Education – Paper, Print & Design

In this Education article, we take a look at some basic considerations for setting up print artwork... Some Artwork Basics A common cause of hold-ups in print work is artwork files set up incorrectly. This article covers some basics around setting up artwork to avoid the most common mistakes. For this article, we will assume Adobe Illustrator, InDesign (or QuarkXPress), and Photoshop are used to construct the artwork. And that the dispatch file to the printer is a high-resolution PDF (the industry norm for print artwork). We strongly advise against using office-level apps (such as Microsoft Word or Apple Pages)...

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Supporting the Pantone Matching System is a range of swatchbooks. Understanding the different versions and their intended uses ensure you will use the right tool for the job. GSM takes a look: Formula Guide: Two x books (C & U): Formula Guide swatchbooks show the base range of 2,400 PMS colours, along with the corresponding ink formula. Printers use these formulas to mix Pantone colours. Bridge Guide: Two x books (C & U): The Bridge Guide swatchbooks show the same base range of colours as the Formula Guide—but instead of showing the ink formula, the Bridge Guides show each Pantone...

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For this installment of Education, we return to Pantone colour and how this can expand the printable colour range. We all know that colour is a powerful tool for a designer. But how can you get more from colour when designing towards a print outcome? The answer may be through the use of Pantone colour. But first, let’s take a quick look at the theory of printed colour, and why CMYK and Pantone colour differs.  CMYK Colour 99% of all printed material uses a CMYK-based colour model. CMYK is based on the principle that printing varying amounts of Cyan, Magenta...

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The most commonly used substrates for commercial print methods - both digital & offset- are wood-based papers and boards. But what if you have a print project that needs a more robust  solution? Something that won't tear and is moisture resistant? This is where synthetic papers come in. GSM investigates... Synthetic Papers The term ‘synthetic papers’ (sometimes shortened to ‘synthetics’) is a broad category of printable substrates made from materials other than wood pulp (the base material used to make most papers & boards). Synthetic papers are extruded from polypropylene or Polyester pellets to form smooth white sheets ready for...

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In this instalment of Education, we look at Digital Printing. Comparing two of the latest technologies— Iridesse and Indigo. We also check out some of the latest embellishments features available. With Nick Marsh @5Digital, Auckland. Photos by Xavier Murphy@xalaphotography ’Digital printing’ is a wide-ranging term that refers to methods of printing directly from ‘computer-to-output’. Technically, this includes the types of laser and inkjet technologies that you might use in a home office. However, at a professional level, this generally refers to commercial technologies that run at significantly faster speeds with much greater capabilities and higher image quality. Digital vs Offset...

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