1: Use the Right File Format Before sending your file to print, it must be saved in the appropriate format. Otherwise, the file may not contain enough information to print. PDF is the best file format for vector graphics. Use TIFF or JPEG (high quality, low compression) formats for raster files. 2: Know Your Color Space Colors are produced differently by printers and computer monitors. Colors are created by printers using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK), whereas computers use red, green, and blue (RGB). Despite the fact that tradition dictates that all colours be converted to CMYK, many modern facilities can now successfully work from RGB or CMYK files as long as the appropriate colour profiles are embedded. RGB files that are handled correctly can produce better results than CMYK files. Colors can be better matched if they are left as Pantone Matching System values rather than converted to CMYK. 3: Include the Necessary Fonts The fonts you use in your design might not be widely available. If you take your file to a print shop where the software does not already include your fonts, the software will choose substitutions based on the fonts it has. To ensure that your design is printed correctly, include the necessary fonts and images with your file. That way, your third-party printer will have everything they need to produce your print correctly. Converting all of your text to outlines is another way to avoid font substitutions. This step converts your text into graphics, eliminating the need for you to supply fonts. 4: Use High-Resolution Images The resolution of an image determines how sharp it appears up to a certain size. Printing an image that is larger than its resolution allows results in larger pixels, which blurs the image. We recommend 100 pixels per inch (PPI) for large format prints with close viewing distances and 300 PPI for small format prints at Mousegraphics. This, however, applies only to raster image components. Vector graphics and images can be printed at any size without sacrificing image quality. 5: Set the Bleed A bleed must be included in your design to avoid cut-off text or unwanted white edges. Set the bleed to account for the extra space around your design’s edge that will be trimmed off after printing. If you want your design to extend to the print’s edges, you must extend the edge of the image or background colour to the bleed margin. For most documents, the standard bleed sizes are 0.125 (18) inches on each side and saved without crop marks. It’s always a good idea to double-check this with your printer.
