, Ivan Shupikov, Christian Sievers, Paulo
Vainer, Cassio Vasconcellos, Claudio Versiani and Bob Wolfenson.
511 West 25th Street #607, New York, NY 10001
September 7-17, 2011

http://i1.exhibit-e.com/ASgaleria1500/1500_Press_Rls_PIIOTOS_WTC.pdf

Signage Design

Your design is rockin’ and ready for print.

Days of looking at PMS colors, reviewing various fonts and rounds of design tweaks are behind you.

At least until the next project.

You’ve burned that baby to cd and it’s now in the hands of your printing guy.

Then you get the call.

“I’m sorry ma’am, your file was set up incorrectly.”

The color profile, the bleed, the file format or something similar is wrong.

“Ma’am, would you like to rework the file and send it to us again? Or would you prefer we make the corrections and bill you for the time?”

More hours working on that darn design versus explaining to the boss why you went over budget. Got Tums?

I remember the first time I got one of “those” calls.
Years before Adobe’s Creative Suite emerged, when Quark was still king.

I was reminded of those days yesterday by a fellow member in the Linkedin Forums and I want to share what I’ve learned through trial and error and from being in print production myself.

Here are a few questions I demand you ask your print provider before you start your sign design. Trust me, having the answers in mind while laying out your design will keep the Tums away.

Sign Design Questions To Ask Your Print Provider

1. What color mode should my images, illustrations and layout be created in?
2. Is there a specific icc profile I should use?
3. Do you have a pms chart printed on my sign’s material you can provide me? If not, will you supply me with a test print of my pms colors on that material?
4. What resolution should my images be?
5. How much of a bleed should my layout have?
6. Do I supply you with the fonts, embed it in the pdf settings or turn my type into outlines + rasterize the type layers?
7. What file format should I use when saving my file for submission?
   Would you prefer a native application file or a pdf?
   If a native application file, what, if any, compression is required?
   If pdf, what PDF Preset should I use?
   Are there any settings I should change within the pdf options box?

Knowing the printing specs will make a world of difference when designing your sign.

Some Added Advice

Every printing device prints signage differently, depending on variables such a device type, ink type, paper type, room temperature, the age of the material, the age of the ink. Ask for a new test print of your pms colors each time you start a project.

A great way to avoid a 5ft by 4ft surprise is to obtain a test print for color and quality before the full size version prints.

Always evaluate the test print in the same manner the sign will be displayed. For example, if the final sign will stand at eye level, tape it to a wall and stand in front of it. If the sign will be displayed further away, such as a billboard, tape it to a wall and back up as much as possible. If your sign will be hung outdoors, don’t evaluate the colors under fluorescent lighting. Test it out either outside or in a temperature controlled light box set to 6000K.

Flatten your transparencies yourself. No one gets your vision more than you do. Don’t have that vision compromised. Flatten yourself, inspect the differences and change as necessary. Some print providers have graphic designers on hand, some don’t.

When scheduling the turn around time from design conception to sign installation, be sure to factor in waiting time for test prints.

Sound Off!

Are you a designer or a print provider? Are there any questions you’d add to the list? Please share in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Stressed Designer ©Maridav – Fotolia

Promote Your Brand

Having your logo produced on vinyl and installed onto your shop’s window,
counter or floor is an excellent way to catch your customer’s eye.
Here are a few of our recent projects for inspiration.

Waterproof Signage

Have you noticed how many scaffolds can be found hiding shop fronts in Manhattan? Even our shop is hidden by a scaffold. Lucky for us, if a customer’s looking for us, they know where to generally look by the address.

But what if you’re a new shop or a realtor trying to advertise available space?

Waterproof vinyl outdoor banners offer visual impact while getting your message seen. They are perfect for outdoors because they are durable and can withstand the changes in weather.

Map Signage Printing

Shopping malls, large department stores and food courts house multiple shops with something for everyone. You can spend all day in a mall and still miss out on half the shops.

What better way to assist your customers than providing them with a map?

Maps can be printed on a variety of materials from premium paper to back-lit film to fabric. The material type depends on how the map will be displayed – mounted on a wall, placed under glass or hung from a banner stand. The possibilities and combinations are plentiful and the results are eye catching and easy to read.

Our most recent project: printing Maps on Frosted Back-lit Material for Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

Here’s a picture of the printing in progress.

These simple, affordable signage options can go a long way to bringing customers through your doors and ensuring they enjoy their visit. I’m sure anyone heading out to Woodbury Common for this weekend’s 4th of July Sale will appreciate the maps they have located at almost every intersection. These maps show the fasted route to the sales you’re looking for (in an air conditioned space).

Happy Fourth Of July to All and Happy Shopping!

What do your windows say about your business?

Your logo.

Your mission statement.

Your services.

An upcoming event.

Window Displays are a great way to promote these messages, especially in New York City where potential clients can be found next door, upstairs and passing by on the street.

Here are a few examples of window displays we recently installed for clients.

Types of Window Displays

One-way window clings create privacy while still allowing in light.  It’s a non-adhesive film that clings to almost any surface, easily repositioned and perfect for visual merchandising.

Cad cut self-adhesive vinyl lettering has a low tack adhesive – allowing easy peel and stick.

Vinyl decal film is a semi permanent solution with a gloss finish. You’re unable to see through the graphic so the colors are bold and brilliant.

Clear vinyl decal film has a unique translucent appearance.

Window Displays are an affordable and visually pleasing way to get your message across.