Design Tip: Prepress Checklist

Once you have finished laying out and designing a job, you will need to figure out how you are going to send your files to the print vendor that you have chosen. Here’s a great resource for making sure your documents have high resolution and are press-ready.  Keep it handy and reference it when you are pre-flighting a job to send to a print vendor.

Preflight Checklist

• Ensure that all graphics and images are in their final size and correct resolution, 100% at 300 dpi
• Rotate, scale and edit images and graphics prior to placing them in page layout applications such as InDesign, Quark or Publisher
• Image file formats should be EPS or TIFF (if possible, not JPEG) and your should verify that you do not have any broken links
• All spot colors should be designated as spot colors and not as CMYK
• Spell check your document as most print vendors do not take responsibility for editing
• Remove any trapping (allow the print vendor to apply the trapping)
• Check for transparency and either flatten or notify the printer so they can flatten the file
• All bleeds should generally be set to .125 in. unless otherwise specified by the print vendor you plan to use
• Gather all source files: fonts, graphics, images and layout documents. Use the Package feature in InDesign or send the print vendor a high resolution PDF
• Prepare a mock-up to give the printer as a finished sample

Stay tuned…next Tuesday we will be posting step-by-step instructions on how to correctly package a file.

Source: Digital Job Preparation Guide for Designers, Zimmerman Printing Company

Item of the Week: Meet MeMe Cards

Are you looking for a creative way to compliment your business cards? If so, Meet MeMe cards might be just the product you are looking for.

It's as easy as 1-2-3. Image taken from Meet MeMe Website

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Meet MeMe cards are customized trading cards that contain a QR code on the front where you are able to link to as many social profiles or websites as you wish. What a great way to help people remember you long after your first meeting. Anyone with a smart phone will be able to scan your QR code, which will bring up a menu of the links you have chosen to connect your card to.

In addition to the QR code, the Meet MeMe card also offers you the space to include a Bio, a “Special Power” and a Quote. Consider your own personalized Meet MeMe trading card a tangible representation of your social media personality.

Taking Stock of Your Paper Options

Ahhh paper, I love it!  The creative horizon is wide open with so many colors, textures, and prints - it's exciting!  An interesting paper can put a personal stamp on any project, therefore, it requires some consideration.  Before choosing your paper, decide how it's going to be used and for the purpose of this blog, we're deciding that it's going to be used for print purposes.  I've chosen 3 properties to touch on: finish/smoothness, impurities, and opacity.

• Finish/Smoothness - this is the texture of the paper, the smoothness or roughness of its surface.  A smooth finish is good when copying a photograph or designing with full color in general.
• Impurities - specks, spots, and general imperfections that are left over from the paper-making process, which is all very normal.  In recycled paper, these imperfections come from inks, adhesives, etc., which are nearly impossible to completely remove.  When a best image or a clean look is required, choose a high quality non-recycled paper.  Otherwise, the look of recycled paper can be charming as well as make a statement about your ecological views!
• Opacity - this refers to how much light a sheet of paper blocks.  The importance of this comes into play when your project is two-sided or heavily inked.  The higher the percentage of opacity in a paper, the better that paper is for printing on both sides because the images will be less likely to show through.

Whether your project is personal or professional, in the printing world paper is the mode in which your message is carried.  Paper can give the underlying impression of class, environmental awareness, whimsy, or sensibility, don't be afraid to express yourself through it!

The New Facebook Pages Layout

It seems like every time you turn around, Facebook is changing, constantly. Facebook's most recent change is converting all current Facebook Pages to a new layout. You may or may not have switched your page to the new layout, if you haven't...you have until next Tuesday, March 1st to do so, otherwise Facebook will do it for you. So what changes have been made to Facebook Pages?

Facebook pages now have a new layout, which resembles a Facebook profile very closely. Following is an overview of the changes:

• Instead of tabs, users can use links to navigate around a page. The links are less restrictive then tabs because they allow for longer "tab titles."
• There is now a photostrip on the top of each page. Five of the most recent pictures you either uploaded or were tagged in will be displayed across the top of your page. 
• Pages can now like other pages!
• You can now feature page administrators/owners on your page.
• Admins can now use Facebook as a page - they can post and comment around the site under their page.
• You can see a news feed from the pages that you like.
• Facebook provides recommendations for pages you might like.

Examples of the new features of Facebook Pages.

Josh Constine goes into detail about the changes to Facebook pages in his article, "Facebook Pages Redesign 2011: All You Need to Know." Check it out! http://bit.ly/dZp8Ci

Product of the Week: Labels, Labels, Labels!

Labels come in all shapes and sizes, different colors and varied uses.  The category of label is broad and offers many marketing options, the following are just a few examples:

• bumper stickers
• die cut vinyl and domed decals
• window clings
• shipping labels
• tamper evident

Labels can be an effective way to promote your business or cause, for more information and pricing please give us a call at 402.379.0616.

Doin' Your Own Thing

It's fun to be creative and try one's hand at design, especially when it comes to something personal like wedding invitations or business cards.  Many people work on Microsoft computers, using the readily accessible programs like Word, Publisher, Excel, and Powerpoint.  However, most graphic designers and print companies use Mac computers and getting the 2 systems to mesh can be time consuming and costly.  Here are some tips to let you be creative and stay on budget:

• give your printer a hard copy printout to compare with your electronic file
• save your file in .pdf format
• allow for extra time in the pre-flight process, working out the bugs may not allow for same day turn-around

What to Cook, Bake, or in General to Make Wednesdays

My mom makes these, and I love them!

Pumpkin, Apple, Streusel Muffins

Ingredients:
2 1/2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 Tb. pumpkin spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. pumpkin
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 c. pealed apples - chopped

Streusel topping:
2 Tb. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tb butter

Mix your flour, sugar, spices, soda and salt together. Set aside.
In a separate bowl mix eggs, pumpkin, oil and apples.
Combine your wet ingredients with your dry.
Put in greased muffin tins.
Sprinkle with streusel topping.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.
Let cool and enjoy!