Incorporating web images into printed materials
Transitioning from web design to traditional print design can result in several design errors, as a significant number of young designers have primarily experience with web design.
Images that are compressed and resized to 72 dpi for quick loading times on a website will not look good printed.
You can get away with using tiny thumbnails, but trying to enlarge them to any meaningful size would be difficult.
Many websites provide high-resolution, high-quality photographs at very low costs; these are excellent resources for appropriate imagery.
Neglecting or failing to permit sufficient bleeding.
Sending a document or flattened picture to print with absolutely no bleed is a pretty typical mistake.
Generally speaking, you want to provide each cut-off edge with at least 3 mm of space.
If you don’t, the printers won’t have any wiggle room and will either cut the side of the page off or leave you with a white border.
When providing image files, it’s always a good idea to save layered PSD files so that, should anything need to be cropped or extended, you may do so on the backdrop layer, potentially saving you time.
Use obscure typefaces; do not outline or embed them for output.
We’ve all done this before, and if you’re the only one having access to your files or artwork, then everything should be alright.
But if someone else has to edit the assets or utilize your vector logo in a publication that they own.
They won’t be able to open the files correctly until you package up the used fonts, and certain software packages might substitute the default font for any unknown fonts.
This is especially problematic if you need to retrieve content that was produced years ago and you don’t have your old fonts installed.
Providing print-ready artwork in RGB or spot colors
Spot colors can be used in artwork for good reasons—for example, brands that need to refer to certain pantone colors.
However, in typical design work, the majority of prints are sent through on four-color CMYK presses, with an occasional fifth color used for spot UV varnish, luminosity, or metallic colors.
Lazy designers frequently merely throw RGB photos into files and hope that the vivid colors they see on the computer will translate to print.
Letting clients who don’t understand design guide you around the homes
As they say, “The customer is always right.”
But it’s usually stated with gritted teeth and a patience that knows these pricks will eventually be writing you a big check for your troubles.
When sending images for the first time, it’s always a good idea to include a few bad ones in the hopes of making them understand the design you want them to embrace.
Of course, there’s a very real chance that they’ll fall in love with the piece of complete garbage that you put together in five minutes, leading them to believe that you’ve been making money.
It’s a living, nonetheless.