How not to ruin your print: the PDF creation adventure
Epic Battle of the Colour World: CMYK vs RGB
Start your adventure knowing that there are two colour kingdoms: CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) – the rulers of printing, and RGB (Red, Green, Blue) – the champions of screens. If you want your print to look like a hero instead of a pale copy, choose CMYK.
Resolution Armament: Sharp Swords and Fuzzy Spears
Make sure your images are sharp as a tack , at least 300 dpi. Fuzzy spearheads (low resolution) will leave your opponents (customers) cold.
The Mystery of Margins: the Legend of Cutting
Don’t let your important messages get lost on the cutting board! Add 5 mm of cutting space so your warriors (elements) don’t get stuck on the edges of the battlefield.
Fortune of the Funds: the Revelation of Integration
Use the magic wand to integrate your funds directly into the file. This avoids a situation where the printer says your document speaks a language they don’t understand.
Transparency Traps: the Fantasy of Flatting
Transparency can be like a ghost, sometimes beautiful and mysterious, but in the printing press it becomes spiteful poltergeist. Identify transparencies like ghost hunters by flatting them before printing.
PDF/X-4: The printer’s talisman
This mysterious talisman will keep your file safe from printing winds and storms. Using the PDF/X-4 standard, you’ll make your file so charming that every printing press will want to hug it.
Test Drive Prophets: Prophecy Before the Battle
If you can, ask the prophet (the proof) about the future (the end result). This will help to avoid your print looking like a troll when you were hoping to see a unicorn.
To sum up: the Great Adventure in the Land of PDF
Like any good adventure, preparing a print file is full of risks and opportunities. By following these tips, you’ll not only survive, but thrive in the print jungle, bringing glory and fame to your kingdom (brand).