Frequently Asked Questions

Will colours on the final print match my monitor?

No. No matter how well-calibrated your monitor may be, the way colours are shown on a monitor using RGB (red, green, blue) is very different to the way colours are printed in inks. Also the type of stock will have an additional effect on the final result. For instance an uncoated stock will make colours look darker due to the spread or dot gain. A colour proof will be the nearest guide to the results you can expect from using a gloss art paper.

Will the printed colours match the results produced on my inkjet printer?

It is unlikely that these will match closely, however if you would prefer the colours to be matched more closely to your own proof, this may be achieved by adjustments, which may involve altering/amending the colour levels in your files. A contract colour proof will give you the best indication of what results to expect.

When should I opt for digital printing?

Digital printing is very effective for short runs and quick turnarounds. However, there are some occasions where conventional print will be able to offer advantages. For instance you may find that where you have two or maybe more individual jobs to run digitally, on conventional print these might be able to run together in one pass. While some jobs are obviously suited to digital, it is worth remembering that Litho printing is still unsurpassed for all round print quality.

I create artwork in Microsoft on a PC, is it possible to print from these files?

Yes. Technology and improved methods have meant that for several years we have been accepting files from a variety of PC applications and producing quality printed results. Please call us or send an email enquiry with any questions you may have.

What are the main things to check for when creating a print ready pdf?

Among the most common errors with pdf files are the folowing:

• Placed images have a resolution which is too low
• Fonts are not embedded
• Wrong colour format used i.e RGB in a CMYK document
• Incorrect trim or bleed settings
• Hairline strokes and unflattened gradients
• Spot colour incorrectly named or mistakenly converted to process
• Over compression of images particularly in jpg formats (artifacts, quality loss)
• Incorrect page sizes