Terminologies of Printing Tasks to Know about

Dec 25, 2017 — Branding

Terminologies of Printing Tasks to Know about

While interacting with graphic designers, if you think they are communicating in some unknown foreign language, you are misinterpreting them. There are some words in print design world that you might be unfamiliar with. While working with branding companies or design agencies, it is necessary to know basic terminologies. Else, there will be miscommunication and the printed piece will be different than expected. In addition, it may lead to reprinting process which consumes time and money, which nobody wishes for. Here is the list of some basic design terminology which will facilitate your communication and give you the expected output print design:

PPI/DPI

PPI stands for “Pixel Per Inch” and DPI stands for “Dots Per Ink”. These terms are used to determine the resolution of the image, and consequently, quality of an image. The standard measurements in terms of PPI for optimal resolution are 72PPI for computer screens and 300 PPI for printed images. Before sending to print, it is necessary to check whether images are 300 PPI, else the blurry image will be printed. If the 300 PPI printed images look blurry, it implies that a larger image is needed to match with image print area. In terms of DPI, standard measurements used for printing are 300DPI and 600DPI. The type of printer and paper plays a crucial role in selecting the standard measurement.

CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, key (black). Every color in the printing process is produced by mixing these four colors in appropriate proportion. Images in print documents are converted from other colors into CMYK format before printing.

RGB

RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue. All colors on a computer screen are created with RGB. Documents and images kept for viewing on a screens are in RGB format. These RGB images need to be converted into CMYK and then sent for printing. Moreover, this ensures that images are at minimum 300PPI.

Bleed

Bleed outlines the part of the print that extends beyond the edges of the paper. A bleed mark is used by a designer to mark the part extended outside the paper. Bleed is generally determined by measurement of 0.125 inches after the trim area used for the final printed document.

Pantone Colors

Pantone colors are set of universal colors that can be used in every printer of the world. The color code systems used for Pantone colors are RGB, CMYK, and hexadecimal. Utilization of these color code systems helps in maintaining consistency throughout digital and print materials.

Proof

After producing the final design file, which is generally viewed in PDF format, the printer shows a printing proof. Viewing this proof before printing is essential to determine if there are any flaws or content related issues in design. Once the printing proof is allowed, the design is printed on paper in final bulk quantity.

Finish

Finish refers to the quality of printed paper to be used for printing. Glossy, matte, luster and texture are some of the types of finishes. Commonly used finishes are matte and glossy.

Ink Types

Solid, pigment and dye inks are most commonly used ink types. Solid ink consists of a brick of a color that is used for print. This ink is suitable to print vibrant colors. Pigment ink rests on the top of paper instead of soaking into it. This ink is made up of powder and lasts long. Dye ink is an ink that soaks into the paper to produce color. Though this ink produces vibrant colors, it can cause dampness or bleed.

Kaizen Design Studio is one of the leading branding agencies in Pune and instrumental in helping clients with innovative graphic designs to expand their brand presence. Its branding services would help you establish your brand as one of the reputable and wide-known brands.