Lack of white space, mislabeled files, not using brand cohesion — oh my! In graphic and print design, there’s a lot that can go horribly wrong. As Orlando’s leader in print collateral, the Xerographic team has seen it all, but luckily for our clients, we’re able to fix the issues and prevent another scary situation.
With Halloween right around the corner, we wanted to unpack the scariest digital printing mistakes we’ve seen companies make:
Not preparing for print
Digital printing still requires a bit of prep before files are sent over. One scary mistake companies make is not creating a high res PDF with an 1/8” bleed around the entire graphic. “Bleeds” sound horrifying, but don’t worry — no blood is actually involved. The bleed is the extra space beyond where you cut the page. Pretty much every print collateral needs to be trimmed. Bleeds ensure that finished products look exactly like you want and nothing goes missing.
Using the wrong black in your design
Sometimes your prints will need a bit of black. However, a huge mistake we see is clients using a black that is lacking and not what they want with their design. To ensure that your black is as “black as the night,” do something that might not be expected. Rather than using a 100% black, have a CMYK breakdown of C-75; M-50; Y-50; K-100. This will give you a rich black that will leave even the undead impressed.
Sending files in pieces
Having a source file that’s resting in pieces (pun intended) makes it difficult for your printing partners to ensure the finished product is what you hope it will be. Package all graphics and fonts; this is especially important if your fonts are uncommon or custom.
Creating, designing and printing incredible collateral doesn’t have to be a nightmare and printing mistakes happen! By trusting the expert team at Xerographic, we can ensure that your project brings fresh life to your marketing, sales or conference needs. As one of Central Florida’s leading digital print shops, we’re able to help businesses stand out from the competition. Give us a call at 407-490-0690 or drop us an email at info@xerocopy.com.
