Tips for Electronic File Preparation

Digital vs. Offset Printing

Eight Simple Rules on Effective Document Design

Building Your Business With Brochures

Tips for Electronic File Preparation

According to the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, 57 percent of customer files are prepared incorrectly or are missing essential elements. To avoid costly errors and prevent project delays, follow these tips for preparing electronic files.

Include a Hard Copy

The fastest, easiest way to make sure your files work properly is to send us a hard copy of what you think it should look like. We do our best to make sure files print accurately, and if we have a good copy to reference we can be certain that what we print looks like what you are expecting.

Save as a High Resolution PDF

If you are working with software found on most personal computers (Word, Excel, Publisher, Powerpoint, etc.) please send a high-resolution Acrobat Reader (PDF) file with your order if at all possible. PDF files will usually look and print the same regardless of different fonts, computer software, or type of computer that was used.

Include Fonts & Images

When working with professional design software (Quark, PageMaker, Indesign, etc.) please include all necessary files organized as follows:

A. Document (indicate what design program was used)

B. Fonts folder

C. Images folder

When you send in your files, be sure to let us know what program was used, and on what type of computer (Mac or PC).

Most professional programs will feature a "collect for output" or "package" feature that will automatically collect and save all necessary components for you. If you have any questions or problems, just give us a call and we can walk you through the process.

Digital vs. Offset Printing

Printing today means more than putting ink on paper. With the seemingly endless communication options in today’s fast-paced business world, the high-quality, innovative print and graphic communications services we offer provide a refreshing alternative to communicate your message with maximum impact. By offering both digital and offset printing, we can provide the best product at the best price—every time.

Digital Printing

Low quantity doesn’t mean you have to settle for low quality. Digital printing is ideal for short runs (generally quantities less than 1500) and can provide beautiful, affordable full-color or black and white materials at prices you can afford. The advanced technologies of digital printing offer numerous benefits for small businesses including one-to-one capabilities, shorter runs and faster turnaround.

Traditional Offset Full-Color Printing

From full-color brochures and catalogs to direct mail pieces that get noticed, make your message pop with one-, two- and four-color offset (traditional) printing. Our Ryobi 3304H press specializes in the use of digital plates, and can economically run 4-color jobs for quantities of 2000 or more.

To determine which printing process is best for your job, just give us a call. You can rest assured that no matter the size, quantity, or color desired, with both digital and offset printing available, we’ll be able to put the most efficient equipment to work for you.
 

Eight Simple Rules on Effective Document Design

1. Communicate your purpose

Start by defining the purpose of your design. Are you designing the document for attention or for transparency? Design for attention when your message must compete for your reader’s attention. Use the appropriate colors, type and striking visual images to "wow" your readers. Design for transparency when you want to make it simple for readers to quickly understand your message.

2. Simplify your message

Complicated information can be simplified in many ways. One technique is to insert subheads. Subheads guide readers through long articles by breaking them into easily read two- and three-paragraph topics. You can also simplify by replacing text with tables, charts and other graphics.

3. Use selective emphasis

Good design reveals your message’s information hierarchy. Important headlines, for example, attract more attention than secondary headlines. Remember, though, never to overuse emphasis. Reserve emphasis for the most important parts of your message. Pull quotes, short quotations used as graphic devices to summarize surrounding material and draw attention to it, add emphasis, while breaking up large amounts of body copy.

4. Add contrast to add interest

Add visual contrast to your documents by using white space, typography and size. Setting headlines in a noticeably different typeface and type size will stimulate your readers’ eyes. Size of graphic elements can also add contrast to your pages. Also, the size difference visually communicates which element is more important.

5. Don’t overdo the design

Use a few colors and typefaces well. With hundreds of colors and typefaces at your disposal, it’s easy to obliterate your message. The best looking documents use minimal colors, color effects, and typefaces.

6. Project the right image

Be consistent in your choices of type, color and design elements for each project–this ensures an easily identifiable "look" that distinguishes you from your competitors. Your "look" projects an image that clients relate to on an emotional level; the choices you make in your designs affect how you, and your message, will be perceived–impersonal or friendly, cheap or expensive, stuffy or elegant.

7. Enhance your efficiency and production

Design tools such as document templates, styles and color palettes can be shared between documents to enhance efficiency and speed up production schedules. Use templates to save time and increase consistency by eliminating the need to reinvent the design wheel every time you start a new project.

8. Edit without compromise

Design succeeds by eliminating words rather than reducing type size or line spacing to "fit everything in." Therefore, at every step in designing your next print communication, ask yourself:

• Is it easy for readers to understand my message?

• Does my design project a unique, appropriate and consistent image?

Building Your Business With Brochures

When planning to produce a brochure to market your business, here are a few key issues to keep in mind:

Paper Stock

The paper selection has a major influence on how readers view a printed piece. Color, weight and texture are all important. Choose a color that coordinates with your company logo and compliments the artwork in the brochure. Determine how heavy the stock should be based on how the piece will be used and your budget. (Heavier papers generally cost more.) You may want to use a textured paper to add dimension. Also, consider using recycled paper, both for the benefit of the environment and for the message it sends to your customers. To save costs, ask about our "house" paper stocks--these are ordered in bulk and are readily available without having to place a special order.

Photos

Photos can add greatly to the brochure, but only if they are professional looking and communicate a distinct message. You may want to include photos of a product, the officers of the company or a service you provide. Photos should be accompanied by a caption that describes the product, service or person featured.

Folds

The size and purpose of the brochure will dictate the number of folds. A tri-fold brochure is an 8 ½ " x 11" piece of paper, printed on both sides and folded two times to make three panels. This size fits neatly into a standard business envelope.

Colors

The ink and paper colors you use are equally important in helping to convey your message. In many cases, a full-color brochure will look the best but it can be expensive. Often two or three colors will work just as well, as long as they are done properly. By adding just one color to a black and white piece, you can increase its readability by 35 percent.

Design

If you don’t feel comfortable designing your own brochure, or simply don’t have the time or resources, Insty-Prints offers graphic design services at very affordable rates. You certainly know a lot more about your business or product than we do, so to make the process go faster (and therefore save you money on design time) plan ahead and have your brochure’s copy finalized ahead of time. If you need help with writing or editing, just give us the basics and we can expand upon that. Be sure to send us any text files you have prepared along with any photographs, logos, or images you would like to include.

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