Presto Print

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Getting us your files

Send us your files! Any files!

At Presto Print, we accept nearly any file type. We are happy to work with you and the software to create a file that will print flawlessly. However, prepress functions like that may incur additional costs. 

To save you some time and money, we have provided a How-To Book. This little baby can help you send your files in ideal printing format. Since there will be no changes on our end, you can be sure that what you see on your screen is what you will get in your final print!

Where do you get this little gem of a book?

So glad you asked! If you're in the neighborhood, stop by! We'll give you a free copy (and a paper sample book, if you're interested)! And, in the event that you're not local or don't have the time for a visit, feel free to download our book in pdf format HERE for quick referral while building those beautiful print files.

So....Get printing!  We're ready to fire up the presses for you!

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COPIER FRIENDLY ART

In recent blogs I've done I have mentioned a few things about quality and design. These are things that you would want to know if you do lots of printing. What I want to cover in this blog are just a few limitation to our digital printers, not the DI offset press or other digital presses. I am talking about: Canon color printer, Xerox, or Konica Minolta color digital printers. These machines do not have IE registration system like an offset press -- meaning that the paper can bounce around. Its not so bad that it becomes a problem, but there are a few issues with design that I want to cover here. Borders

Thin line borders are never recommended for these printers because of the issue with registration. The paper has a tendency to fish tail through the machine.

Most full-bleed designs have no issues except when the designer puts a secondary border or outline at the edge of the art.  This makes that outline hard to hold when cutting -- mostly from the registration issue. No outline for this project would be best.

If the card or letter is folded and there are borders, normally this border will not present a problem unless thin lines need to meet.  If this is the case, the job has to be run on larger paper with cut marks so when cut the design aligns with very little effort.

Mostly, thin-lined borders are a no-no when designing for small color runs under 1000. Most of our long-runs are done on our DI and it can hold hair line registration, unlike our copiers. For 99% of all the jobs I run on them I have no issues until I run into borders too close to the edge. Having them bounce around while I print (although when I say bounce around, it is a minute amount of bounce) is enough to ruin a nice thin lined border every time. In that case, they need to be run on Offset which is far more costly. I hope this tip is useful when making decisions on design. Keep in mind, if it is a small print job you can afford not to use borders that don't bleed and are too close to the edge.  

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Black is not always black

Nice and Black

Just a few Tips for our Color Copier Printers for achieving the best black available on these printers First thing you need to do is understand that a CMYK black will break up into little tiny dots to make up that black Utilizing all 4 colors leaving Gaps in between the dots making it a Grey black and not a solid black. So having said that, if you want solid black or a dark black send the black as 100% black not CMYK or just black as applied as a system black in your pallette. This will ensure that your black will run as solid as you pictured it on your monitor. -David McCullough, Digital Press Operator  

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The Flavor of Art

It seems as though no matter what the occasion, nothing makes it more special than receiving notification on a nice printed invitation. Having a trade show or specials you want you clients to get word of? Nothing speaks louder than printed images and words. A bull horn perhaps may be the only other way to say it loudly only it won't reach those not listening. Giving someone a specially designed piece of art (advertisement) that people will enjoy looking at is about the best way to grab thier attention. Here are a few things to be aware of when deciding on your print job. 1. Is the message on my publication telling the reader all that I want him to know before he commits to calling me?

2. Do I have a color scheme, layout, and purpose for my printed piece?

3. Are the programs used to make my publications useful and do I have the means to make PDFs?

4. After viewing them, are the PDFs what I expect to print? Remember when saving out PDFs be sure to include the fonts upon saving the file as there are thousands and thousands of fonts.

5. Paper selection is key to a good outcome. We do use the best you can find for making laser color prints and we never miss a beat on quality.

6. Last but not least, if you are mailing this to potential clients/customers using a data base for your mailing, this can all be done as it is being printed. Slightly more costly as just printing the piece but the time it saves is priceless.

Having those small but significant tips can make the difference between meeting your printing needs and utter failure. Let's face it, when you get a publication in your mail box, the looks of that piece will determine its demise. So, for all it is worth, having been in this industry for over 35 years, I have seen more print projects come and go that have not even thought about using the tips presented here. Following good tips are only one way to minimize mayhem with your project - the other is communication, that of course is a different blog soon to come.

-David McCullough, Digital Press Operator

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Letterpress

Hey Presto Customers and Subscribers!

You may have noticed that our facebook, twitter, and pinterest pages are getting stocked with photos of our new favorite printing method: Letterpress!

A few months ago, we bought a Heidelberg Windmill Letterpress. We've been trying our hand at this artsy and crafty form of printing and it turns out....We love it!

There is just something about letterpress. While we're not sure whether it's the feeling of the impression, the fact that you can see how the ink sits and absorbs into the cotton paper, or just that you it's a commodity you can't get just anywhere, we do know that it gives wedding invitation, business cards, or posters a look and feel that you can't duplicate on any other press.

Take a look at some of our new samples and get your creative juices flowing. What do you want to print on our Letterpress?

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Just browsing through old magazines. I found this little gem in the September/October 1987 issue of Communication Arts.

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Brochures & Templates

We're working on our own marketing materials right now and wondering...Who else might be doing the same?

If you're working on a project with the intent to print, we want to help you make sure your files will print beautifully!  If you're new to the design suites (or an old pro following tried & true printing guidelines), we're starting to publish on www.PrestoPrint.com a series of downloadable printing templates.  Place one of these bad boys in you document, lock it, then design around it.  This will help remind you about things like: Typesafety margins, any applicable folds, bleeds, and crops!

Check them out here and check in often for more helpful templates!

Do you have a custom size or project?  Send us a request for a template with your specifications to [email protected]

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We just can't get enough of these helpful little charts.

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Printing in a Nutshell

  There are a lot thing that go into printing that many people do not think of or know about. There are many different types of presses. Each press prints a little bit differently. However, most people think of digital printing when they think of printing. Here at Presto print we have an offset printer, letterpress and digital printers. With offset printers, plates are created for each ink used. Ink gets put onto the plate. The ink is then transferred from the plate to the paper. Sometimes the way a project is designed can cause issues with this processes. Ghosting can occur when the plates cannot pick up ink fast enough.   Letterpress is where plates are created, then when ink is rolled onto the plate then the paper is pressed onto the plate. The pressure from the plate and paper being pushed together causes impressions of the image on the paper. This can create a really unique look and feel that is only really achievable though letterpress. Digital printing does not require the use of plates. The file is sent to the printer and the printer outputs the ink onto the paper. The two most common types are ink jets and laser printers. Another thing people often do not think about is the size. The final size of a project is important to think about before one starts to design the project to be printed. Image quality can make a huge difference. A common use is the files can be too small to print at the size desired.  When there is not enough information on the file or image the print can look pixelated. Print quality is 300 dip, where as web quality is only 72 dip. Preparing the file image at the right size is important due to make sure the image is printed right. Also it make sure the file looks the way you want the project to look. Other things to think about are to make sure there are bleeds on the file. Bleeds are important because it make sure there are no white lines when the project is cut down to size. Making use of the type is within the type safety zone is important. This make sure no text is cut off, in the finishing stages of cutting the project down. The color space is another thing that often gets forgotten. In print, CMYK is the color space to have your design in. CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and black.  The printers print in CMYK, in order to get the color as close to the color on screen the color space needs to be in CMYK. The paper choose also has a huge impact on the way a finished project looks and feels. The weight or how think the paper is can completely change the way a product feels.  The type of paper used also has an impact. Some papers have coating on. This could include a shiny look, to protecting the print from sunlight, to textures. There are many different options. The color of the paper used plays a role in the effect on the final project. Most printers do not have white ink, therefore, the white is created by the paper. The paper because the white, there is no ink in the whites are of a print.

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Just having some fun with infographics. Share!

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We're dedicated to COLOR!

Consistent Color Presto Print is re-affirming our commitment to color and we're earning our metaphorical stripes.  This week, Presto Print has a G7 specialist working with all of our presses.  We're dedicated to making sure your color is vibrant, consistent & beautiful.

Some printing companies have a G7 Master Certification thru IDEAlliance. What this means: "G7 is a method for matching colors across multiple printing devices, such as printing presses and proofing systems. It can be applied to any printer that has a calibration process (usually involving adjusting color "curves" in a RIP) that allows control over CMYK inks. These would include web presses, sheet-fed presses, proofing systems, inkjet printers being driven by RIPs. The goal of G7 is to provide visually consistent, repeatable color between different devices (like proofers and printers) as well as different presses, and even different facilities. The emphasis in this specification is on gray balance. Since human vision sees differences in gray more readily than more saturated colors, this specification is more likely to result in successful visual "matching" than merely matching solid ink densities which is typically done for more traditional processes." "Initially G7 was developed by the IDEAlliance GRACoL Working Group. But as adoption of G7 grew, it became clear that the application of this specification that enables printers to reproduce a similar visual appearance across printing types and substrates should be addressed by a group with reach beyond the focus on sheetfed offset printing that is unique to the GRACoL working group. Today, through the PPC Working Group, experts from across the spectrum of printing disciplines contribute to this important IDEAlliance Specification." Why this is good news for your next printing project: In other words, Presto Print will be able to match your files color more closely, whether it be on one of our Offset Presses or one of our Digital copiers. sources: http://www.colorwiki.com/wiki/G7 http://www.idealliance.org/ http://www.idealliance.org/specifications/g7

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CMYK VS RGB ( from a printing press point of view )

Change your expectation to pleasing color...

RGB is Red Green Blue this is what your monitor and your TV produces. So, if your file looks great on your screen in RGB, why is your printed piece dull and does not have the pop that you saw on your screen? This is due the change in the color gamut. RGB is a much larger color gamut than CMYK so a lot of your blues and greens will be changed when the file is converted to CMYK.

For more information on how to change your document's colorspace, download our exclusive, FREE book:  How-To: Your Reference Guide to Accurate Printing

I am by no means saying that printing is dull and all computer monitors and TV’s are in perfect calibration. What I am sayin is that we all need to change our expectation so the person sending the file knows what to expect when the file is completed and printed at Presto Print. (Shameless Plug). The expectation of a perfect file and a perfect print job is hard to swallow on both sides. When both sides have the expectation of pleasing color we both win the customer gets a print job that looks great and the printing company does not have re-runs all day and can help you with your next job instead of going out of business because of the expectation of  perfection.

- Tony, Print Consultant

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The Power of Posters

Posters have been around for 100's of years displayed in public places all over the world. They are designed to attract the attention of the public, making us aware of different viewpoints, advertising public events, and to sell us a service. Posters used to be about their artistic merit, but like many things in our modern society posters are now used to advertise. The internet is filled with advertisements; some cool, but most.. very annoying. This kind of advertising turns some people off. Posters are a great way to get your message out there. People will never tire of having something printed in their hands that looks great. Posters are a tangible, inexpensive way to say something. What message are you trying to tell the world? Once you figure that out, come see us at Presto Print and let us print your posters, banners or any other large format art. We can create & print Banner Stands, A-Frames, Posters, and Outdoor Vinyl banners up to 44 inches wide by 90 inches long on our Epson. Or, if you need something smaller like 12x18 or 11x17, or you need a large quantity of those 2 sizes with a quick turn around time, our D.I. 4 color press is the way to go. • Advertise for your business. • Have something cool printed to hang in your house. • Give someone the gift of Poster.

For your information: We try to catch all of your low res. images and let you know about them before we print. (Just remember to build your artwork with images that are 300 dots per inch or high resolution so you don't end up with a fuzzy looking poster. Even better, build your poster with vector art in a program like Adobe Illustrator.) Eye Trick: Ever noticed a billboard or vehicle wrap or poster that looks great from far away? It's possible that the designer used low resolution artwork, which you can get away with with large format art. Vehicle wraps, Billboards, Banners, Posters- you can get away with low res. artwork because the further you stand back the better it looks. But, let's not do that. Let's build our artwork correctly the first time. Add some integrity to your next printing project.

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PDF Musings from our Digital Press Operator, Dave

Writing a blogged missive can be grueling at best. When I think of social media I have to decide it’s for fun. Like playing games or keeping track of friends or generally looking for something to do in front of your computer.

I’d like to think that when I am reading an article or blog that the information I am reading is relevant to SOMETHING. Just for the sake of not wanting to bore anyone I would take this time to share with you my experience and expertise.

Since 1974 I have been enthused about the printing industry, oh how it has changed. Although the finished product is the same, the procedures to get there have switched dramatically. I remember stripping (a term for compiling negatives for print) my first 4 color press job. It was the first Superman poster for the movie coming out at the time and it took some 60 Negatives to arrive and 4 separated colors. It was a fun process although trying at times; not always did things work like they should have. This brings me to what I want to write about today.

In this new and exciting world of digital output to an instant process we often times forget to pay attention to details. When forging a project for digital output the one most important thing clients can do to expedite production is to invest into Acrobat. Not just the reader as everyone has that, but the Standard Version of the working program. Most Microsoft and Adobe products give you options to save a file as a PDF (Portable Document Format). This allows your computer to engrave in stone your page for output, transferring fonts and graphics all into one file for output.

I could not begin to tell you the amount of wasted time there is in this industry because jobs are not put though with ease using the PDF system: Although there are issues with every program PDF file system gives you a 99% chance that things will look the way they should and text flows the way you wanted it to. With the probability that we are not able to have a particular font in a world where there are over 10,000 different versions of fonts using PDF makes sure this is not a factor.

Enjoying the peace of mind you maintain by knowing that the file you send will be usable and function correctly is one of the best benefits one gets from PDF. Today as I worked though my day, I spent about an hour converting Word Docs to PDF as the client should have done but has not had the opportunity to set themselves up using Acrobat or the PDF format, costing them an hours worth of computer set up time. They could have saved $15-$25 just having the ability to create a PDF for production, with no more effort then saving their files. I am an advocate for the Acrobat system because it works.

I will share many different helpful ideas on our blog, venture back, bookmark us and come have fun learning about what we can do to help you and what you can do to help you with our processes here at Presto Print.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Have a wonderful day.

David.

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A beautiful infographic!  Think about it for your business cards!  We can offer advice here, at Presto Print, as well!

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Make it a Special Event with Custom Printing.

How were you invited to the last event you attended?  Was it a text? A phone call? A Facebook invitation?  When was the last time you actually received an invitation in the mail?  If it has been a while, imagine how unexpected and unique it would be to have a physical invitation arrive in your mailbox. Sure a Facebook invitation can be nice to get an RSVP count, but you can’t hang that on your fridge.  For your next party, consider how a printed invitation that matches your theme or decor can make it a memorable experience.

Creating a theme Have some fun when you’re planning your event.  Themes can certainly be obvious, like Dinosaurs for a little boy’s birthday.  They can also be subtle, elegant design themes to create an ambiance before your guests even arrive. Customizing your theme can be like building a brand for your party. It can be a certain color combination, or a recurring pattern. When you’re planning your event consider your event’s goal or message:

Is your party casual and purely social? Lucky you! You have full control over your event. You can choose to make it as simple or elaborate as you feel.  A simple postcard invitation could be a fun way to get your guests excited.  Once they arrive, matching coasters or a sign on your door can be a simple way to tie it all back in without getting too formal.

Are you hoping to make a lasting impression for your wedding, cause or business? Business, non-profits, and charity events tend to have more strict guidelines.  For an event like this, be sure to consult the branding requirements or style guides on a logo for any restrictions.

These types of events should have a continuous look and feel. Consider printing:

Invitations - A complete invitation set can have several printed elements enclosed: Invitation enclosed in a printed envelope, RSVP instruction card, printed return envelope, special directions or map card.

Be sures to include all of the information that the guest will need to attend your event. If you’re hoping to get a head count or specific information from your guests, include an RSVP card and a printed return envelope to make it easy for your guests to let you know their intentions.

Weddings tend to have several events rolled into one.  You can print different cards to include in a specific guest’s envelope to inform them which events you’d like them to attend. For example, many LDS weddings have a very exclusive ceremony and a reception. Include a special card inviting your preferred guests to the ceremony while still inviting everyone to the reception.

Event Decor - Once you have chosen your colors and theme, you can start thinking about the decor. Flowers and centerpieces are lovely additions. But did you think about customized placesettings or a table assignments chart? How about a tablecloth with your logo on it for the buffet?  Printed personalized boxes for individual favors could be a beautiful, memorable way to show your guests that they are appreciated.

After the Event - Your event was a huge success! If you’re a business that wants to keep your name fresh on your customers mind, or a bride wanting to show your appreciation--keep the theme going with some custom thank you cards. Print a standard message on the inside or write in your own.  Either way, your guests will enjoy the sentiment.

Do you have an event coming up?  We print event sets all of the time!  We can consult with you on designing and printing all of the things that will make your next affair one to remember!  Contact us for a free quote or to discuss your options with our design team.

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Design in Printing – Technical, Artistic, Functional

"There is something wonderful to be said about the texture possibilities of printing, from the paper’s grain to the finalizing treatments, there are some things that digital medias will never come close to replicating."

Can you believe that print design has been around for hundreds of years now? While graphic design is a more modern title, we’re still working around the same concepts.  In fact, most of the same vocabulary and terminology still apply.  Just because it’s been around forever, doesn’t make it an archaic or predictable beast. At Presto Print, we still have fun printing and, in my case, designing for print.

Print design is an ever-evolving craft.  It can be a mind-bogglingly technical craft. It can (and should) be an artistic and expressive craft. And most of all, it is one of the most functional ways to communicate especially on a business level.

Print Design as Technical

We have been printing since 1976!  That’s over 35 years of printing. We understand many of the nuances of printing.  That doesn’t mean that we’ve seen it all but we have seen a big chunk.  Part of designing for print is solving the little puzzles that arise on a daily basis…and making sure that the problem is solved for the next run of prints. Because we have this expertise built on countless jobs of puzzle-solving, we’re happy to share our finding with you!

Tips for insuring that your job comes out perfect every time:

•  If you are creating your own artwork, finalize the files and send us a CMYK pdf to print from. This way, because there will be no prepress conversion process, nothing will move and no colors will change

•  When designing, we want elements to be laid out in consistent and predictable locations (especially when following brand guidelines).  Use specific X-Y coordinates to make sure that you elements are consistently placed.

• Keep in mind that we are working with large equipment. As technical and detailed as we can get with our state-of-the-art equipment, things get pretty final once the job is cut. Try to keep your important elements and text 1/8-1/4 of an inch away from the edges.

If you’re interested in more printing tips, stop by and pick up a free copy of How-To: Your Reference Guide to Accurate Printing. And feel free to pick our brains while you’re at it.

Print Design as Artistic/Expressive

Printing is certainly a technical field.  However, as a graphic designer (and you as the client), it is also a medium for art and design. Whoever said that technical work couldn’t be beautiful?

We stay up-to-date with printing and design standards. Some of our favorite resources for keeping our designs fresh and relevant are design periodicals. Are you looking for a fun, new design for your next brochure, business card, or mailer? In our lobby, you can browse through How Magazine. Print Magazine, and our own personal portfolio of designs.  Ask to speak to the designer while you peruse.  Together, we can come up with something unique, beautiful, and perfectly expressive of your message.

Print Design as Functional

Think about all of the things you see and read every day.  More and more you’ve seen design becoming digital. You may have even heard the phrase, “Print is dead.”  Well, we think that is dead-wrong. Printing and digital medias are working together to create some pretty incredible things. Apps, augmented reality, and web are not going anywhere. However, you can’t touch these digital medias. You can’t run your fingers over the text and get the tactile experience of Thermography.  You can’t digitize a beautifully foil-stamped invitation. Light will never play the same on a screen as it does on a UV coated poster. 

There is something wonderful to be said about the texture possibilities of printing, from the paper’s grain to the finalizing treatments, there are some things that digital medias will never come close to replicating.  These tactile experiences make this medium powerful and functional. You can hand out a business card or a brochure that has been thoughtfully designed and your customers will know that when they look at it, read it, and touch it. They’ll know that you take pride in your business and they’ll know that will translate to the services they’ll get from you.

So go ahead, show off a little!  Look closely at the printed materials you see all around.  Mailers, posters, business cards, invitations, whatever! Make your printed project an experience for your audience!