Q: How can I prevent banding on my prints?

Visible banding may be caused by gradients in the design of your graphic. The gradients you create with your design software tools may look perfectly smooth on screen but can translate rather “stepped” when printed. Visible bands may appear when one tone transitions to another in solid areas of an image. Gradient-related banding depends on the amount of space in which the transition occurs with the colors that you are blending.

Question 1

What is a bleed?

Accepted Answer

Bleed is any image area that extends past the artwork crop marks/trim line.

Question 2

The color I see on my computer is what I see when my image is printed, right?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Color will display differently on every computer monitor, and it will look different on each printer. The best way to ensure the closest color match possible is to assign Pantone colors to your art files.

Question 3

Will my digital prints match the Pantone colors I've assigned in my file?

Accepted Answer

Digital printing uses CMYK toners and inks, which have approximately 4.3 million possible combinations. Pantone utilizes 11 base colors, generating over 10 million possible color combinations. When working in critical color space, we suggest using a Pantone bridge book to determine the closest possible CMYK match to your Pantone color.

Question 4

Why don't the colors of my print match my screen?

Accepted Answer

Screen technology varies, so a perfect-looking color on your laptop will look different on your Smartphone, TV, or Monitor. Your screen displays colors’ using light so you can achieve bright vibrant colors’ that can’t be replicated with ink on a page. As a result, we can’t guarantee a color match for your screen. However, as long as you have used a CMYK color space you can expect the highest quality output in our tightly controlled color-calibrated environment.

Question 5

What do I need to know about setting up my data file for variable data printing?

Accepted Answer

What do I need to know about setting up my data file for variable data printing?

All variable text, barcode data, variable graphic names, and any other information needed to create the variable data on the final printed piece should be supplied in a database or mailing list spreadsheet.

Use the first row of the data file to title the columns or fields. Each database column should represent a different variable field used in the layout, and each row under the header should represent one record.

If your project pulls data from multiple files or lists, sort and merge the information into a single data file. Delete unused fields, keep data entry consistent, and avoid placing an entire address in one field. Use upper and lowercase letters where appropriate.

Before sending your file, proof your data carefully for accuracy, omissions, and duplicates. Save your file as an Excel file (.xls or .xlsx), comma-separated file (.csv), or tab-delimited text file (.txt).

Question 6

Do I have to send you my fonts?

Accepted Answer

No. You can outline your fonts. However, if you have created your PDF correctly any fonts that you use will be embedded in the PDF. Note; outlined fonts are no longer editable.

Question 7

What is the difference between vector and raster images?

Accepted Answer

Vector images are made up of a series of shapes and colors (vectors) are manually created and edited using design software (commonly Adobe Illustrator) and can be enlarged to any size. Raster-based images are commonly created by photography and cannot be enlarged much further than their original size without impacting negatively their final resolution.

Question 8

What is DPI, Resolution, and Print + viewing distance?

Accepted Answer

The short answer; If you're designing something that is going to be held in someone's hand then the correct DPI is 300 dpi. A poster needs a minimum resolution of about 100 dpi if viewed at 6ft (2m). Printing a photo on your inkjet printer? Use 300dpi. Viewed at 30ft (10m) a billboard needs a minimum resolution of about 20 dpi. Did you know that the average size of a billboard is 14 feet in height by 48 feet in length and that the resolutions of a billboard print range between 2 to 20 dots per inch (DPI)? Consider drawing a one-inch by one-inch square on a piece of paper. Now draw two circles side by side in that one-inch square and fill them in so that they are solid black. What you are looking at is a resolution of 2 dots per inch. If you were to fill a piece of paper with however many one-inch squares (including the filled circles) that will fit and place it on a wall, then stand back 20 feet. Suddenly the paper starts to turn darker and the further you move back the darker the paper becomes until it appears solid black. This is the same effect that you see on a billboard. You can have a resolution that is too low, but you rarely have issues with an image where it's a little too high, lean towards a higher resolution where possible. Please see the reference guide below or call us, we will be happy to answer any questions you have and help guild you through any issue you may be having with your files. 0.6m / 2ft. @300 dpi, 1m / 3.3ft. @180 dpi, 1.5m / 5ft. @120 dpi, 2m / 6.5ft. @90 dpi, 3m / 10ft. @60 dpi, 5m / 16ft. @35 dpi, 10m / 33ft. @18 dpi, 15m / 50ft. @12 dpi, 50m / 160ft. @4 dpi, 60m / 200ft. @3 dpi, 200m / 650ft. @1 dpi.

Question 9

How can I prevent banding on my prints?

Accepted Answer

How can I prevent banding on my prints?

Visible banding may be caused by gradients in your artwork. Gradients that look smooth on screen may appear stepped or banded when printed.

Banding can occur when one tone transitions into another across a solid area of an image. Gradient-related banding depends on the colors being blended and the amount of space available for the transition.

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