artwork guidelines
We receive lots of questions relating to design and print. The subjects of some of the more frequently asked questions have been addressed here. If you require a question answering that has not been addressed below, email us.
Bleed
Where artwork design crosses the edge of the page, bleed is required to ensure full print coverage. Bleeds should be 3mm from where the cut is to be made.
CMYK
The colours used in four colour process printing, Cyan Magenta Yellow Black. Black is ‘K’ to differentiate from blue ‘B’ in RGB
Crop marks
Single lines denoting the edge of the document. Crop marks should be included on a document to indicate where to cut. Design programs (e.g. InDesign, Quark, etc.) will include a crop mark option.
Gloss
A bright sheen coated surface.
GSM
GSM is the abbreviation for grams per square metre, the weight of the paper or board. Typically, a measurement of stock weight in printing.
Image resolution
Low resolution images detract from design. Images should be at least 300dpi (dots per inch). Images downloaded from the Internet can be as low as 72dpi. Dots comprising the image are bigger for low resolution images and this can be noticeable when enlarged.
Laid paper
Uncoated paper, which has a textured pattern of parallel lines, at equal distance.
Matt
Reflecting very little light; coated. No noticeable sheen.
Micron
A unit of length equal to one millionth of one metre, or one thousandth of one millimetre. Typically, a measurement of stock thickness in printing.Offset printing
Printing system where the paper does not come into contact with the printing plate. The ink is transferred from the plate to a blanket cylinder and then to the paper.
Pantone
Colour matching system created by Pantone Inc. Inks are specified and identified by numbers to produce standard results across the industry.
Paper size
Comprehensive information is located at paper and envelope sizes.
PDF
Adobe’s Portable Document Format is now the industry standard for supplying documents to print, care should be taken to configure the PDF correctly before presentation, please ask if unsure of appropriate settings to apply.
Perfect binding
Book binding, where the pages are held in the spine by glue. Many magazines and most paperback books are perfect bound.
RGB
Colour model where Red Green and Blue light is added together to reproduce an array of colours. The system is used for the display of colour images electronically (e.g. LCD and CRT screens).
Run-on
A price is quoted for the job and for additional copies, facilitating the calculation of values for alternative volumes. The run-on price is valid for copies only printed with the main run.
Saddle Stitch
A method of assembling a booklet with a two staples through the fold.
Silk
Silk can also be referred to as satin or velvet; coated. Silk refers to the level of sheen and is notionally midway between gloss and matt.
VAT – Typical examples printed items that are applicable
0% Annual reports, booklets, bookmarks, books, brochures, catalogues, diaries, leaflets, magazines, manuals, newsletters, orders of service, price lists, programme's
15% Appointment cards, bags, boarding passes, business cards, calendars, certificates, compliment slips, continuation sheets, envelopes, fax headers, folders, forms, greetings cards, ID cards, invitations, labels, letterheads, membership cards, menus, pads, plan copies, playing cards, postcards, posters, prescription pads, price tags, reply cards, score cards, stock stationery, subscription cards, tickets, vouchers.
Wove paper
Uncoated paper with a uniform surface, without texture or pattern.
We receive lots of questions relating to design and print. The subjects of some of the more frequently asked questions have been addressed here. If you require a question answering that has not been addressed below, email us.
Bleed
Where artwork design crosses the edge of the page, bleed is required to ensure full print coverage. Bleeds should be 3mm from where the cut is to be made.
CMYK
The colours used in four colour process printing, Cyan Magenta Yellow Black. Black is ‘K’ to differentiate from blue ‘B’ in RGB
Crop marks
Single lines denoting the edge of the document. Crop marks should be included on a document to indicate where to cut. Design programs (e.g. InDesign, Quark, etc.) will include a crop mark option.
Gloss
A bright sheen coated surface.
GSM
GSM is the abbreviation for grams per square metre, the weight of the paper or board. Typically, a measurement of stock weight in printing.
Image resolution
Low resolution images detract from design. Images should be at least 300dpi (dots per inch). Images downloaded from the Internet can be as low as 72dpi. Dots comprising the image are bigger for low resolution images and this can be noticeable when enlarged.
Laid paper
Uncoated paper, which has a textured pattern of parallel lines, at equal distance.
Matt
Reflecting very little light; coated. No noticeable sheen.
Micron
A unit of length equal to one millionth of one metre, or one thousandth of one millimetre. Typically, a measurement of stock thickness in printing.Offset printing
Printing system where the paper does not come into contact with the printing plate. The ink is transferred from the plate to a blanket cylinder and then to the paper.
Pantone
Colour matching system created by Pantone Inc. Inks are specified and identified by numbers to produce standard results across the industry.
Paper size
Comprehensive information is located at paper and envelope sizes.
Adobe’s Portable Document Format is now the industry standard for supplying documents to print, care should be taken to configure the PDF correctly before presentation, please ask if unsure of appropriate settings to apply.
Perfect binding
Book binding, where the pages are held in the spine by glue. Many magazines and most paperback books are perfect bound.
RGB
Colour model where Red Green and Blue light is added together to reproduce an array of colours. The system is used for the display of colour images electronically (e.g. LCD and CRT screens).
Run-on
A price is quoted for the job and for additional copies, facilitating the calculation of values for alternative volumes. The run-on price is valid for copies only printed with the main run.
Saddle Stitch
A method of assembling a booklet with a two staples through the fold.
Silk
Silk can also be referred to as satin or velvet; coated. Silk refers to the level of sheen and is notionally midway between gloss and matt.
VAT – Typical examples printed items that are applicable
0% Annual reports, booklets, bookmarks, books, brochures, catalogues, diaries, leaflets, magazines, manuals, newsletters, orders of service, price lists, programme's
15% Appointment cards, bags, boarding passes, business cards, calendars, certificates, compliment slips, continuation sheets, envelopes, fax headers, folders, forms, greetings cards, ID cards, invitations, labels, letterheads, membership cards, menus, pads, plan copies, playing cards, postcards, posters, prescription pads, price tags, reply cards, score cards, stock stationery, subscription cards, tickets, vouchers.
Wove paper
Uncoated paper with a uniform surface, without texture or pattern.